A Moment Of Weakness

Joanne and Victoria sat on the balcony, chatting and giggling like they've known each other since childhood. They were hatching another plan against Daemon, but they couldn't resist dishing out the latest town gossip. Victoria, though no longer working at the pleasure house, still kept close ties with the women there.

Her connection to the Windsor family gave her access to rich men, whom she'd introduce to women from the pleasure house in exchange for money or jewelry. Daemon knew about this arrangement but didn't care, as long as she was keeping it quiet. As they chatted, Richard approached them and exchanged pleasantries with Victoria.

Joanne, however, responded coldly and detached. Richard nodded with a smile and left, sensing the chill. Victoria turned to Joanne with a knowing smile.

"I've been around the block, my darling. I know men and women. You, my dear, don't love your husband." Joanne didn't deny it. She married Richard only because she got pregnant, her heart belonging to another.

"I've never loved him," she admitted. "He's pitiful, unbearable. An orphan. I only pity him. He begged me to marry him." Victoria offered words of advice.

"He might be all that. But, he's a good man. You don't find those easily, look at what I have to deal with. Make the most out of your sorry situation." Joanne sipped her tea with a calculating expression.

"I married him for security. He owns a large plantation. A library and a jewelry shop. I have ensured my son's future, but my future needs to be ensured, I cannot have it with him." Victoria nodded in understanding.

"We're in a similar situation, except I wish to have a future with Daemon. We were meant to be friends after all."

Meanwhile, Lady Emily emerged from her self-isolation, determined to rein in Daemon's wild behavior to protect the family's reputation. She devised a plan to marry him off to Lilian Catwright as soon as possible.

She visited Lady Elena, proposing a formal annulment of Daemon's marriage to Eleanor, who had been absent and presumed dead. Lady Elena was stunned, feeling betrayed by Lady Emily's sudden change of heart.

"You can't do this to me!" Lady Elena exclaimed. Lady Emily remained resolute.

"The promise was fulfilled, the debt repaid. Your daughter left, my son stayed, but he needs to move on. We all do. House Windsor wants the marriage annulled." Lady Elena reminded her that annulment in Eleanor's absence was against the law, but Lady Emily scoffed,

"House Windsor is the law. I must protect the interest of my family. Things have changed, and I must adapt." Lady Emily's visit ended abruptly, leaving Lady Elena fuming and biting her nails. News of lady Emily's plan to wed Daemon to Lilian soon reached Victoria, who stormed into the house, her face red with anger.

"Ah, perfect timing!" Lady Emily exclaimed with gleaming excitement. Victoria, shaking with rage, addressed Lady Emily as "Mother," but she corrected her sternly,

"I am not your mother. You don't belong here. Just because my son had a moment of weakness and became rebellious doesn't make you relevant to him, or this family. Leave and take your bastard with you. I have a wedding to plan."

Victoria stood her ground,

"Daerion is the rightful heir to this family; you cannot take that from him." Lady Emily sneered,

"Oh, yes I can. In the grand scheme of things, your bastard doesn't exist in this family, he is just one of many. When Daemon and sweet Lilian are married, they will have legitimate children, not bastards. Do you understand the difference?" Lady Emily stood up from her rocking chair and walked to Victoria.

"Now, get out!" She ordered, pointing towards the door. Victoria left with anger and frustration. Meanwhile, Joanne and Richard were at odds again. Joanne felt Richard wasn't doing enough, while Richard accused her of being selfish. She reminded him that he had begged her to marry him.

Richard looked at their son and said

"He's the reason I put up with you." Joanne shot back,

"He's the reason I married you." Her words cut deep, like a sharp sword.

Richard stormed out of the house, mounted his horse, and rose away without a clear direction. He was lost in thought, unaware of how far he'd gone. Loretta spotted him and called out his name, snapping him back to reality.

"Hi," he said, waving, and dismounted his horse as she ran to him excitedly. Loretta noticed Richard's downcast expression and asked with a soft tone,

"Wife trouble?" He nodded, exhausted. Loretta told him he was far from home but in the right place. She offered to make him happy and worry less.

"I really need that," he replied. He asked about Eleanor, and Loretta reassured him about her wellbeing. Loretta took Richard to a pleasure house, leaving him confused and mesmerized. He had never been to such a place before. The sight of beautiful women and their bare breasts left him wide-eyed and mouth agape.

Loretta could tell it was his first time. He became uncomfortable, but Loretta offered him wine to loosen up and enjoy himself. He gulped down the wine like a thirsty man in the desert. The wine soon took effect, changing his behaviour. Richard was finally letting loose, enjoying a much – needed break from Joanne and her constant nagging.

He danced with abandon, feeling carefree and happy, and drank more wine to keep the good times rolling. Loretta watched him with a smile, then joined him on the dance floor. Together, they moved in perfect sync, their bodies swaying to the music. As they danced, their movements became more sensual, their bodies drawn to each other.

Richard's hands wandered to Loretta's neck and chest, sending shivers down her spine. They soon found themselves lost in a passionate kiss, their lips dancing together in a drunken haze. As the night wore on, Loretta suggested they take their revelry to a private room within the pleasure house.

Richard, eager to explore his sexual desires and fantasies, agreed. He confessed that he had always wanted to experiment sexually, but Joanne's uptight nature had held him back. Loretta, sensing an opportunity, offered to fulfill his fantasies. They chose a pleasure lady to join them, and the three of them made their way to the bedroom.

Inside, Richard's lips moved between Loretta's and the pleasure lady, savoring the taste of their kisses. He asked the pleasure lady for her name, and she replied,

"Flower," as she began to unbutton his shirt. As they lay together on the bed, the trio shared a deep and tender moment. The warmth of their bodies and the soft candlelight created a sense of comfort and pleasure. They moaned, and laughed, their eyes locked on each other, and their hands gently caressing one another.

The atmosphere was filled with a sense of freedom and acceptance for Richard, allowing him to be his true self. Their bodies connected on a deeper level, and they shared a soft, and gentle kiss. The morning after their passionate night together, Richard woke up to find Flower and Loretta still fast asleep beside him.

He stared at them and smiled happily, feeling content and relaxed. He shut his eyes to sleep a bit longer.

Meanwhile, Joanne was seething with anger. She had been searching for Richard all night, but he was nowhere to be found. She felt abandoned and worried about their child. Determined to confront him, she sought out Victoria's help. However, Victoria was dealing with her own problems and didn't want to get involved.

Richard, Loretta and Flower finally woke up, smiling at each other. They had shared a wonderful night, and Richard hoped to repeat the experience. As they left the pleasure house, Francis spotted Richard and Loretta's sight, clenching his fist in anger.

"So, she's moved on to another man," he thought. Francis decided to investigate and find out who Loretta was with. Loretta bid Richard farewell and went her separate way. Francis followed her, but Flower intercepted him and led him back into the pleasure house.

Flower's charming smile and playful demeanor quickly caught him off guard, and he found himself enjoying her company. As the day went on, Richard couldn't shake off the feelings of happiness he had experienced with Loretta and flower. He hoped to see them again soon.

Little did he know, Francis was plotting his next move against him. Joanne, still fuming with anger, sought out other ways to get Richard's attention by poisoning their son. She was determined to make Richard pay for abandoning her. The situation was about to get more complicated when Richard arrived and saw her putting herbs together.

It was as if Joanne froze in time, but before Richard could say anything, she threw the herbal mix at him screaming about how he had abandoned her. As she started to shove him, Richard held her hands and pushed her to the ground. She was stunned by his actions. He gazed at her and walked away.