"Explain". Master Franklin, who still looked puzzled from the revelation demanded from a nervous looking Mrs Clarkson.

Master Franklin, Lady Ashwell, Sir Anthony, Sir Sevêren and Mrs Clarkson were now seated in the drawing room of the Milford estate, while Evangeline stood behind Lord Lancelot. All the guests had been sent away and the maids had been asked to clean up the ballroom. Ella, however, was leaning against the door of the drawing room, evasdropping.

Lord Lancelot looked at the lad he had just been told was his son. Lord Lancelot did not look puzzled however, he rather looked annoyed that this had been kept from him all these years. He forced his gaze on Mrs Clarkson after Master Franklin asked her to explain.

Mrs Clarkson nearly cowered when the Duke began to glare at her. She imbibed her saliva, taking in a long shaky breath. She had sworn on her life that she would never speak of this, she swore this to the late Earl's wife but today, she could not keep the truth anymore, seeing that a father was about to commit the greatest sin of shooting his own son.

"Your grace". She addressed Lord Lancelot. "The Earl's wife had confided in me about your affair".

"You had an affair with my mother?!". Master Franklin raged.

Lord Lancelot rolled his eyes at him. "Yes we were together a few times but it was not enough to get her pregnant!".

"Was your wife not my mother's sister?. How could you?!". Master Franklin glowered. "You have no shame!".

"She had taken seed during the second month and she was certain the child she was carrying was yours".

"Why did she not tell me?!". Lord Lancelot hissed, clearly annoyed.

"She tried to, but you broke things off with her and nothing could be done". Mrs Clarkson bellowed.

"She could have written to me!. That is sensible enough is it not?!".

"After the child was born, and the late Earl got rid of Daniel, she feared that if she told you about the child's existence, you would take the child away from her and her husband would come to know of her infidelity". Mrs Clarkson explained.

"Daniel?. Who is Daniel?". Master Franklin frowned.

"Your father's illegitimate son". Sir Sevêren whispered.

Master Franklin turned sharply towards his assistant. "Illegitimate son?!. You knew my father had an illegitimate son and you never told me?. I do not understand. When?. Where is he?. Why have I not seen or heard from him?!". He demanded harshly.

"Your father had the child killed". Mrs Clarkson informed him.

"What?. No. This can not be. My father was a kind man. He would never do such a things". Master Franklin chided.

"He is not your father!". Lord Lancelot snapped at him. He was annoyed that the lad was still referring to the late Earl as his father. It irked him that he had lost out on all the years of raising his son. He would never know the joy of being a parent.

"Oh so now you want to claim me?". Master Franklin chuckled in vexation. "I do not see you as my father and I never will!". He sneered bitterly, intending to hurt the duke with his words.

"I do not intend to". Lord Lancelot muttered, even though he was offended by Master Franklin's words.

"The late Earl had given the boy to my father to get rid of him, but my father could not, so he kept the boy alive in secret for a few years". Sir Sevêren confessed, looking away from Master Franklin. He felt ashamed that he had his this secret from the duke.

"Are you saying you are the Earl's illegitimate son?!". Lady Ashwell gasped.

"No. Oh no. Not at all. I was not born then. I was born a few months after you were born". He said to the Earl.

"Then where is the boy?". Mrs Clarkson asked desperately.

"My father gave him away, to keep him safe. He sent the boy to a family friend in London".

"And my father's illegitimate son....what happened to his mother?". Master Franklin queried.

"The earl had her killed". Lord Lancelot answered this time.

"Oh dear lord!. So much blood shed!". Master Franklin gasped, feeling defeated.

"Who is the murderer now?". Lord Lancelot tittered at the already devastated Earl.

"Where can we find this illegitimate son. This Daniel?". Master Franklin asked, ignoring the duke.

"What is the need to find him. You are the Earl's heir". Lady Ashwell said unconformably.

"No I'm not. I'm not his blood". Master Franklin shook his head.

"But...".

"No Valencia!. I can not sit idle and enjoy what does not belong to me". Master Franklin insisted.

"Daniel might have been born by the late Earl's mistress but he was also not the Earl's son either". Mrs Clarkson confessed.

"What are you saying woman?!" Anthony demanded angrily. "Are you saying the earl is not my father?!".

"Your father?". Everyone asked at the same time.

