A Few Bad Apples
Tales from the Kingdom of Tyndall #8
Lord Wedgewood stood in his newly constructed manor on the island of Pride. His presence on the island had ensured that the manor was completed on time. He was the first lord on the island to be able to say that his construction was complete. Now his focus shifted to the planning of the Pride Island Welcoming Ball, which was being held here at his estate.
If Lord Wedgewood was honest with himself, his people would take care of the planning of the actual event, his focus was on the three individuals that he had pinpointed as the ones who needed to be shown that this island was not for them. Nostrum, Remington, and Lady Ambear. This was exactly why Lord Wedgewood was meeting with Lord Swift this afternoon.
Lord Wedgewood had sought out Lord Swift almost immediately as Wedgewood knew that he could be a strong ally here on the island. And so far, Lord Wedgewood had been proven right. Lord Swift was an influential man in his own right, but more importantly, Wedgewood could trust him. He could be trusted because Lord Wedgewood understood his desires, his motivation. He understood them because they were much the same as his own.
Percy, Lord Wedgewood’s servant, interrupted his thought by knocking on the door. “Sir, Lord Swift has arrived.”
“Very good, Percy, please show him to the back parlor, we will have tea there.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Lord Swift was already standing in the parlor when Lord Wedgewood entered the room. Lord Swift was a striking man. He stood a hair taller than Wedgewood. He kept his hair short, he had dark skin and green eyes. He was a gentleman, a businessman, and respected by many. Lord Wedgewood had also seen a few ladies swoon just by seeing Lord Swift enter a room.
“Lord Swift, thank you for coming,” said Wedgewood as the two lords shook hands.
“Of course. Your estate looks magnificent.”
“Thank you, it will serve its purpose, now won’t it.
“I do believe that it will.”
Both of them sat down at a table near a picture window, the sun filling the room with light. Percy entered, delivering a tray of tea and crumpets. He poured each lord a cup of tea before taking his leave again, leaving the men to their conversation.
“The ball approaches, and as we previously discussed it is in the best interest of the island that certain lords don’t see the ball as an opportunity but as a farewell,” stated Lord Wedgewood. “Let’s start with Nostrum.”
“Nostrum has already been dealt with,” responded Swift, a half-smile on his clean-shaven face.
Lord Wedgewood returned the smile, appreciating Swift’s abilities once again.
Swift continued, “He was easily bought off. His land will be resold to one who is more…” Lord Swift paused before finishing with… “appropriate.”
“Excellent. Actually, his land would serve quite well as an apple orchard. I will see to it that it becomes part of my holdings. We will soon be growing Pride Apples. Now, what of Lady Ambear, has she already been led to see reason?”
Swift shook his head. “No, she refuses to sell. She is committed to staying on the island.”
“That is a shame. Thankfully, I had thought that might be an issue. No matter, you will just have to marry her.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You are the most eligible bachelor on the island, no, in all of Tyndall. She will marry you without question, what you do at that point is up to you. You will then have her lands as the law is clear on such matters. Do with her as you will after that.”
“You do make it sound easier, then it perhaps will be,” replied Swift.
“Nonsense, any lady in all of Tyndall would agree to marry you, even for just a day. Now Remington, what have we learned of him.”
“He remains a mystery to us. He declined to sell when approached by another lord. No one knows his history, or how he could afford the land in the first place. It is strange though.”
“What do you mean?” asked Wedgewood.
“A lady has now been seen with him recently. She was not with him before and did not accompany him to the island. And she too is a mystery to us.”
“We will have to use the ball as our way of learning more about them, and then find a way to disgrace them. If his manor is as small as reports suggest, and no one knows who he is, it will be easy to discredit or embarrass him at the ball. Leave, Lord Remington, to me,” Lord Wedgewood advised. Mocking the name Lord Remington with the tone of his voice. “You, Lord Swift, will focus on wooing Lady Ambear.”
“Very well, it is not as though she is unpleasant to look at,” smiled Lord Swift.
Lord Wedgewood couldn’t help but smile. Everything was falling into place. “By the time the end of the ball has come, the island of Pride will be ready for the King’s arrival. And you and I…you and I will be rewarded.”