Aubrey 38

 Chapter 38

***

"You'll be Ms. Sandalwood, then."

The name sounded oddly familiar, even though she hadn't accomplished anything yet. Of course, she didn't think she could be a teacher. She hadn't studied, and she hadn't gone to school, but she couldn't help but let a small smile creep across her lips. Yes, being a professional would suit her better than being a noble.

"But, Miss Aubrey. I don't think that's something I'd recommend."

"What?"

"You're a noblewoman, after all. I heard your maternal grandfather was Baron Herbaldi."

To his eyes, it looked like Aubrey was trying to do something useless. Nicholas narrowed his eyes, as if to say that if she was a noblewoman, why would she need a job?

"I don't particularly aspire to be a teacher, I'm just bored." 

It was only after Aubrey answered that Nicholas's face lifted.

"You do indeed have an unusual hobby, my lady."

"My tastes are rather peculiar, Master."

She replied to the pun that had been so cleverly placed. And so they chatted for a while.

"You're coming to the ship's ball, aren't you?"

Aubrey stared at him, wondering what he meant, and he laughed and explained. There's a Duke of Hemburg in the province of Delonique, and his old son was hosting a ball.

"He's rumored to be quite eccentric, but no one spends more money than he does. It must be a great party."

Nicholas rambled on and on about how unique and cool the ball had been last year, and Aubrey chimed in with just the right amount of enthusiasm.

"It sounds like so much fun."

Of course, she had no intention of going.

***

On the Place de la Touraine, well-dressed gentlemen walked in pairs. Their black frock coats, silk hats, and even the canes in their hands were identical. Jeffrik was no different. The season was at the height of summer, and the sun was shining with an unusually intense intensity. Jeffrik grimaced, his face looking particularly sensitive, and stepped into the purple awning of the shop.

It was dark inside the pub, as if it were at a different time than outside. Only a few lights were on because they were broken. A dank, cellar-like odor assaulted his nostrils. If it weren't for the weirdo, Jeffrik would have been the last person to enter the shop, but as he poked around inside, he spotted a man who raised his hand in a sly way toward him.

He was sitting on a black leather couch at the very back of the shop, his fat body looking like it was going to spill over today. It was Murfrio Hamburg, the old son of the Duke of Hamburg. Jeffrik sat down opposite him and removed his hat, and Murfrio spoke to him reproachfully.

"I shouldn't see you like this."

"I'm sorry, sir, but something urgent came up."

Then Jeffrik remembered the disturbance a few days earlier. Barbara's niece, who had been a nuisance, had done this. A runaway with a note, he thought, and it made him sick to his stomach.

"How is the Duke of Hemburg?"

Jeffrik asked, and Murfrio shook his head.

"The old man will outlive me. And he's not even blinking yet, damn it."

With that, he raised his glass. The golden liquid and a few ice cubes floated in the glass, which he shook roughly, then drained in one swift gulp. Jeffrik was disgusted by the gross behavior, but didn't show it.

"I'll find some poisonous herbs and add them to the soup."

Jeffrik laughed and turned the tables, for Murfrio Hemburg certainly had a side to him that was not normal.

"What's the use of a knighthood, sir, when you've already got everything you need, your honor is enough."

Jeffrik was more proud of his nobility than anyone else in the world, but not in front of Murfrio. Times had changed. Now, without power and wealth, even the noblest of nobles could be reduced to nothing. In that sense, Murfrio was a rising sun.

The heir to the venerable Duke of Hamburg, but with an aging father who would have to shit on the wall to inherit the title, Murfrio took advantage of his family's vineyards to start a winery. Soon, his wines were spreading by word of mouth, and even the royal family became a favorite.

His wines were certainly special. With a secret recipe that made it sweet without the addition of syrup or sugar, Jeffrik was one of the first to invest in Murfrio's wine business. The decision was made with the understanding that his liquor would dominate the world's drinking culture in the future. Besides, if the Duke of Hemburg died, he would inherit an enormous title.

It made sense to invest. Of course, Barbara knew nothing.

"I have a question."

A gruff voice spoke.

"You have a lady who you’re sponsoring?”

Why is that person being mentioned here? Jeffrik frowned involuntarily, then hastily cleared his throat.

"The lady's my wife’s niece. She has nowhere to go, so we're taking her in for a while."

"I hear she's quite beautiful."

"..."

It dawned on Jeffrik that Murfrio had sought him out, and not just because of the ship's ball. The ship's ball was no ordinary social event, either.

