BXBX NOVEL Chapter 114 114 Howard
Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Howard
Her small throat contracted as her voice box rang with new orders;
"Vin, change of plans. I'm not going home just yet- take me to the Howard estate. I have some business to attend to. . ."
The heavily bearded driver answered her above the ruckus of the streets;
"As you wish my lady."
Inside the womb of the carriage, the blonde woman felt the turning of the carriage as the driver changed direction. She placed her hand in the strap above to steady herself- wondering if she had made the right call.
The Howard family and the Russell family used to be two peas in a pod.
Madeline's eyes burned in her sockets as she remembered the good old days, where both families would organize extravagant balls, lavish dinners, and joint hunting expeditions. Really, Madeline didn't give two shits about them- but her husband had considered them family.
The carriage bounced a little- disrupting the flow of her thoughts. In an instant, the vehicle regained its balance, and Madeline relapsed back into the sea of her memories. Drowning out the noise in the background, she tried to recall the exact moment the sweet family had turned into a set of backstabbing leeches.
It had all happened when Lord Russell had died.
He had been a jolly good fellow, but he had also been a prosperous lord. And in this continent, the mark of true prosperity was reflected in lands. Lord Russell had a fuck ton of land. They stretched out in acres, covering valleys, hills, and lush farmlands that bordered on streams of fresh clean water.
When he died, the vultures came in.
It didn't happen at once. It began slowly, in gentle encroachments, occasional poaching, and then all out trespassing. There were a lot of culprits involved. But the Howard family had done the most plundering- despite being closely affiliated with the Russell clan.
Mrs. Russell's hands clenched on the seat of the upholdstery.
Her flaming blue eyes burned wild, and her jaw tightened.
Thanks to Nexus' sperm fueling her, the lady's skills in magic had drastically improved. It was manifesting in other areas- but mostly in the form of her growing aggression. Yes, she was itching for a fight- or at least a confrontation.
She looked down on her hands, and saw the black smoke leaking out from her finger tips. The mana within her bubbled like boiling silver- trying to find its way out. Her eyes cackled with a surge of power, and her whole body reverberated like she was filled with uranium.
She knew it; she was at her peak stage.
No, she had passed her peak stage- and it was all thanks to Nexus.
The blonde matriarch smiled in the backseat of the coach as she leaned her head backwards against the soft velvety padding;
'Oh Nexus. . .' she thought dreamily; ". . .you are my family's lucky charm. . .my own personal gift from heaven. . .my reward from the fates. . .I would be a damn fool to let you go. . ."
Outside, the driver's voice rasped through above the cacophony of city life sounds;
"Estimated time of arrival is two minutes ma'am."
The announcement dragged Madeline out of her train of thoughts, and pulled her back into the present. While she had been submerged in her internal drama, time had flown by with a quickness.
As Madeline patted down her hair, the alloy rims of the carriage gradually slowed down till it grinded to a halt. She paused- waiting for it;
The round faced, underpaid, over eager guard yelled at the gate;
"Identify yourself!"
"The grand matriarch of the Russell clan, the duchess of Fauxex- Lady Madeline Russell!"
Hearing her own driver announce her title, made her feel alive even more. Outside, she heard the guard grunt- followed by the creaking of a large body of wood. The gate finally opened, and the black carriage poured into the estate.
The Howard estate sat on a fat stretch of arable land. The main building wasn't a castle really- but its pomp and prosperous ambience made it look like so. The main manor- a rectangular shaped duplex, sat at the very center of the estate.
It was flanked on all sides by strategically planted grape vines which happened to be the family business.
All around the manor, surrounding it like smaller satellite towns, and orbiting it like moons were smaller bunglaows- barns, stables, storehouses and staff quarters. Unlike the her own home, the grounds of this estate buzzed with activity.
Dozens of servants milled around, carrying pitchers of water, or freshly harvested grapes. The air was thick with the sweet fruity smell. The driver wheeled the carriage, and brought it right up to the entrance. The door opened for her by the hands of a young servant girl.
As Mrs. Russell stepped down, she drank in the air and the sights- it was one of prosperity and activity.
"You're welcome my Lady. Please come with me- Lord and Lady Howard are expecting you. . ."
Madeline's eyebrows shriveled as the carriage took off behind her; they already know I'm here? Of course, a fast running servant must have alerted them the moment she had appeared.
She walked up the stone paved pavement towards the entrance. Both sides of the path were flanked by lush green flowers. Suddenly, Matriarch Fitch appeared at the door way- wearing an all black garb and looking like a black widow spider.
Refusing to use her official title, she sreeched;
"If it isn't Madeline Russell in the flesh!"
Her eyes twinkled- but not in joy.
"Come now dear–" she spread out her hands to her; "Let me me take a good look at you!"
Madeline smiled politely at the middle aged woman;
"Lady Fitch, so nice to see you again after all these years."
"Indeed! My my, you look rather pale. . ." it was a lie; ". . .that illness really did a number on you!"
She smiled; "Thankfully that dreary chapter is all in the past now."
The old bird chuckled; "Oh dear, it's so sweet of you to remain hopeful."
They both hugged ostentatiously, barely touching each other at all- reflecting their inner repulsiveness. The host led the guest into the inner sanctum of the manor, and brought her straight to the living room.
It was massive. Fine upholdstery- the color of gold and milk, lined up the length and width of the marble floored room. An open fireplace sat on the wall opposite the armchairs. On the walls, life-sized portraits framed in gold, hung on the walls- spanning the generations of Howard men in the youth and glory.
"Karen!" the old bird barked at the servant in waiting; "Fetch some tea and cake for the Lady Russell!"
Madeline seethed.
She hadn't even bothered to ask her what she wanted.
"So Madeline, you've been out of the public eye for sometime now, how've you been?"
A male voice- ultra masculine, and super assertive, boomed from the other end of the room...