Evangeline just sat there. Absorbing everything that was going on. It was a lot to take in but she also could not help but admit that Master Franklin did look similar to Lord Lancelot. She also notice his pain, seeing how stiff he sat.

"I am Anthony Daniel Milford. The late Earl's illegitimate son". Anthony confessed to the shock of everyone else.

"Liar!". Master Franklin screamed while pointing to him.

"I speak the truth!". Anthony insisted.

Mrs Clarkson stood, making her way towards Anthony. She touched the collar of his shirt and pulled it backwards revealing a birth mark. She gasped stepping back.

"What is it?!". Lady Ashwell demanded, feeling her heart race.

"Daniel had a unique birth mark. It is exactly the same on his neck". She pointed to Daniel's neck.

"But if you say he is not the late Earl's son then whose son is he?". Lord Lancelot inquired.

"I am his son". Anthony growled.

"No you are not!. The late Earl could not father a child". Mrs Clarkson confessed.

"How do you know this?". Lord Lancelot asked.

"None of his mistresses could bare him a child. If they ever did, the child would have golden hair and blue eyes. None of you have it". Mrs Clarkson answered.

"Then who is my father?!". Anthony sounded offended.

"I can not tell. No one knows". Mrs Clarkson told him.

"He killed my mother for nothing!". Anthony began to sob".

Lady Ashwell rushed to his side. "You thought you were the late Earl's son?. Is that why you insisted I marry Franklin so that we kill him?. Then you become my husband and Earl if Milford?". She whispered but everybody heard her.

"Kill me?. Valencia!". Madter Franklin was bewildered by this revelation.

Anthony shut his eyes and opened them, tears fell from his eyes. "I wanted revenge and I thought the only way was to make Valencia marry you and then when she becomes a widow I would marry her and become Earl of Milford".

"Marry her?. How?, why?!" Sir Severen was more confused.

"Because they are lovers. Lady Ashwell is not his cousin". Evangeline spoke softly from where she stood.

"What?!. How do you know this and why did you keep this from me?!"

Master Franklin questioned.

"I saw them together, the day you had arrived. They were kissing". Evangeline told the truth.

Master Franklin began to laugh like a lunatic. "All this while, my plan was to wed you so I could have access to your fortune, that I could teach my uncle a lesson for killing my father. But it turns out my uncle is my father and you were planning to kill me?!".

"Teach me a lesson?. I have wronged you in no way!. My fight was with your father. He stole from me and I am not a man to condone such acts of disloyalty!". Lord Lancelot seethed. "The impudence of you to try and seek revenge on me".

"He was your brother in law!. Could you not forgive him?!". Master Franklin screamed.

"The more reason why this betrayal hurt a lot!. Had I not found out of this, your father would have left me bankrupt!".

"What happens now?". Sevêren asked.

"I shall return to London with Valencia. I have no place here". Anthony said, still in tears but he managed to smile at Valencia.

"Forgive me Franklin but I love Anthony a lot. I have loved him since childhood". Lady Ashwell confessed.

Franklin nodded. "It is understandable but you do not have to leave. None of us are related to the Earl by blood but the world does not have to know about it. You can stay here in Milford for as long as you like". He offered.

"I doubt that Valencia would appreciate that. You know she is used to the city life". Anthony chuckled, wiping his tear stained face with the back of his hand.

"We shall invite you to the wedding and visit from time to time. You will come will you not?". Lady Ashwell asked Master Franklin while going over to his side to embrace him.

"That is fine. I shall be there". He embraced her.

"Come Valencia". Anthony took her hand and stepped out of the drawing room, startling Ella who was still pressed against the door. She came tumbling down much to everyone's shook.

"Ella, what is the meaning of this?!". Mrs Clarkson demanded. "You should be cleaning the ballroom with the other maids.

"I .... I..". She stuttered

"How much did you hear?!". Madter Franklin Demanded harshly.

"I promise no one will come to know. I shall keep this a secret your grace please". Ella assured him.

Franklin looked at Sir Sevêren and then back at Ella. "I do not trust her".

"I shall speak to her your grace. Please". Sir Sevêren begged.

"Fine". Master Franklin huffed.

"And Evangeline?". Ella asked desperately. She has to leave. She can not stay here!".

Mrs Clarkson rolled her eyes at Ella before turning to Lord Lancelot. "I have never seen you fight for a woman in this manner Lancelot. You must truly love Evangeline". She said in a low tone so that only him would hear.

