Orsen returned from work to find his brothers awaiting his arrival.

"Hello Ivan and Victor what is wrong?" Orsen asked.

"Our mother is marrying Clive. We wish to move out," Ivan said.

"Yes we have been clerking in the place of Julius cleaning up all those messes he made and untangling them like you ask, we have adult jobs and want our own place," Victor agreed.

"We will be paid will we not?" Ivan asked.

"That is true and I know we could not run without your help, of course you will be paid, and your stockholders as well but that money you won't get until you are twenty," Orsen said, not adding the or married part.

"Father owns many houses all we ask is to rent one with our wages," Ivan said, he could not stand Clive Martin or to be under the same rule and roof with the man.

"Roland has rented all the houses, but I have an idea, I have the servants quarters over the stable . . ." Orsen said hoping Abigail would not mind his brothers staying with them.

"How much do you rent it for and does it include room for my horse?" Victor asked.

"Free but it needs fixing up, certainly you can bring your pets and your horse I keep my horses at the station so I don't have to bother with a groom." Orsen said.

"Can we move in now?" Ivan asked.

"Sure but talk to mother just do not leave her not knowing where you have gone," Orsen said.

"We will do that," Victor promised.

"There is no way I am going to live there even if I had to move into the barracks with the drivers," Ivan murmered.

They watched him walk into the house.

"He is really upset, I couldn't just let him go off alone," Victor sighed.

"I thought he would be over his hatrid of the church it has been three years he is sixteen," Orsen said softly.

"I know but he really hates Clive, and Clive is a good man, older then mother, I would have hoped she would have found someone younger.

"Me too, our father was frisky for an elderly man I can not see Clive being so frisky," Orsen laughed.

"Neither can I. Thanks for taking us in I hope your wife doesn't get upset with you," Victor laughed.

Roland had decided his father needed a book to read and his supper, Pharnum was exhausted he was training Victor and Ivan as clerks.

"Roland I am so glad to see you, I have been doing a lot of thinking about what you said," Neils said.

"You have? Well that is good father." Roland said.

"I have never been happy since I was a child," Neils sighed.

"Sorry to hear that father." Roland said.

"Oh there has been times of happiness, when you were a child and when your siblings were born and growing up, I enjoyed you all so, poor Olaf has been greatly ignored I fear. But that is something I hope to repair," Neils explained.

"Sure it is Olaf loves you father," Roland said.

"He does," Neils said surprised, "Look Roland there is so much I want to tell you son, but lets start with your mother, she doesn't love me, she is a cold woman I married her to please my father, I went into the dray business to please father, but I have never wanted to marry your mother or to be in the dray business, so I am selling my share! Roland I was so furious with you for doing as you wished, because I couldn't you married the girl you love, you have the career you love!"

"So really you were jealous," Roland commented.

"Yes!" Neils said smiling, and part of me was very proud." Neils admitted.

"Well you should eat before what the cook sent gets cold," Roland said smiling. This was the man he had known as a boy.

"All right, son I want to be happy again, drinking just makes my misery worse afterwards," Neils sighed.

"Tell me what do you think would make you happy?" Roland asked, hoping it didn't envolve leaving his mother.

"Well when I was a child about my eldest grandsons age," Neils said smiling, "I had two goats Nan and Freddie, I was very fond of them I milked Nan and drove Freddie to a little cart my father had made. I always wanted a dairy when I grew up."

"A dairy," Roland laughed, he could see his father out milking goats and cows.

"Actually yes, and cheesemaking, no one knows how to make decent cheese its all yellow orange stuff unpalatable, I love good creammy cheese," Neils said, "You know little Maylissa Warwick used to bring the best cheese to your grandfather."

Roland smiled and nodded, perhaps this was a good idea.

"I brought you a book of your favourite poems and short stories, perhaps you would enjoy some reading." Roland said.

"Kind of you son, but my eyes only see blurs I can't even read the paper any more, afraid I inherited my mothers fading sight, my father could read the paper up until the day he died.

"Well then I will read to you," Roland said, and he did with his beautiful strong baritone voice and Neils felt good, the words he loved from the mouth of his favourite son, such elegant words and Roland always did read well aloud, even back in school.

Lewis arrived home just as the sun was setting, he saw Maurisa, and sighed, "Where were you?"

"Hello father," Maurisa said smiling sweetly.

"At church father, mother asked me to go tonight is the wedding rehearsal for Janette and Clive Martin, and we got to meet the new parson," Maurisa said, wondering where her father had been she smelled perfume on him, and not cheap stuff either, but then it was never cheap stuff.

"What is this new parson like someone at the public house said his name is Dubiose, a Frenchman?" Lewis asked.

"Yes the ladies say he is handsome, but he is old," she sighed.

"How old?" Lewis asked.

"Must be at least 23 or so, old," Maurisa laughed.

"I see," Lewis said, wondering why they had sent a Frenchman to a primarily English and Swedish village.

"I guess he is pretty handsome for an older man," she sighed.

"That is pretty young for a man of the cloth but I guess they have to start somewhere, how are your uncles taking the wedding?" Lewis asked.

"Liam is fine, as are Orsen, but Victor and Ivan weren't there," Maurisa said. Liam and her were good friends.

"That is to be expected tell Ivan if he needs someone to talk to he can come talk to me." Lewis said, thinking Ivan and he were alike on one level.

"I will father," she said wondering where he had been but knowing her mother would be upset if she asked.

"I guess we should go inside your mother is probably holding supper for us." Lewis said.

