The Broken Duke

Chapter 1

An icy chill blew through the open door as the first indication of winter’s arrival. The candles that illuminated the foyer struggled to stay alit. Some flickered and died, making the room fittingly dim. The doorway itself was darkened by the beautiful woman standing in it. My woman. My Julia. “You’re suffocating me! I can’t take this anymore!” She screamed at the top of her lungs. Her voice already sounded rough from screaming at the guards, I had following her. Even in all her anger and frustration, I still thought she never looked more beautiful. Her eyes held a type of desperation in them, though. I couldn’t understand her anger. I was a powerful man and she was my betrothed. Guards were essential for her protection.

I wanted to hold her and ease her ire, but I knew that would only make things worse. I wanted to fix this but how could I when the thought of me near her was suffocating? I clenched my jaw when she rushed to our room. If I followed her, it might provoke her to do something irrational. So, I stayed put and waited patiently for her to reemerge. When she did, she had a small tote with her. I didn’t need to know what was in it to know that she was about to shatter my world.

“Jules,” her name was all I could say. It came out as a whisper of disbelief. What did she want me to do? How could I convince her to stay beside me?

“Don’t.” I swallowed, looking at her tear-stained face. “I need space. I’m leaving, Cal.”

I looked at the darkness in the windows. It was late. Perhaps if I could convince her to wait until morning, she’ll have a clear head and choose to stay. “It’s late, Jules. I cannot allow you to leave in this state, much less at night. If you wait until—“She stormed out pass me and out of the manor. “Jules, wait!” I had a split mind I wanted to grab her and keep her here, but I knew that was exactly why she was running from me. “Jules! Stop! I will have a carriage prepared.”

I watched her halt in her step and turn to me, expectantly. With a heavy sigh and heart, I called for one of my chauffeurs and two guards to escort her back to her family’s estate.

The carriage pulled away, and it seemed much quicker than usual. Despite wanting to. Despite needing to, I stayed planted in the doorway of the manor. When I could no longer see her, I collapsed to my knees. I felt her name rip from my throat like a ball of needles. My love is gone. She’s left me. Never had I felt such despair.

The weeks that followed were shrouded in darkness and the deepening cold of the first snowfall. I could think of nothing but the fact that she wasn’t there. I attempted to find her if only to speak to her. I was convinced that if we could just speak, I could fix what needed to be fixed. I knew that she felt like a possession with me. I suppose she was right about that. I thought of her as mine long before she ever was. Now, she’s cut ties with me all together. When I asked her father of her wellbeing, he informed me that it was no longer any of my concern. I called upon her at her family’s estate but was told she was staying with distant relatives. Whether that was true or not didn’t really matter. She didn’t want space. She wanted to be rid of me. I wasn’t sure what she told her father, but I knew some parts may have had to have been fabricated. Her father was ecstatic when he learned of our engagement. I was sure that he wouldn’t have minded the guards I had placed with her for her daily outings. He may have also insisted on it.

After a few months, I knew I had to attempt to get on with my life. So, I threw myself into my work. I answered long awaited disputes between the Earl of Ashford Hallow and the Earl of Thornfield. There had also been several notices from nobles about rioting in villages. I managed the people the way I was meant to and put Jules as far in the back of my mind as I could. Not a rapidly occurring thought but none-the-less there.

“Sir, marauders are spreading. They insighted rioting at lord Maak’s manor.” Dain, the head of my estate, said passing me the notice from Lord Maak.

I exhaled. What was wrong with the people. I understood that times were hard but rioting can only lead to a show of force by Maak or myself. They had to know that. These people had families that they needed to take care of. Did they not realize, that if they were harmed in the riots or worst, it would affect their ability to care for their families? Some would even take their children to riot with them. I was angered by the choices of the people I was meant to oversee.

Things were hard everywhere. The lords of this land were between a stone and a hard place. The economy was at an all-time low. The demand for necessities such as coal, grain, or clothing was being taxed more than usual do to a colder and longer than usual winter. The people had a right to be angry when they couldn’t afford what they needed to survive, but rioting would solve nothing.

“Inform Drake. We leave immediately.”

My men and I rode to Williams’ manor to find a horde of people attempting to strong-arm Maak William’s gate. I watched the crowd for a moment before approaching. The anger of the men and the desperation of the women.

As I began to approach, the shouts and shoving of the gate stopped completely. I guided my horse between them and the gate. Not a single person spoke. They looked at me in fear and despair.

“Return to your homes, immediately.” Some turned to leave. Others held their ground. I held their angry gazes. “Let me inform you of what will happen if you continue. Maak Williams’ will be forced to use his militia to protect his estate. All of you will in fact die. Maak Williams’ has no control over the demand of necessities, just like he has no control over the weather or the fact that there is little game in this cold season. So, let me ask you, are you willing to lose your life because someone else pointed their finger at your lord? I suppose none of you realize this, but the Williams’ Manor is on rations.” Some looked surprised and glanced at the gate they were attempting to destroy. “Maak Williams has worked tirelessly to bring the prices down and has fought the merchant’s tooth and nail to reach this land first. Yet, here you stand attempting to raid his home.”

One by one they began to retreat. Just as they’d gotten feet away, Maak Williams burst out of his front door with five maids on his tail. “Wait!” The older man looked much frailer, surrounded by the blankets of snow which covered his estate and the surrounding woods. The villagers turned and watched him struggle to jog to the gate. I watch as some of them looked away in shame.

“Here,” Maak pointed to one of his maids and then to the closest villager. The maid handed over the large bundle of blankets that nearly covered her face. The villagers looked at me before taking them. The other maids held more blankets and a few baskets of food. “And this one is for you,” he said, passing basket to a woman who took it tearfully. “Some of you men can come and take some of the lumber in the barn. I have a surplus of that. It can warm your homes till spring. Unfortunately, that is all I have to offer. I must still care for my staff.” The villagers quietly thanked him and left without meeting my eyes again.

“If you planned on giving away your necessities, why did you send a messenger?”

“I just need you to hold them off until I can gather supplies,” he said with a huff.

“You’re too kind, old man.”

He waved me off and examined his gate. Then I watched as his maids helped him walk back to the manor. All of them were very concerned. As his door closed behind them, I looked over my shoulder at Drake, the captain of my guard. “Be sure to send a doctor to Williams’ estate. Maak has no family to do it for him.” Drake nodded.