He furrowed his brows. "Love?. I do not love her. I am only keeping her as tribute for her brother's misdeeds". He stated awkwardly.

Mrs Clarkson smiled. "Keep saying that and you might believe it". She chuckled, turning to Master Franklin. "Forgive me for not telling you the truth sooner. I had promised your mother on her dying bed".

"I understand". He nodded.

Just then, two guards came in, dragging Wendy with them. She was weeping and pleading with them as the duke of New Bridge followed behind them. Evangeline paled, seeing the diamond necklace in the hands of the duke. She looked at Wendy who glared at her in anger.

"What is the meaning of this?". Master Franklin furrowed his brows in annoyance at the spectacle unfolding.

"I suppose this is yours?". He held up the diamond necklace to Franklin.

"How did you get that?".

"This maid of yours sold it to me for a good sum. Then she tried to steal it from again inorder to sell it to someone else". The duke informed him.

"Oh you foolish and greedy child!". Mrs Clarkson hissed. "Have you no shame?. And how did you get it. I am certain she must have had help your grace".

Evangeline stiffened when Mrs Clarkson said this.

"Yes I had help!". Wendy hissed. She had been beaten badly.

'Who was it. Tell me!".

Lord Lancelot noticed how Evangeline tightened her fingers around the chair he sat on, from where she stood behind him. She looked so scared.

"It was Evangeline!".

"No. That is not true. Evangeline is not a thief!". Lord Lancelot defended, taking Evangeline's hand in his.

"Ask her then. That night she spent with you in your office. It was all a plan we hatched". She said with a wicked grin.

Franklin stared in disbelief. "Is this true?!. You were only with me to distract me?!". He snapped at Evangeline who instantly broke into tears.

"I knew she was no good!. You have to get rid of her your grace!". Ella pressed.

"Evangeline is this true?!. Answer me!". The Earl demanded. If this was true, it might everything in his life was a lie. He felt defeated.

"I had no choice. She threatened to tell on me everything she knew about me. I was frightened. Evangeline sobbed.

Lancelot let go of her hand and stood, slapping her hard across her face. He was disappointed in her.

Evangeline winched. "Forgive me your grace. I had no choice". She fell to his knees.

"You gave yourself to the Earl inorder to aid her to steal, yet you refused to bed me for a good amount of fortune?. How hypocritical of you". The Duke of New Bridge spat.

"I did not not sleep with him. Please Master Franklin do confess the truth. I was never intimate with you or anyone else". She begged frantically.

Franklin glared at her. How could he have thought her to be naive and innocent. She was a conniving chit. Looking at his father, he smirked. No he had still not forgiven the man. He would seek his revenge and what better way to start by making him think Evangeline had laid with him. He would punish both of them at once. Killing two birds with one stone.

"Perhaps the alcohol that night had clouded your memory but we did lay together, many times. And as much as it was pleasurable and fulfilling, I do not wish to have a thief for a mistress. Lord Lancelot you may have your mistress. Please take her with you. I do not want to set eyes on her ever again on my lands!". He spat.

"No no. Please speak the truth!". Evangeline cried out.

"Enough of this Evangeline!. I will deal with you when we arrive in Castor!". Lord Lancelot grabbed her roughly by arm and began to lead her away.

Sevêren reached for her, feeling sorry for her. He knew the Earl was telling a lie but he was torn between supporting his friend or defending the maid. Ella batted his hand away from Evangeline, eyeing him angrily as Evangeline was dragged away by the duke

"And this one?". The duke asked, hissing at Wendy.

"Do as you may with her". Master Franklin frowned. "She is no longer welcomed here". He turned to Mrs Clarkson. "Please take the necklace and return it to my chamber".

"Yes your grace". Mrs Clarkson collected the necklace and left just as the duke had his guard drag Wendy away.

"Please leave me. I wish to be alone". Master Franklin said to Ella and Sir Sevêren.

They nodded in understanding and left, closing the door behind them. Once they were gone, Franklin fell to his knees and cried. What has he done?!. He was well aware of his father's temper. Poor Evangeline was going to suffer terribly at the hands of of his father but she had fooled him and it hurt him a lot. He could not forgive that. All his life, anytime someone hurt him, the only way he knew how to pay them back was to make them suffer as well.

Drama ...

#sighs dramatically...