Chapter 13

CHAPTER13

“It’s not really fair now, is it?” Simon slurred.

Gerald had been lounging in a large leather seat, feeling quite at peace, before his brother decided to sit right next to him. Simon’s promise not to indulge barely lasted an hour.

“What isn’t fair?” Gerald asked, exhausted from being his brother’s full-time babysitter at such events.

Joshua sat across from the siblings, watching them with keen eyes.

“You inherited the title, the estate. What about me? Am I not worthy of inheriting something?” Simon asked, the tone of his voice becoming more sinister.

“Simon, you’ve had enough to drink. You know far well that it is the eldest son who inherits the title and estate.” Gerald sighed, pressing his thumbs to his temples to massage the tension there.

“I’ll show them! I’ll make my own mark, you’ll see!” Simon exclaimed, pointing a finger in the air, as if he had gotten some marvelous revelation.

“Stop it, Simon. You are making a complete spectacle of yourself,” Gerald hissed, swatting his brother on the shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.

Simon turned to him, his expression darkening, but before he dared to say another word, Gerald him.

“I think it best we go home.” He sighed, rising from his seat. “Come.”

“No, it is still early!” Simon protested, raising a glass of rum into the air. “We still have so much more to do!”

“Yes, that includes sleeping,” Gerald said harshly, causing his brother’s ears to retract like those of a scolded puppy. “Come now, I won’t be asking you again.”

“What are you going to do, Your Grace? Drag me out of my seat?” Simon challenged, to which Gerald responded with silence.

Simon knew fully well that his brother was capable of doing so, so he started to rise from his seat slowly. He let out a slew of insults as he stood up, but Gerald maintained his composure.

“Thank you for the evening, Lord Oakvale,” Gerald said as he looked over at Joshua, who remained seated.

Joshua lifted his glass in response, a silent acknowledgment that allowed Gerald to lead his brother out of the club.

“I asked you for one simple favor tonight, but it appears that you find it far too complex,” Gerald said through gritted teeth as they awaited their carriage outside. “Now, you are more inebriated than ever.”

“Oh, look at me, the Duke of Powell!” Simon mocked, throwing his hands in the air. “I have absolutely no idea how to have a good time!”

Gerald looked at his brother, clenching his fists to prevent himself from hitting him. As the carriage stopped in front of them, he climbed inside in silence, not bothering to help his brother.

“A helping hand would be nice,” Simon huffed after his fifth attempt to step into the carriage.

Gerald stretched out his arm for Simon to grab onto and then pulled him inside with such force that he practically fell into the carriage. It took him a while to settle into his seat.

* * *

Katherine awoke to a familiar sound, and the sound informed her exactly how the night had gone for the two brothers. She could only guess that despite Gerald’s attempts to persuade Simon otherwise, he was heavily under the influence of alcohol.

“Come on now, Simon!” Katherine heard a distant muffle from downstairs. Though she was barely able to make out the sentences, she could tell that Gerald was angry.

She quickly lit a candle and put on her slippers. Before she knew it, she was standing just outside her bedroom door, listening. Curiosity had gotten the best of her.

“Dragging me out of there, treating me like I’m some kind of nuisance!” Simon yelled, having no regard for anyone in the manor who might be asleep. “I am not a nuisance. I will prove that to all of you! All of you!”

“Heaven’s sake, Simon! Look at how you’re stumbling!” Gerald hissed. “And keep your voice down, you don’t want to make the entire manor aware of your drunken state!”

“Simon, no!” he then yelled, causing Katherine to lurch a few steps forward. Something didn’t sound right. She feared their fight was escalating. “I will not fight someone who is drunk!”

“You always think you are so tough. The Duke of Powell, strong and untouchable!” Simon shouted, followed by a cry.

Was he trying to physically harm Gerald?

Katherine found herself at the top of the staircase, ready to run downstairs. She was unsure of why that had been her first response, as she would be incapable of fighting either of them. Yet, her heart clenched in fear, fear that Gerald might get hurt.

“Lord Simon!” she heard the butler exclaim.

Katherine had been unaware of his presence, possibly there to assist if things got worse than they already were.

“What is going on?” she heard a faint voice ask from behind her.

Anne was unable to sleep because of the commotion as well, even though her room was in the attic.

