A WIN

A WIN


Michael’s POV

The carriage came to a halt at the foot of the mountains and I was the first to alight followed by Lord Worthington. Yes, scratch that. Lord Worthington had followed me to the foot of the mountains.

Not even Madison was aware of the arrangement and as far as I’m concerned, her mother Elizabeth Worthington knows nothing about the entire situation.

Eliot was the one who wheeled the carraige down here and we had left as early as 4 am but unlike Madison, we didn’t come bearing food items or supplies.

Lord Worthington adjusted his shawl and then turned to me. “Let’s get this over with. I’m freezing out here,”

“Of course, My Lord,” I replied and adjusted my hand gloves. Then I turned to Eliot. “Why don’t you watch over the carriage? We’ll be back soon,”

Eliot nodded.

I took the lead while Lord Worthington followed closely behind.

“I can’t believe my daughter comes here every week. It’s so cold out here and the road is terrible,” he lamented as we made our way to the settlement.

He stopped.

I turned around and quickly rushed toward him. I noticed that his boots were stuck in the snow. I hurried toward him, held onto his hands, and pulled.

He got out with a groan, shook his head, and followed me down the settlement. We reached the tents and stopped in front of Marcus’s.

“Give me a moment,” I told the Lord and walked toward the entrance. I knocked on the fragile door. “Marcus, are you in there?”

I heard some movement and moments later, Marcus stepped out. It appears my presence was sensed by many because shortly after Marcus emerged, several others began to come out of their tents.

Soon, I was surrounded by the whole community. The children with their blistered feet and tattered clothes kept looking around, perhaps for some crumbs.

“I thought you said you won’t be showing up here again,” Marcus pointed out with a smile.

I sighed and turned around, exposing the man who had been standing behind me all this time.

Marcus narrowed his gaze and saw the Lord. His eyes widened in horror and he turned to me with a dropped jaw.

I walked back to Lord Worthington and stood beside him. I noticed that he was sweeping his gaze across the entire field.

A toddler crawled toward him and grabbed his shoes. “Hello!”

Lord Worthington narrowed his gaze to the baby. I caught her mother watching from a distance. She seemed to be in a state of shock hence she couldn’t come to get her baby.

The whole population had shocked expressions spread across their faces.

“Bread!” The baby cried out.

Her mother suddenly mustered courage, came forward, and swept the baby from the cold ground.

“I’m very sorry, my Lord,” she fell to her knees.

The crowd began to retreat. At that point, Marcus came forward and fell to his knees. Then he joined his palms together before Lord Worthington if he was praying to him.

“We are very sorry for …

Marcus stopped. He couldn’t go any further because he simply didn’t know what to apologize for. They never broke the outcast rule. They had remained confined to the foot of the mountains for twenty-eight years. Perhaps, he could apologize for the raid that birthed their punishment twenty-eight years ago.

Lord Worthington immediately turned around and started heading back. I was about to run after him when Marcus grabbed my hand.

“What have you done?” His voice rang with terror.

I patted his arm. “I just need you to trust me,”

He sighed and I pulled away.

I hurried after Lord Worthington and no words were spoken between us even after we reached the carriage. We both settled in the carriage and Elliot wheeled it back to the province.

Lord Worthington had an unreadable expression on his face and I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind.  

\~~~~

The rest of the day went normally or should I say I was drowning in anxiety while managing to stay afloat. Thank Goodness, Madison had been occupied the whole day with the gala she was planning with her mother so she barely read my countenance. Lord Worthington had not said anything since we returned from the foot of the mountains and now, it’s dinner time.

I pulled out the chair next to Madison and sat. She smiled. The domestic staff began to decorate our plates.

Lord Worthington cleared his throat loudly and turned to his wife. “I’ve been thinking, Elizabeth”

“About what?”

“The outcast situation!” He spat.

I’m sure Madison’s heart somersaulted because of the look on her face but on my part, I had a strong conviction that he was raising the issue for a good cause.

“Okay..” Lady Worthington slurred.

“You know, this morning, I took a stroll and ended up there,”

Lady Worthington’s spoon slipped from her grasp and fell on the table. “You went there?”

He stretched his hand toward the table and held her. “I landed there by accident,”

I smiled.

Madison leaned toward me. “Is there something I should know?”

“Just pay attention,” I replied.

“You know, their condition should not be celebrated even though I wanted them to pay for their crimes more than anything in the world but trust me, they are barely surviving out there,”

“Wow!” Madison mumbled. She turned to me. “He went there?”

“Just pay attention,” I whispered back to her.

“Serves them right,” Lady Worthington fired back. “They deserve to rot there for what they did to my daughter,”

I sighed.

“I think they’ve learned their lesson, my love. It’s been twenty-eight years and after what I saw today, I think we should give them a chance,” said Lord Worthington.

His wife’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. She turned to Madison. “Did you just listen to your father? He wants us to make peace with the people who tore our family apart,”

“I think it’s time, Mama. It’s been twenty-eight years and Lord Gregory is long dead,”

“Do not mention his name!” Lady Worthington raised a finger.

Madison sighed.

“I’m not saying we should integrate them into our society,” Lord Worthington continued. “I’m only willing to spare a few fertile land, a few cattle, and perhaps a few resources that should keep them alive while bearing in mind that they can’t break free from this curse,” he said.

I turned to Madison. She had stars in her eyes. I was excited too.

I knew it would be impossible for someone like Lord Worthington to turn away from the suffering of the outcasts if he could set his eyes on them and I’m glad he took the offer to follow me that morning.

This is a win for us.