Chapter 1: Prologue

Part One: Gwendolyn

The Duke looked up as his sister-in-law came in, his brother in tow. He groaned, knowing fully well why they were there.

"I'm not giving up on you!" His sister-in-law began, hands on her hips. "At least meet her once, you will surely like her." The Duke's eyes fell on his brother. His brother only shrugged, letting him know that it's all his wife's idea.

"Martha..."

"You don't even have to mention your title to her, she will love you no matter what. Trust me, she is the best girl for you." She interrupted him, pleading earnestly. He sighed, no matter how many times he refuses, she won't give it up.

"Martha..."

"I have a plan. You can test her if you want... Don't marry her until you're sure you're in love with her."

"At least give it a try. What do you have to lose anyway?" His brother put in.

"Precious time to do more important things."

"Oh tosh! You have worked five years into the future. Also, dear brother-in-law, you can come back anytime there is an emergency." 

"Please stop this, Martha. I am not..."

"Would I ever mislead you?" Her voice sounded hurt and her eyes watered immediately.

"I only want to see you happy." With that said, she turned around and ran out. The two men stayed silent for some minutes, then the younger one spoke.

"She is right, you know? We want to see you happy again. You rarely smile unless it's a fake smile to welcome your guests or it's for our new baby." He paused and looked around the study room.

"I trust Martha and if this girl is related to her, I trust that she will be the one to cure you of your heartbreak." He looked sternly at his brother. "Find her, she has a plan that will amuse even you." He left.

An hour later, after the Duke went over the plan with his joyous sister-in-law, he took his horse and headed for Durnca. All he had to do was look for Benjamin Crutoe, ask for permission to court his daughter, and then they start the next phase of the plan.

Of course he didn't understand why he had to live in the town, there may be people who would recognize him and he couldn't fake being a simple man for a long time and be away from his work.

Of course he had agreed to Martha's plan, but who said he couldn't change it up a little? Maybe think of a different approach to things and take this amateur plan closer to his Dukedom it would be easier for him to rush over whenever.

Like Rashord! It wasn't far from Arana and the house there was isolated, no one would even get to see him, let alone recognise him. Maybe he could change the plans and send Martha a letter to inform her of the change of plans; at least he's far away to hear her protests.

"I hope you are worth it, lady." The Duke muttered to himself.

He got to Durnca and stopped first at the pub as his sister-in-law had suggested. Either Benjamin was there or he could ask anyone and they will point to where he was.

"Boy." He beckoned on the skinny lad that stood by the stable next to the pub.

"Yes, Sire?"

"You look after the horses?" The lad nodded immediately, grabbing the reins of the horse.

"Look after him." The Duke threw a small bag of money to the lad whose jaw dropped.

"Where can I find Benjamin Crumtoe?"

"He... he in..."

"Relax boy." The Duke snapped lightly.

"In there, sire." The boy pointed at the pub. The Duke looked inside the pub to see different men drinking and gambling loudly.

"Which is he?"

"There Sire, the one in the brown shirt." The boy pointed at one of the gamblers, a drink in one hand and the dice in the other.

"Thank you." The Duke threw a few more coins into the lad's hand and walked into the pub, making sure no one noticed him. He sat at a far table and observed, thinking of what to say to a drunk.

"Ol' Benjamin! If I win, what do I get?" The other gambler asked Benjamin. He was also very drunk.

"One keg of rum." Ben answered, grinning to reveal equally brown teeth.

"Ah! No no no. I have won enough to last me a week. No more rum." The other said, patting the three kegs of rum by his side.

"Well, what you want?? A chicken?"

"Not a chicken! I lost a cattle to you, a cattle! Know how much that cost me? I want something big." 

"My daughter won't let me touch her animals, I have nothing else except rum." The Duke's ears perked up as Benjamin mentioned his daughter.

"Bossy little lass, ain't she?" The gambler asked and everyone laughed.

"Ya won't have to worry about her anymore if ya lose her to me. Why don't you bet her instead? Then you can have the animals." 

"Don't you already have enough wives and even more bastards? What you want my girl for?"

"You ask me that? She's the prettiest thing in this town, ain't any of my wives beautiful like she is. Hell, even if I put all of them together, they still won't compare." The others nodded their approval and pressed on Benjamin to accept.

"Oh, okay! The girl never wants to go away anyway. I bet my beautiful daughter." The other cheered and they continued the game.

The Duke sat uneasily in his chair as he waited for the outcome. What were the drunks thinking? You can't bet someone's life.

They cheered again and he looked from one to the other, wanting to know who won.

"Well, I just won me a new wife." They cheered again.

The Duke relaxed in his chair; things just got interesting.