Gambling

Leoandro didn't want to stay away from his home now. He wished to arrive in London as soon as possible.

But he couldn't do anything about it. It took days or months to travel from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

Meanwhile, they visited many counties or islands and could learn about numerous beautiful cultures.

In his spacious chamber, Leoandro was sleeping on his bed holding his wife's recent letters close to his heart while some previously written letters were scattered all over the bed.

The broken seal of the viscount and battered condition of the letters gave clear proof that he read the letters countless times.

After some time someone planted a knock on the lord's door. Leoandro once again pulled out from his dreamland and groaned in annoyance.

He scanned the hourglass, it was placed on the nightstand near the bed, sand almost shifted to the other side of the hourglass, which means almost six hours have passed.

When he woke up first, it was noon, and the sun shone brightly in the sky but now the sun almost set to the horizon. It meant he was trying to nap all day in his chamber.

*knock!!

A person hit his knuckles at the door and produced a noise but before he could repeat his action, Leoandro unlocked the door.

"Yes, lad what do you want now?"

This time Leoandro invited the young man politely while remaining his signature frown on his face. His brows were already twisted with disturbance.

"Lord Hughes, all the officers are gathered in the dining hall. They asking for your presence Sir only if you are fine with it. They are concerned about your health from last night. How are you feeling now? They requesting an answer from you. They are worried since you spend all day in your chamber. "

The young man respectively explained his situation to Leoandro. He was sent by some officers to fetch an answer from him.

" I'm fine. Tell the officers I will join them soon for dinner".

Leoandro replied in a stern voice. The young man then took his leave, back to the officers to grace them with the lord's answer.

*Bang!

As soon as the messenger left the spot, Leoandro shut the door lightly but with a little force. His body was feeling much better than before. He hurriedly gathered all the letters from his bed and ties them in a bundle with the help of a silk thread.

After that, he placed the bundle again in his desk the first drawer. As followed by the time, he freshen up and changed into his formal attire.

Black trousers narrowly fitted and reached the top of his black shoe, he paired them with a plain white linen shirt. He wore a black waistcoat and frock coat for a formal look and complete his attire by grabbing a hat from the stand.

He stepped out of his chamber and locked the door behind him. Then, he measured his way to the dining hall.

As he established his first step into the banquet hall, it roared with the thunder of clapping. All the officials stand up and admired lord Leoandro for his bravery.

He took off his hat and bowed down as a sign of gratitude.

Then he and some of his officials dive into their heated discussion at the dinner table with these high-rank officers.

Their discussion mostly wandered around the colonialism and spreading of the British empire.

But Leandro wasn't interested in any of these. He was simply getting bored by listening to blabbing, he precisely wanted to return to his chamber and tried to drift into sleep.

So he could again dream about his wife Elizabeth. He merely joined this voyage for his adventures.

All the officers were representatives of the East Asia Company. But it was a company, so simply they just did business.

He figured out how selfish and brutal were their means. One example was colonialism. They assumed they were accomplishing a great work

But they didn't how rapidly they were destroying, centuries-old culture and civilization. Diversity is the essence of the world. Was not it boring to see the same things and manners everywhere?

They supplied defense services too but their soldier was solely their product and they were even more disposable if they did not belong to their county.

But he knew, one day these things going to bite their @$$es. But as a fellow countryman, he didn't dare to voice his thoughts.

He just posed there on his chair and half-heartedly listen to their bragging. After some time he finally bid them farewell and returned to his chamber.

But after, tossing and turning a few times Leoandro finally left his bed in annoyance.

He was getting frustrated at himself with every passing moment, he learned that he wasn't able to find any sleep since he rested all day long and he didn't want to read the letters again and board on an emotional roller-coaster.

Thus he decided to treat himself to a goblet of his favorite wine and for the second time, he left his chamber and legged toward the winery.

At the bar, Leoandro sitting on a luxurious couch enjoying his wine while lost in his thoughts when a familiar voice grabbed his attention.

"Hello, Lord Hughes. Enjoying your wine without any companion... it's pretty lonely. "

The voice belonged to Lord Franklin one of Leoandro's formal associates. Leoandro came out from his chain of thoughts and acknowledge his presence.

"Hello, Lord Franklin. I'm not feeling sleepy so l decided to fetch myself a goblet of wine and my desire drive me here,"

He responded with a cold and formal tone. Lord Franklin was a nobleman and owned a hefty property and such as every other nobleman, he loved to smoke and gamble.

He was dressed in a frock coat, black narrow-fitted trousers, and black shoes, along with a piece of antique chain clock always tugged in his waistcoat pocket. A cane and a smoke pipe held a permanent spot in Lord Fraklin's hands.

"I and my friends are sitting beside your couch. We are playing cards. I just merely wanted to ask your permission, would you appreciate joining us for a game? I insist please, sir".

Lord Franklin asked him with hope in his eyes.

"Of course, why not I'm also getting bored here alone. I want some of my friend's company. But I warned you to be ready to lose your money. Since you invite me first don't cry over the spilled milk. "

Leoandro's voice held confidence, he was aware of what kind of attitude they were going to display. He shot up from his couch and proceeded toward their table while Lord Franklin leads the way.

After a formal introduction with Lord Franklin's friends, Leoandro seized the chair opposite lord Franklin. They commenced the game and the distribution of the cards was fairly done by the host.

Cards were divided among the six players. Within a few turns, Leoandro made all the other four leave the table empty-handed. He won three full houses in a row and now there were only Lord Franklin and Lord Leoandro remaining in the game. Once again cards were distributed among the two players.

As Lord Franklin verified his cards, he knew, he lost the game and yes.., once again Leoandro hit a full house.

Leoandro collected all the gold coins from the table and put them in a bag. There were fifty gold coins.

" You make us broke man, I have no money left on us. You made our pockets cry for help".

Lord Franklin exclaimed with annoyance laced in his voice. He gambled all his money which he saved for the rest of the joinery.

"I warned you but it is you, who insisted..... "

Leonardo playfully replied to him and raised from his chair and thanked them for good company. He was strolling towards the door when a voice from behind halted his steps.

" I have something for you Lord Hughes. "

...

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