It was a beautiful party on a giant cruise ship, and it was all about finding Murfrio's third wife. Catching the whole thing in hindsight, Jeffrik hurriedly searched for a cigar. Murfrio handed him his own and asked.

"What is the lady's name?"

As he nervously lit his cigar, Jeffrik’s mind flashed to a young lady who was just as pretty as Murfrio had said. She looked like Barbara in her youth. No, she was hardly a child anymore. 

Barbara Herbaldi, the beautiful woman who had caught his eye even in the crowded square. Aubrey had grown up to look just like her.

That girl was going to be a pain in the ass. A woman of pitiful circumstances and stunning beauty was sure to be the talk of the town. 

The name of House Ravant was being chewed on like a hot potato. Jeffrik hated it. This unwanted intruder in his quiet, peaceful home, tearing everything apart and, a few days ago, running away from home.

She was even disturbed that damned Count Lavonne. He's a man who sounded like he'd like to be put out of his misery as quickly and quietly as possible. Jeffrik looked Murfrio up and down once more. He looked well past forty, and his age was evident. 

Half-bald head, sweat beading on his bare forehead, a nose shaped like a fist like his father's, and a body like a muffin top. His eyes were like a hummingbird hunting its prey.

"I'd like to meet the lady."

Murfrio grinned sickeningly, as if Jeffrik was supposed to know what he meant.

 ***

Sitting in the parlor, sipping hot milk tea, Barbara's eyes widened at the unexpected invitation.

"What is this?"

She looked it up and down as Jeffrik handed it to her.

"It's an invitation from Lord Hemburg, but it's already on Emily's way."

"It's not Emily's."

She stopped herself from tearing open the envelope.

"Murfrio said he wanted to invite Aubrey."

"What the....... Why all of a sudden?"

Jeffrik ran his tongue around the inside of his mouth. His wife was looking up at him with innocent eyes. She wouldn't know. Why Murfrio had been traveling around Rhoden and the surrounding country for years now, holding balls.

"He must have heard about Aubrey somewhere. He said that if she’s a patron of the Ravant family, she should be treated with respect."

The vague excuse fell on deaf ears. Barbara carefully resealed the envelope she was about to tear open and set it down.

"Honey, sit down for a minute, I need to discuss something with you."

Heading for the bedroom, Jeffrik plopped down on the couch as if he couldn't resist.

"Aubrey says she wants to study."

"What?"

Jeffrik’s face scrunched up at the unexpected words. Barbara nodded her head once, as if to ask him to listen carefully, then continued.

"She said she wanted to do something for her future, and I think she's right."

"What the hell are you talking about......."

Jeffrik wanted to jump up and scream at the top of his lungs, suddenly studying for something. Let her grow up until she was nineteen at the most, and then she'd find a man and marry him.

"What is she going to study now?"

Jeffrik asked, his voice thick with frustration.

"What is she studying now, how, and for what?"

"She doesn’t know that yet."

“She doesn’t even know that!"

"What does she know? She hasn't studied anything before, so she's going to start now."

He couldn't believe the girl was picking things to give him more trouble. His decision to give Aubrey away in the first place was purely based on her getting married. Providing for her future was not part of his plan. 

Aubrey's plight hadn't moved him at all. Aubrey's tale of woe made no impression on him; it was a marriage that had been arranged against his family's wishes, and that was that.

"So? What do you want to do about it?"

"I was thinking of giving her a tutor......."

"Does that mean she's a scholar now?"

"Don't say that."

"No. It's the way it is. We've done enough for her, and she's even accepted that cool-headed bastard's offer, and you know how that turned out, don't you?"

Jeffrik had been furious when he'd heard about the screenplay with Count Lavonne. She had nothing better to do, he said, than to work with such a madman, but the job fell through, and when Aubrey left the house, his blood pressure spiked.

"That was Count  Lavonne's business......."

"Why would he do that?!"

Jeffrik shouted, his voice rising uncontrollably.

"That madman didn't deserve it! Aubrey must have done something wrong for him to disrespect our family like that!"

In truth, the scenario was a busted ego for Jeffrik. It was a family affair, even if there were extenuating circumstances. Something that would never have happened if the Count of Lavonne hadn't seen fit to honor his family name.

"I've done everything I can for her, but do you have any idea what she's doing to our house?"

In a way, he was right, and Barbara had no words, only a weary sigh.

"Tell her."

Jeffrik pointed to the invitation on Barbara's thigh.

"Don't even think about studying, just attend that ball."

***

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