Benedict The Jealous

Gina walked to her uncle's room and found the door ajar. She heard her uncle and aunt's voice and so she moved closer to the door. She wanted to hear what they spoke of.

'Whatever is your reason for being angry then? You do not want Ansley for Missy; shall you then stop him from getting Gina?' Donna's voice floated to Gina's ears.

'Edmund my brother has gotten everything in life. My father passed his ranch to him, and I fought for my place in this town. I shall not sit around and watch his daughter get betrothed before mine. Missy must get a suitor before Ansley marries Gina.' Benedict shouted.

Gina knew there was bad blood between her father and his brother, but she did not know how much it affected Benedict.

Benedict appeared to be a good man who enjoyed spending time with family but alas, there was always a skeleton in everyone's cupboard.

Benedict was jealous of his brother. He wanted everything his brother had but the only problem was Edmund was always a step farther than him.

'Calls for Missy have been impossible since you gave her that job. You must let Gina marry Ansley. Unless you want to ask him to take Missy's hand instead. Ansley is a good man. He has wealth and fame, what more could our Missy need?' Donna asked.

Gina only stood there, thinking about how she had been accepted with open arms since she got to the house but in truth, they did not like her as much as they showed.

She could not take any more of their words and so she made to leave the house. She knew how risky it was for her to go anywhere near Richard, but she had no choice.

She needed to tell Richard to seek her hand quickly before her uncle married her off to Ansley, his nemesis.

She went as far as the gate before her uncle stopped her.

'Gina, wherever are you running to? We must write a letter to your father at once. We must give him the good news.' Benedict said with a broad smile on his face.

Gina did not want anything more than insulting her uncle to his face at that moment. She wanted to tell him to stop pretending for she knew how he felt about her. But instead, she said:

'I needed some fresh air to think, but the letter is of importance too.'

Gina walked back into the house and followed her uncle to his study. The study was a big room with high ceilings. There were books on every shelf and there were shelves on every wall.

Gina did not understand why he had so many books, for to her, no one could read so much.

Benedict sat at his table and pulled out a feather from his drawer. He dipped it in ink and began writing on the plain paper before him.

'Gina dear, you must tell me what I shall write to your father on your behalf.'

Benedict had asked only out of courtesy, he did not want Gina feeling left out but in his letter to his brother, he wrote nothing that Gina had said.

'You must ask how he is doing.' Gina told her uncle.

Benedict nodded and smiled at his niece, but Gina saw through his smile. She saw him for who he really was. He was a jealous man that wanted everything his brother had.

'If that will be all, you may leave. Help your aunty prepare nonmete in the kitchen.' He signaled her to go with his hands.

Gine left the study, but she did not leave to help her aunty, instead, she went back to her room. She wanted to be alone and cry. She thought about her future and never had she pictured it with anyone other than Richard until that afternoon.

She did not like the image of attending functions and hanging on Ansley's arms. She did not like the idea of her children coming from Ansley's loins. She did not like the thought of Ansley touching her.

Gina fell asleep that afternoon and for the first time in a long time, she did not dream about Richard. Instead, she dreamt of Ansley chasing her around in his undergarment, telling her she was his betrothed.

While Gina was struggling to see Richard in her dream, he was trying to keep Missy out of his head.

Richard knew that Missy was never at the bar on Sundays because she traveled to Pumford with her family for the wrestling matches. Yet, he went to the bar.

He wanted to be around in the event of Missy showing up. He wanted to talk to her again like he had done the day before but instead of seeing Missy at the bar, he saw Tabitha.

Tabitha was a woman that did not tend to her concerns. She always liked to know what was happening with everyone and if anyone wanted to spread a rumor, telling Tabitha was the fastest way.

The townspeople even believed that her non-stop talking chased her husband and two daughters away.

'Richard, the girl is not here.' Tabitha gulped her tea.

She never drank, even when she went to the bar. It was like a culture for her not to drink.

'I do not know what you speak of.' Richard's eyes danced around the bar hoping to set on Missy's beautiful face.

'You do. Word has gone around on her. No man wants to seek her hand, but I know no man has touched her either. Her house is behind the tavern, you must call on her.' Tabitha widened her eyes.

'Whatever do you mean? I have come here to drink away my sorrows, shall you not let me be?' Richard looked at her with scorn.

'You may fool yourself, but you do not fool me. I hear that Missy is down to earth and you must make your intention known.' Tabitha smiled.

Richard wanted to take her advice, but he knew that he did not have the courage. He folded up like an umbrella whenever she was close to him.

'I cannot make my intention known. It is not easy.' He gulped his Barley.

At least Missy was not there to distract him from making the right choice on his drink.

'Whatever do you mean? During my time, men called with flowers and biscuits, and I do not think times have changed that much.' Tabitha said.

Richard looked at the old woman before him and at that moment, he did not want anything more than to take her advice.