All Chapters of The Discarded Heir's Return : Chapter 21
- Chapter 30
87 chapters
Episode 21
A sliver of light from the hearth cast a warm glow on Lady Philippa face as she stood at the chamber door, already dressed in her crisp, blue work habit. Walking out from her own chambers, she saw her maid, Martha, holding a tray of steaming broth and medicine, about to step inside. “Is that for Grandmother?” Lady Philippa asked gently, her voice barely a whisper. Martha, startled, nodded and curtsied. “Aye, My lady. She’s had a bite to eat, and I was about to give her the draught.” Lady Philippa reached out and took the tray. “Thank you, Martha. I’ll see to her.” Martha bobbed her head and stepped back as Philippa pushed the door open and entered the room. The air inside the chamber was thick with the scent of herbs and aged parchment. Her grandmother, the matriarch of the family, was propped up on a mound of pillows, her face a map of deep-set wrinkles, and her eyes as sharp as ever. “Good morning, Grandmother,” Philippa said, her voice calm and cheerful. “Philippa, my dear
Episode 22
“Yo… You?” “Philippa’s breath caught, her fingers tightening around the folds of her gown, the words barely a whisper. “By the saints… You’re Lord Valerius III?” Lady Philippa blood ran cold. Leaning back in the high-backed lord’s chair, fingers steepled, was Arthur. A slow, proud smile spread across his face. Seeing Arthur's proud smile, Lady Philippa shifted her eyes back to the floor, heat flooding her cheeks. Her mind raining insults on the Peckham.. Craven dogs, Peckham. The chair Arthur was sitting suddenly creaked as he stood. He didn’t stand at her front directly. Instead, he slowly walk around her. Being this close to Arthur only made Philippa's body heat up the more as she held the hem of her dress tightly. “How ironic, Lady Philippa" Arthur's voice was a low, smooth murmur that seemed to send shiver throughout her skin. “The young man you wanted so badly to light your pipe and bow to you… turns out to be your new Master.” He paused, and Lady Philippa heard the so
Episode 23
The manor of the Peckham was silent, except for the crackling of the fire in the hearth. Earlier, the Old Lady had sent a page to Lady Philippa to find out if she was breaking her words after she side with them not to employ Arthur their discarded son-in-law. Right now, the family sat in a tense semi-circle waiting for the letter to aririve. Lord Gideon already left for his house after all, he got Smack three times on the face bu Lady Philippa. The grandmother was sitted in her high-backed chair, Lord Aethelred and his brother Lord Alistair was by the Old Lady's two side, their wives Eleanor and Gwyneth alongside them. Sir Godric lounged with an air of detached amusement, while the two granddaughters, Elara and Lady Maren, perched on the edge of their seats. They were all waiting for the pageboy to return. Just then, the heavy door creaked open, and a young page boy, his cap in his hands, scurried across the flagstones. He bowed to the Old Lady before, presenting a small, sea
Episode 24
Seeing the wretched state of Elara, and how her hands clasped to her cheeks, Arthur gave a smirk. If it was in the past that anyone dared to slap Elara, Arthur would have never spared them. How ironic that the lady he once adore and worship is the same lady he had so much disgust for.. Arthur not wanting to have anything to do with the unfaithful woman, pressed his right hand on Philippa shoulder and said, “Come on let's go.” Turning to Elara, he said, "Stop bothering me! I am no longer your man." Elara’s face turn paled at his words. She lowered her hand from her cheek and stomped her foot in a fit of pique. "Even if I no longer want a hound I've sheltered for five years, I would never give it away so casually!" she said, her chin suddenly high. "Arthur Blackwood, I command you to quit this guild at once and cease your service to Lady Philippa." Arthur nearly laughed aloud. He turned and sneered at Elara,. "How utterly fascinating that you now come running after me. The tables
Episode 25
Even after the carriage rode out from the gate, Arthur and Lady Philippa could still hear Elara running after them and yelling. Lady Philippa eyes shifted to Arthur whose face was very calm and devoid of any emotion. Seriously it was too hard to guess what he was thinking.. Sighing, Lady Philippa pulled her gaze away from Arthur and face outside the window. It was strange how quickly things could change. Had someone told her that the former son-in-law of the Peckham house was of the noble House of Valerius, and that he would now be her lord, she would have scoffed at them. Now thinking about it, Philippa became curious to know why Arthur had changed his name and agree to stay with the Peckham for five despite the ill treatment. Whatever it was, does it worth the humiliation he went through? Philippa thought. Just then, the carriage came to a stop breaking Philippa thoughts. She didn't even wait as she pushed the door of the carriage open. And stepping out, she let out the bre
Episode 26
Elara slammed her clay tankard onto the rough table, the contents isnide sloshing over the side. “Drink! By the gods, drink with me!” Beside her, Agatha, the tavern keeper’s daughter watch with amused eyes. She was the reason Elara sometimes spent so many evenings here. Agatha deftly take the tankard from Elara’s unsteady hand. “Easy now, my lady..." “No! Let me drink. That that high-born wench, Lady Philippa slapped me! I didn't do anything but speak plainly of my useless husband who is now working for her..." Agatha leaned closer, “So? Have you forgotten the old saying? ‘Look to the master before you strike the hound.’ Arthur is her worker now, of course she will defend him." Elara snatched the tankard back and drank it, a trickle of the drink tracing one side of her neck. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Arthur is a heartless knave. So what if i was caught with another man? What high-born lady hasn’t? Gods, Agatha, you’ve taken two lovers outside your vows!”
