Chapter 8 - The Scapegoat

Lucas shook Darian again. "Please wake up. I hope what I'm thinking is wrong." Veins were popping on his face. He ran his hand through Darian's golden hair, then he placed his hand on Darian's shoulder again. Darian clicked his teeth. Then one eye gently popped open.

Lucas heaved a sigh of relief. The boy had just been sleeping. Darian's two eyes opened. The next was a yawn. "You're up, champ?" Lucas asked.

Darian's eyes slowly adjusted. "Dad?"

"It is dinner time. You were late. So, I thought to bring you myself. Are you not hungry?"

"I overslept, Dad," Darian said.

"Well, a boy needs his rest. Follow me to the dining room now," Lucas said as he rose to his feet. Darian followed behind his father, still wiping his eyes with one hand.

When the door of the dining room opened and Ally saw Darian standing there, she almost fell off her seat. Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead. Her eyes widened, and the cutlery fell from her hands. When the cutlery hit the plate, it made a slight clanging sound. Lucas acted like he did not see her reaction. He made Darian sit on the chair next to him, and they ate their dinner in silence.

For the longest time, Ally just sat there, watching in silence. Her chest was heaving. Lucas kept at his food and engaged Darian in chats. Darian kept responding to his father, and his laughter echoed in the room.

Ally bit her lower lip, then she balled both fists. She rose to her feet and stormed out of the place. Lucas raised one eyebrow, but he did not stir.

***

The next day, Darian was walking around the house freely. He no longer did any chores, and now the servants respected him. They greeted him at every turn. He heard some noise coming from the back of the house. Darian hurried there to see what had happened.

The back of the house was surrounded by a vast garden. Outside the door, the cook, John, knelt on the floor with his hands clasped together. Ally towered over him. She was in a green dress with silver embroidery. Her hands were folded at her abdomen. Her face was tense and tight. Behind her were servants who were throwing the chef’s things out. Darian walked closer to the scene. John was begging, "My lady, please do not kick me out. I have been faithful to you. I have done everything you wanted. I have served your parents diligently, then I came to your home." He bowed till his head touched the floor. "I am faithful to you. Please don't make me lose my job."

Ally scoffed. "You are a liar. Not just that, you are also disobedient. Get out of my sight!"

As Darian watched, he wondered what the cook had done to make Lady Ally Featherington so angry. At that moment, Darian felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see his father, Lord Lucas Featherington, in a black suit. His father flashed him a smile, then he raised his head and gazed attentively at the scene in front of him. He kept silent as he watched for a few minutes. Then he took Darian’s hand and led him. Lucas walked closer until he was visible to Ally. Ally bowed, "My Lord."

Lucas cleared his throat. "Rise, my lady. I see a scene here. Please can you tell me all that is happening here?"

Ally spoke, "My Lord, I am just handling the staff. The chef has been failing in his duties. I believe it is time we relieve him of them."

Lucas tipped the side of his mustache. "That is strange. His food has been especially tasty to me recently. He handles the kitchen as usual."

"Thank you, My Lord," John said.

Ally shot daggers at John with her eyes. "You will not speak until I, or the Lord, allows you to."

John froze.

Ally turned back to Lucas. "My Lord, his hygiene has been horrible recently. I believe he has become slack in his duties because he has served as head chef for a long time. I have personally seen him do this, and I have warned him about this several times."

She turned to John again. "Is that not so, John?"

John swallowed the lump in his throat, and then he nodded his head like an agama lizard.

Ally continued, "He has refused to change. As the lady of the house, it is my duty to consider the health and welfare of the family above every other thing. I cannot imagine any of the children falling sick because of John's mistakes. My Lord, I think it is best we relieve him. I have already found a replacement."

Lucas turned to John. "Tell me what you did that made the lady mad at you. If you tell me the truth, you might get your job back. Tell me the whole truth now."

Ally gave a false chuckle. "My Lord, what do you mean by that? My words should be enough on this matter. I have already summarized his crimes to you. There is no need for John to speak."

Lucas sighed. "On the contrary, my lady. It is wrong to hear from only one side. To be a just judge, I must hear from both sides. Except you want to tell me—and everyone—that I am not worthy of such a right."

Ally curtsied. "I did not mean that, my Lord."

"Very well," Lord Lucas said. He turned to John. "John, this is your chance. If you say the truth, I will spare you. What did you do that made Lady Ally Featherington want to fire you?"

As Darian watched, he wondered what was playing out before him. Why was his father so determined to hear the cook speak? Also, why was Lady Ally Featherington nervously playing with her fingers? Blood had drained from her face, and she looked pale.

The chef kept rubbing his hands together. "Please spare me, sir. Please spare me. I promise, I will never act in such a way again. I promise I will not do anything like that again. Please just let me have my job back."

Ally pointed at John. "You see, my Lord, he is admitting what he did wrong. Let us throw him out of here at once!"

Lucas lowered his eyes. "Do you know I can throw you into prison for toying with the health of this family? I won't just fire you, I will punish you in jail. The only way to save yourself is by telling me your own side of the story. Then, I might consider sparing you."

"Prison?" John screamed. "I do not want to go to prison, sir. Please don't take me to prison. Please spare me. Prison is a horrible place and I do not want to go there."

Ally clicked her teeth. "If you do not want to go there, then you know what to do. I will not repeat myself."

John’s eyes rested on Lucas, then he turned to see Ally Featherington sweating. Her chest was swelling, and her lips were tightly pressed together as if they were clenched. Her fingers were rested below her abdomen, but she was tightly pulling at one finger.

Lucas turned to Ally. "My lady, you do not look well. Maybe you should go into your room and rest. I will sort this out myself."

Ally replied stiffly, "I thank the Lord for his care. But I must stay here and do my duty as the lady of the house. I have to make sure John here does not go above his limits." She was breathing heavily.

Lucas turned away and smiled. He asked Darian, "Don't you want to know, my dear son? Are you curious?"