Chapter Ten #3
It was a very leading thing to say, but Addax had planned it that way. He wanted to see if Bretherdale would explain his comment from the night of the wedding feast. Before he had a chance, however, Maximilian joined them, reining his excitable horse to a halt next to the carriage.
“That woman is by far the most impertinent, frustrating female I’ve ever had the misfortune to know,” he said angrily.
Addax could feel trouble brewing again. “Where is she going?”
Maximilian threw his thumb in the direction he’d come from. “Evidently, Alston is over the rise,” he said. “She wants to announce my arrival to the village we are about to pass through so the villagers can have the opportunity to see me. What do I care about a bunch of filthy peasants?”
“They are your vassals now,” Addax reminded him. “It would be good for them to know their new liege.”
Maximilian scratched his neck irritably.
“I do not care,” he said flatly. “In fact, I already hate this place. These towns, the castle—I haven’t even seen the castle yet and I cannot stand it.
I’m going to leave that woman at Alston and go about my business.
I have no intention of spending any time here. ”
Addax looked to Claudius to address that comment, because he didn’t really have the right to. Claudius was clearly unhappy with his son’s attitude, but given he’d forced him into the marriage, it wasn’t as if he could condemn him. He had every right to be upset.
“I would suggest you at least pretend to be a benevolent lord,” Claudius said.
“Most of these people work in the mines, I would imagine. Ernest told me some time ago that nearly everyone in his lands has something to do with the mines. If those working your mines do not like you, as your liege, bad things can happen.”
Maximilian frowned. “Like what?”
Claudius was frank. “Production can suffer,” he said.
“They may not want to work hard for you. They may also steal from you. Max, I know you are only seeing the money in this marriage, but if your vassals decide not to work the mines because they do not like you, and production of the ore suffers, your wealth will be limited. You will spend it faster than you make it, and, eventually, you will be destitute. If that happens, I will not lift a finger to help you.”
Maximilian shrugged. “What do I care?” he said. “I will simply go back on the tournament circuit. I do not need the de Witt money.”
Claudius had to rethink his strategy, because listening to his son talk, he couldn’t be sure that the man wasn’t going to deliberately run the operation into the ground.
“Then if you do not care, as you put it, turn the mining over to me,” he said. “I will manage it. I will handle your workers and vassals. But I will also take a percentage of it.”
“But it is my money.”
“Money you’ll not have if you destroy everything de Witt has built,” Claudius said.
“Are you truly that foolish, boy? I never thought I raised an idiot, but your behavior since your marriage has indicated otherwise. It has disgusted your friends. It has disgusted me. There are men who would give everything they have for a marriage like this, yet you treat it like a disease. Wise up before it is too late, Maximilian.”
The fatherly scolding had Maximilian reconsidering somewhat, mostly because he knew his father was right. He’d been handed an advantageous marriage, and he knew it.
But he still wasn’t happy with it.
Frustrated, he rolled his eyes.
“Very well,” he said. “You take charge of the mines. Do what you will with them. But most of the money coming from them is mine.”
“We will work out something agreeable to us both.”
“Good,” Maximilian said. They were drawing closer to the village now, and they could see people gathering in the street, greeting Emmeline as she came through.
Maximilian could see her, and he sighed sharply.
“Whatever happens, I do not plan to be here for long. Long enough to take whatever money I can and visit every tavern from here to Carlisle. In fact… as I recall, there is a lady I met at a tournament in Kendal who resides in Penrith. That is not far from here, is it?”
“Nay, it is not far,” Claudius said. “About a day’s ride to the west.”
Maximilian nodded. “Then that is where I shall go,” he said. “I’ll spend my wife’s money on a certain young lady, and my wife will have nothing to say about it. Papa, the mining operation is yours. Administer it in good health!”
With that, he spurred his horse forward, riding into the village just ahead of the escort as Emmeline announced him to the villagers who were standing around.
Addax could hear her voice in the distance.
But he turned to Claudius, still inside the carriage, noting that Claudius didn’t seem too thrilled.
“Did you think he was going to react like this to a marriage?” Addax asked quietly. “Because I did not know this side of him. I am not entirely sure I like it.”
Claudius didn’t have an answer for him, mostly because he agreed.
He wasn’t entirely sure he liked it, either.