Episode 27
The first sun of day had barely touched the high stone window when Lady Cecilia eyes fluttered open. The space beside her in the big four-poster bed was cold and empty. “Hug…” she groaned, her voice lace with sleep. And her hand patted the crumpled sheets, finding it empty. Pushing herself up, she wrapped a simple robe around her bare shoulders and left from the room. The old floorboards of the castle’s upper corridor creaked under her feet as she followed the low clatter of pots and the scent of baking bread coming from the kitchen yard close by. She found Hugo there, by the big hearth, his broad back to her as he focus was on a sizzling pan of eggs and bacon. Seeing him like that already making breakfast only made Lady Cecilia stop in her track as a sharp pang of guilt twisted in her gut. Just a week ago, he was all she had dreamed of. The perfect man, handsome and loaded with money. Then Arthur happened, the son of the House of Valerius, the heir of the Brotherhood silver
Episode 28
"Kneel, you worthless dog!" The old Lady’s voice was sharp like a knife as she walk towards her chair. She gripped her chair, her face twisted with rage. Arthur ignore her as he stood still. A small smile touched his lips. He had put up with her and her family meanness for five years. He had endured her insults, and the way she looked at him as if he was dirt. Not anymore. The air in the room now was thick with anger. "You've forgotten your place, Arthur. My grandmother say you should knee!" Godric yelled. Seeing Arthur not willing to knee, the old Lady stood, a tall figure in her dark robes. "You dare? You, who I brought into this home? I raised a loyal dog from a pup, but you? You hit my grandson and stole from me!" "I stole nothing from you," Arthur said. "Lies!" She held up a wrapped wooden box with a on it. "This was in my locked box! How did it get to Sir Rolf?" Rolf, stepped forward. "Aye, lad. You came to me and gave me this Dragon's Eye Amulet for money. Said you w
Episode 29
"You miserable cur! Two hundred and seventy-five gold crowns more, you hear me? And that’s just for my men’s healers!” Seeing Godric following them, Rolf yelled. His face was full fury, his anger echoing off the stone walls of the stables of the Peckham Manor. He shook his broken hand, wrapped, in Godric pale face. Godric flinched for a moment, cowering against a carriage nearby. He was pathetically grateful that Rolf had not exposed him earlier in this his failed plan, even after taking such a beating. “Rolf, you… are you quite alright?” he stammered, his voice thin with embarrassment. Alright? Rolf spat on the cobblestones near Godric fine leather boots. “You set me on a dragon and called it a horse! Do I look alright? That money had better be in my hand by nightfall, or it’ll be more than my finger that’s broken.” “The coin is no trouble,” Godric rushed to say, his words tumbling over each other. “As long as that scoundrel if Arthur learns his place. You’ll… you’ll have him
Episode 30
Godric woke with a groan. The bed was cold where Mabel had been. He sat up, his head aching, and pulled on his robe. He crossed the room, poured a cup of water, and gulped it down to wash away the sour taste of ale. At the window, he threw open the shutters, and morning light spilled in. The streets below were already a bustling mess of merchants, carts, and shouting hawkers. Godric leaned on the sill, with the thoughts of last night flashing in his mind...Meanwhile, the heavy door of the council chamber of the Silver Hand Guild thudded shut, as Arthur walked inside of the room which was filled with the scent of polished wood and old parchment. He took his seat at the head of the table, the carved griffins on his chair’s high back seeming to watch the members in the room. Lady Philippa smoothed her skirts, the rustle of fine silk as she composed herself. Across the table, Lady Cecilia watched Philippa’s little act with a look that could break glass, her fingers tightening ar