The Enigma Of Albert Morris by Leo 11

 

Episode 11

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The most gargantuan alcazar was empty without lights seemed more like a haunted palace. ''My lord may I lighten the lamps?'' the butler said folding his hands over his coat.

''No you may not. Let my everything be dark as my inner self is right now.'' Edmund smoked several cigarettes.  The final one he dumped in the ash tray fell on the carpet. He began to pour whiskey in his glass. 

''What about dinner sir?'' 

''None, I am waiting for someone we'll have dinner together.''

''Shall I go lord?'' 

''Yes but keep an eye on the door.'' he dismissed him.

Edmund was in his early thirties. He was tall and handsome and had brown hair. His hair was long than the usual style. He removed his tie and unbuttoned his collar. He was waiting desperately for someone and that someone apparently took too long to arrive. 

Edmund Robinson Shaw, son of late Robinson Shaw who died two years ago and was survived by one legitimate son and only god knew how many more. If they all had been legitimate Edmund would have been polishing shoes on the roadside. Due to his father's such habits his mother divorced him and took Edmund away until the news of his father's death arrived. On their way back Lady Violet died in the carriage accident. Edmund was in another carriage and survived. He came here two years ago and since then there hasn't passed a night since he was alone. A new woman every night accompanied her. He got engaged with her cousin Greta last year. Greta a rich young girl but spoiled of a really dominating nature saw him in one party and wanted his dad to gift him to her regardless of her father's dismay the most scandalized engagement in the history of England took place amidst the gossip that this would only last a day.

People bet on their engagement. Greta was aware of his whereabouts and his weakness for women but she was not that wise. Time passed and everything was still normal. Edmund too got glued to Great and that was when people's mouths were open. This happiness was going well but one day when Greta came unannounced to his farm and found him with someone, that was the day of doom for him.

Greta humiliated him in the papers and announced disassociation with him and his family as they both were first cousins this segregation was enough to spoil his name for life. This then damaged his reputation officially. It wasn't that people weren't aware of him and his honor before but it wasn't published in papers before. Now he was famous for the name of Dorian Grey. 

Robinson Shaw was a Casanova but people honored him because he kept his word and had only one legitimate family. In Edmund's case he was not even worthy of a family.

He didn't cared what the people said, his mother kept him away from his father so that he could be a true gentleman but he turned out just like his father. Life was okay with him, during the day he would manage his business. At nights he would enjoy. Life had given him everything and he wanted nothing more until he saw Catherine. Catherine was different from all the women he had been with and something inside him craved for her badly. He never proposed to anyone although many young ladies still wanted to marry him because of his title and wealth but he was never interested in anyone more than one single night. 

The only woman he would have wanted to see as his wife and lady of his enormous palace declined his proposal by getting engaged in front of his eyes and in his own party with his arch nemesis.

''My friend why have you darkened the place this much?'' the man 's shadow appeared on the walls there was no sound except the crack of wood burning in his fireplace, the room was filled with the smell of tobacco and liquor.

''Where have you been?'' he finished his drink and started making another one for his friend.

''Turn on some lights first.'' he lit a lamp and sat down in front of him.  

''Let it be dark for I was born to be in the dark and nothing can enlighten my dark self.'' he was drunk and his eyelids were close.

''What if I enlighten this darkness of yours?'' the man who came to light seemed quiet close to him.

''How?'' he lifted his heavy eyes.

''You'll see just go get some sleep you have to rise up early for this good news secondly, we have another person against Catherine and Albert and that person may benefit us in some way but right now it's stupid to talk to you about anything. Pull yourself together if you really want Catherine here.'' he lifted him up and took him out of the hall.

Only the smoke remained in the little light.

 

                                         

 

Catherine took leave from Victoria and rode in the carriage. 

''I don't seem fit for you to roam the city alone.'' Victoria stopped her.

''Don't worry I'm going incognito no one will find out. It's just some necessary things I need and I have to go out how long will I sit here like a prisoner.'' she wore a cloak.

''Good but I am responsible for you now that you want go ahead I won't stop you but remember if anything bad happens you'll be the one to blame. I have numerous enemies in this city don't give them a chance to win.'' 

Catherine nodded and rode in the carriage.

She didn't tell Victoria she was going never to return. How could she live off someones mercy? She still had honor running as blood in her veins. It was early in the morning.

Victoria appointed her special guard to follow her and keep an eye on her.

Catherine's carriage was riding ahead.

''Listen Jamie, she shouldn't know at any cost that you are following her. Just keep an eye and give me full report on your return.'' 

Jamie was following her keeping a safe distance. Catherine's carriage was going towards the forest. Jamie got suspicious. Catherine signaled the carriage driver to stop when she entered the forest. 

Albert was waiting for her at the same spot where she had written him to meet her unaware that she was never to come. Albert had no idea where to search for her.

Catherine had stopped the carriage earlier. She didn't want anyone to know where she was going. She could have easily came here at dawn or even before but she didn't want to sneak anymore.

The forest was thick and suddenly some men came from the bushes. They had covered their faces.

''Who are you leave my way.'' Catherine backed off.

''I'm sorry lady you must accompany us, or we'll have to carry you.'' the man took her arm.

''Leave me I said. Helppppppppp.'' she yelled and the man covered her mouth. The other tied her hands on her back and made her sit in a carriage that was hiding in trees. Catherine shouted but only muffled sound came. '' Come on lady to your man now.'' The man took the reigns the other sat with Catherine and the carriage rode away swiftly.

Albert heard an echo he quickly looked around rode on to his horse and went towards the direction of the sound. There was nothing there upon reaching the end of the forest he saw a carriage. He got off his horse and searched the carriage.

''Where's your Lady?'' he asked the driver.

''I don't know she told me to wait here and went inside from there.'' he pointed towards the place from where he had just came.

He walked a little more and searched but found no one.

Jamie who was hiding behind a tree saw him. 

''Oh God where are you Catherine?''  

''I'm sure something is not right did your here some sound of someone yelling it came from so far I have no idea what it was but something inside me is telling me that it was Catherine.'' he looked around. His heart was beating fast as if it would explode any moment.

''Dear Lord Albert Morris,

I have learned about somethings that you have concealed from me. I have learned about a great deal of things that you did conceal from me. I was destitute but I never lived off anyone's mercy. I was much happier in Dover than to be here and be treated as such. I am leaving. I will leave forever and am sending your ring in the envelope. I hope we never meet again. Though what I felt for you was real but I can be sure whatever you did and said and felt for me was all nothing but a mercy or maybe you too are like Edmund.

I'm not yours,

Catherine Ayling.''

 

#enigmaofalbertmorris #drama #fantasy 

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