Forged In Love

Chapter Eight

It was evening when a messenger came knocking at Lord Atterbury's door. As the butler answered the door, he couldn't make out the man's face and knew this was a message that needed to be delivered directly into the lord's hands. Over the years, this man showed up with the same routine. The butler could never see his face and the man said nothing. He was to be taken straight to Lord Atterbury and the two were to be left alone. The butler turned around and led the man down the long hall to the lord's study and that is where he left him.

The mystery man sat down in a soft leather chair and waited for the lord to arrive. He hoped that he wasn't going to be waiting too long. He had other things he needed to attend to and needed to make sure no one noticed him missing. Fortunately, it wasn't more than a couple of minutes later that Lord Atterbury came into the room.

"Ah, its been a while. What news do you bring me?"

"Lt. Lord Henry Whitestone of Southampton has arrived at Manor Cadishead. And they intend to wed in just a few days. He seems to be very interested in her and she in him."

"Of course he is interested, she is beautiful and would make a good breeder."

"How would you like me to proceed, my lord?"

"I need to know exactly when they plan to be married. However, I mean to kill him either way. I am the only one allowed to touch the lady Charlotte, so he will have to die. I also need to know about his fighting skills."

"My Lord, he was a royal marine and was wounded in the battle of Waterloo. I would say his skills are better than yours. You may not be able to duel him outright."

"I would be insulted if you weren't correct. I am skillful, but not that skillful. So I must come up with a plan. Go back and find out everything about him."

"Yes, my lord." The mystery man stood up, bowed, and then left. Lord Atterbury stayed sitting at his large, ornate desk, thinking about how to get rid of Lord Henry and have Lady Charlotte all to himself. He had been keeping tabs on her for the last five years and trying to get her father to agree to a marriage contract between them. It was just before the old mule died that Alvin had agreed with him. Nothing had ever been drawn up, as far as he knew. Alvin had left him twisting in the wind, but he wasn't about to give up on having his Charlotte. She was beautiful and marrying would raise his status. She would be the perfect wife and look wonderful on his arm at social events. Yes, his life would be far greater after he married her.