Incognito

5

The past: Zacary Holden

A knock sounded but he refuses to show that he had heard it. Every day for the last week now his brother begs him to come out. Zacary doesn't have to hear the church bells to know it is four o'clock. It was the time of his mother's departure only a short week prior.

"Zac," Brooks sighs. "Will you please come out?" A thud sounds and Zacary doesn't have to look to sense that his brother is leaning his forehead upon the door. "I thought we could steal some cakes from the kitchen."

The ones Mother loved so. The iced ones with raspberry filling, delicate cream, and too much sugar, Zacary thought.

Brooks bribes always brought thoughts of their mother back.

Let's scare that maid by throwing a dead mouse at her.

Mother would have admonished us for that.

Come ride horses.

Mother loved that teeny, tiny waterfall we sometimes passed.

We can dance around in the ballroom till we have no energy left.

Mother's breathing was a dance in itself. Every breath was choreographed.

"Zac, it's not like she's dead. After she was the baby, she'll be back."

Zacary wasn't too sure of that.

"She wouldn't want you to lock yourself up like that."

Brooks stood there for ten seconds. He signs and leaves. Zacary rolls into the bed and pulls his duvet over his head.

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Zacary's ride to Leeland was disappointing. No men waved or shouted at his arrival. No woman called, swooned or fawned. No children cheered or stopped to gaze. It was nothing at all like when the Earl rode through.

He stops at no fewer than five shops to collect paraphernalia for his trip and no one does anything outside of their normal routine. At his smile, maidens continued to sweep. At his nod, the men did not bow. He could not understand how he could be so forgettable.

His curious ear did pick up some information at the baker's as he waited for a loaf of bread. Two men stood chatting as they puffed their pipes.

   "-It ain't Richard's gang."

   "How do you know?" the second man snaps.

   "My neighbor's cousin is that rambled and he said a mia pounced on him when he was coming down the King's road through Averie. She made head-toil outa there with his food but not before he jumped on his horse and grabbed his knife. He cut off her hood, long hair and all. He only made it back alive because he abandoned-"

   "Sir!" the baker's son called for Zacary, startling the men out of their story.

   "I thank you, fine lad." Zacary tips his hat to the men before leaving as one scowls.

He laughs as he keeps his horse on the way to Ryley's home. Full-grown men are spooked because of a tall-tale of a rogue woman living in the woods and robbing travelers of the King's road. It is almost as preposterous as the story that Richard was a runaway son from the second richest family in Averie, the first being his own. He smiles as he passes the mansion of the aforementioned family. The Roslin's wealth and charisma were their foundation. Though Roslin is only a sea merchant with a secret past and a son who has gone off in the King's war efforts and didn't return among the survivors, Roslin's social status was second only to the Holden's. That may be why Brooks choose Leeland as his earldom. His ulterior motive, however, was impressing Beth Roslin's parents since he already stole her heart.