Mad Dog

Chapter 4 - For the Family

Silence echoed throughout the room. The Counts mother kneeled on the hard wooden floor, feeling it dig into her knees painfully. Biting her lip she couldn't help but think it was that retched girls fault. How dare she start acting out now. When my plans were finally coming together. Nervously she stole a glance up at her son, who stood a little in the shadows at a distance. She couldn't quite see his face and that made her all the more uneasy. It had been a while since she felt this on edge. It was not often she was called here. She wished he'd step into the light. Give her some reassurance that things were still going as she wanted. The ticking of the clock seemed to echo in her bones. Tic. Tok. Tic. Tok. How long was he going to keep her waiting? Till her knees gave out? She stared at his broad menacing back. It's coldness made a cold neverous sweat drip down the back of her neck.

Slowly he turned towards her and she regretted the thought immediately when she saw the cold glare in his eyes. Quickly she immediately lowered hers to the floor a tremble starting within her. Cursing herself inwardly. She had gone to far. She knew it as soon as she'd seen his face. She might actually die here. Rohan stared hard into the back of his mother's head for a long moment, letting the uncomfortable silence stretch between them before finally saying commandingly.

"Good day, Mother."

"G-Good day, Count Rohan." She stammered unable to look at him again. Afraid at the expression in his eyes.

"How is everything?" He asked with a tone that was mockingly caring. They both knew he didn't give a damn. Every word he uttered seemed to drip in poisonous politeness. "Are you comfortable?"

She rung her hands together searching for the right words. Ones that might make this whole thing blow over. Ones that'll keep her alive.

"O-Oh yes." She finally forced out. "I'm very comfortable."

He turned around and walked almost lazily to his desk. His footsteps clacking loudly on the floor. Beating themselves into her heart. She didn't let his faux nonchalantness fool her. She knew just how dangerous this was. He took a seat at it. Almost lounging back like a jaguar eying its prey.

"Really?" He saidly slowly as he pulled out a jewel encrusted dagger, her dagger, twirling it lazily in his fingers. Her hands gripped her skirt so tightly the knuckles turned white. Her breath hitched in her throat and she struggled to control it. Even it to not give anything away.

"How strange. I thought you were in need of more money since you were embezzling my wives."

The countess felt Iike the air had gotten sucked out of the room. She trembled. He knows rang through her head. To afraid to move a muscle she desperately tried to come up with some excuse. Any. But her thoughts kept coming up blank

"If you needed money, " he went on, "all you had to do was ask, or was there a reason that I shouldn't know what you are buying?"

She quaked harder, tiny shakes reverberating through her whole body. An innocent question to some, but not for her. He knew. Seeing no other option, she threw herself on the floor in front of his desk. Pleading for his mercy

"I'm sorry!" She said, sobbing."I was just too afraid to tell you. I wanted a few extra gifts, and your wife was kind enough to give me the money. I won't ask her for anymore, I promise. " she rambled out knowing he'd never believe such an excuse.

Rohan stared coldly down at her but made no move to have her get up or correct her. Instead, he took his feet off the desk and leaned forward as if wanting to make sure his mother could really hear him. But then he suddenly smiled, laughing even.

"Of course, mother! Wanting to elevate the family is never a crime. Which is what I assume you were also thinking when you went to Baroness Kerr tea party?"

He had trapped her. Like a rat her mind raced for an answer, but before she could Rohan stood up and walked around till he stood in front of her, any words she had thought catching in her throat. "It must have been a coincidence that the Baron himself finally graced the manor with his presence after so many month away."

She couldn't breathe afraid to even make a sound. Her mind on her dagger that had never left his hand. He squated next to her, staring for a minute, watching her process. Knowing he had her. Then, taking his hand, he clapped it to her shoulder, making her jump, and he smiled again.

"Come on. There's no need to be nervous. After all, you've done nothing wrong, right?"

He stood back up and sat on the desk tossing the dagger down on it and it skirted to the edge. She let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. Maybe I'm in the clear.

Rohan spoke again his mock politeness toying with her. Enjoying the helplessness he had brought out. "You only ever think of the family, which is why I'm informing you that my wife will be going out more often. And as she is going out, she will need to be dressed in a manner fitting of a Countess. I trust you'll see she gets the best wardrobe" he smirked "After all you were wanting to so graciously gift her things."

The Countess swallowed hard as if the next words almost got stuck on the way out but she forced them out.

"I'd gladly cover the costs." She said as sweetly as she could.

"Of course! I should have asked you first someone so -"

He pauses thinking.

"Loyal."

He says at last, smirking as if he'd told a joke. Jumping up, he helps me to my feet while shouting with pretend concern, "My gosh, I'm sorry mother. I completely forgot you were on your knees this whole time. Please, you must go and rest. Your growing age is always in the back of my mind."

She glanced down at them. Seeing the red marks that had surely left a bruise. As if I wasn't bruised enough from that b***h she thought to herself. Without another word, he guided his shocked and panic stricken mother out the door, his aid slamming it behind her. It looked like I was going to be seeing my wife more often. He thought back to her actions lately.

'I'm sure she'll love that.'