“I believe there is a quarrel between the two,” Katherine whispered to her. “I hope it will not escalate.”

“I’ll go check, Your Grace,” Anne offered before gently tightening her robe around herself and running down the stairs.

A part of Katherine wanted to follow her, but a larger part felt quite comfortable away from the fight.

“I dare you to throw another punch,” Gerald growled.

Katherine knew that those words could only mean trouble, especially when directed at Simon. She slowly started to descend the staircase, ready to intervene if needed.

“Lord Simon, no!” Anne shrieked, causing Katherine to run down the stairs. Her leg ached as she did so, but she kept up the quick pace.

Once Katherine had barged into the drawing room, it took her a moment to fully understand what was going on.

She looked over Gerald, but he appeared uninjured—unmoving, even. Yet, his expression made a chill run up her spine. Anger was a bleak understatement. But then she saw why.

Her painting lay on the floor, a hole piercing right through the middle. The piece she had spent hours painting was now torn to shreds.

“My coat!” Simon shouted in disgust, rubbing at the paint that smeared his elbow.

Katherine tuned out the slew of curses that followed, but watched as Anne crouched down beside the torn painting, gently picking it up by the sides.

Without a word, Gerald lunged at his brother, grabbing him by the collar of his now-ruined coat and backing him up against the wall. Simon gasped in both surprise and an effort to breathe.

“Your Grace!” Katherine exclaimed, stepping closer to them.

Gerald must have heard her, as the only other noises filling the room were Anne’s gasps as well as Simon’s heaving breaths. Yet, he was so overcome by his anger that he didn’t react to the sound of her voice.

“Put him down, Your Grace,” Katherine huffed, sounding more disappointed than angry. “He’s not worth it.”

At those words, Gerald loosened his grip and stepped back from his brother. Simon fell to his knees, coughing as he tried to catch his breath.

“To your quarters, now,” Gerald growled. The veins on his forehead throbbed, and for a moment, Katherine worried that they might burst.

“Yes, Father,” Simon snapped, slightly sobering up after the shock. “Ordering me around, since we no longer have a father. Right, Brother?”

“Go!” Gerald shouted, his voice echoing through the entire manor, causing Katherine to jump.

Simon turned around and stumbled out of the room as if nothing had truly happened. As if he had done nothing wrong in his entire life.

Silence fell over the drawing room. Katherine and Anne stood in a semi-circle, looking up at Gerald. His expression was slightly less angry, but no less frightening.

“I’m so sorry, Your Grace,” Anne said softly as she walked over to Katherine and handed her the torn remains of the painting she had poured her heart and soul into.

Katherine took the canvas from her, looking at it before gently placing it back on the easel. “It’s all right, nothing that I cannot paint again.”

She smiled, but in her heart, she was quite saddened by the sight of one of her best works torn to shreds.

“Duchess, I am so, so extremely sorry,” Gerald murmured, but his expression remained angry. “I promise to make him repay you in some manner.”

Katherine nodded.

The room fell quiet again, but the tension remained thick in the air. Everyone stood with their eyes trained on the floor, the flickering candlelight the only thing illuminating their surroundings.

“I am quite exhausted. I am going to bed,” Gerald said, wiping his eyes.

Katherine noticed the fatigue etched on his features. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him, despite the chaos that had just unfolded.

“It’s all right, Your Grace,” she reassured him, her voice soft with understanding. “You need rest. We can deal with this matter in the morning.”

Gerald nodded, grateful for her understanding. He turned toward Anne, who stood nearby, her expression a mix of concern and regret. “Thank you, Anne,” he said, his voice weary. “Please, see to it that Simon is safely escorted to his quarters.”

Anne nodded silently, her eyes downcast. She moved to follow Simon, who had already begun to climb up the staircase.

As she left, Gerald sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I don’t know what to do with him. He’s spiraling out of control.”

Katherine approached him, putting a gentle hand on his arm. “You’re doing the best you can, Your Grace. Sometimes, there’s only so much we can do for those we love.”

Gerald glanced at her, gratitude shining in his eyes. “Thank you.”

Katherine watched as he walked out of the drawing room, leaving her standing alone, staring at the ruined painting. She reached out a finger to gently touch the edge of one of the tears in the canvas.