"She is," Maurisa said smiling.

Lewis nodded, he sure hoped he did a better with her then he had done with Ingrid. He didn't want his sweet Maurisa running off with some dreadful cad even if he was going to be a duke.

Astrid had always had a beautiful singing voice, but lately her voice had changed and it had a grating sound to it. The children would leave the room when she sang.

She was holding on to her cat and singing a lullaby. Lewis sighed, what was wrong with her.

"Hello my love, dinner is ready," she said noticing him.

"Good I am hungry. Are you going to the wedding?" Lewis asked.

"Are you going?" she asked cuddling that cat which glared at Lewis as if she would love to claw him good.

"Only if you do," Lewis said, thinking he would rather break his toe then attend anything with Neils present but maybe Jamie and Roland still had him locked up he hoped so he had to go over there later.

"If I am not to tired," Astrid sighed, and kissed him.

"All right," Lewis said.

"I love you," Astrid said smiling.

"I love you too," Lewis said.

"Why does he lie to her like that?" Thoren hissed.

"Be quiet Thoren, Richard." Maurisa sighed, she knew about her fathers affairs, but for some reason it made Thoren angry. She kind of understood, her father was youthful looking and handsome and their mother acted old and was sickly so much of the time.

I really hate him, Thoren thought glaring at his father.

"Father I went fishing with Joseph and Nicholas today," Richard said, "I caught my first fish."

"You did that is wonderful," Lewis said.

"Yeah it was a nice one too," Richard said.

"I want to see it after dinner." Lewis said.

"You can't mum let the cat eat it," Richard sighed.

Astrid laughed and said, "I am sorry son, she loves fish so much."

"I can not stand this farce," Thoren growled and jumped up and left the table.

"What is wrong with him?" Lewis asked.

"He does not like peas, I do," Richard said smiling.

"I do not know what is wrong with him he has been so testy lately, maybe he needs girlfriend," Astrid giggled.

"Mother," Maurise said but she couldn't help but smile.

"Richard spilled his milk again," Astrid sighed.

"Sorry mum," Richard said.

"I will clean it up," Lewis said.

Thoren hated his father, his mother was probably dying and what did he care he was off with some other woman.

He had followed him to some cottage near Rivers Edge, where some woman and his father were consorting in their sinful ways. He wished he could kill him but that would be a sin and he was his father. He decided to go talk to his friend Damon Chastain who worked at Swensen and Sons.

"I have to go over and see Olga," Lewis said.

"All right but can you come up and talk to me for a bit first?" Astrid asked.

"Maybe I should wait til morning?" Lewis said.

Thoren sighed and left the house, he wished that he had not made Ivan and Victor mad at him, he would like to move out but then he thought he could not leave his mother. Someone had to watch over her.

"It is up to you my love," Astrid said.

He had just heard his son stomp out of the house and he wanted to talk to Astrid about Thorin the lad seemed so cold and angry.

"Astrid something is wrong with Thoren," Lewis said.

"Oh he is a growing boy, I think he needs a woman maybe you could introduce him to one, if you know what I mean," Astrid cackled.

"I do not think that is the problem," Lewis sighed.

"Sure it is Niels was the same at that age, very surly glaring at papa all the time, all boys go through it Justin and Todd just dealt with it a lot better, but they also had plenty of ladies to call upon. Thoren is not as handsome as the other boys and I think he is having trouble finding someone," Astrid reasoned.

Lewis did not think that was it, but then he had never done with out female company when he was that age, and sadly Astrid was right he was a fat lazy toad of a boy, but then even Alan Keene had landed the beautiful Annabelle. Lewis felt like he had failed Thoren as a father but he was not sure how.

Early the next morning Pharnum went along to Orsens home. With Alexander out of town, Orsen was in charge and he had to tell someone what had happened.

"Someone is here darling, he says his name is Pharnum," Abigail said.

"Oh please show him in, Victor where is Ivan he better get something to eat we have a busy day ahead," Orsen sighed, wondering what Pharnum wanted.

"He said he was going to see our mother this morning," Victor sighed.

"Hello Pharnum do have a seat," Orsen said.

"I will be breif you know Roland and Jamie Warwick had Neils locked in the cellar at the company, well I went to give him his breakfast and he was gone, the worst is I think Chastain and your nephew Thoren had something to do with freeing him." Pharnum said.

"What is he thinking?" Ivan asked, "Where is Victor going?"

"I do not know perhaps to get his horse," Orsen reasoned, "My driver will be here in a bit we will all go to the station together."

Ivan shrugged he didn't understand what all the excitment was about. But Victor knew what was going on he had talked to Lewis yesterday at the pub and knew something was up, Neils was angry at Lewis and so was Thoren, and Thoren had a nasty temper.

"Goodmorning Lewis, sorry to meet you dressed so I have been a bit ill," Olga sighed.

"Sorry to hear that," Lewis said, "Roland said you had the documents I need, I am sorry to bother you but I need those so I can get this property."

"It's no bother, how is Astrid, I should stop by for a visit," Olga said.

"She would like it," Lewis said, feeling a bit uncomfortable when she followed him into bed chamber where it was obvious Neils worked. Lewis thought that was odd to have ones office in your bed chamber.

"He has all the properties in the ledger you can get the number and I will be able to get the correct document." she explained.

"Found it, very efficiant, I will need 17-36-0064" Lewis said smiling, he was impressed.

"Well Roland was supposed to come over and pick all this up but with Alexander out of town, and all that has happened he has not had time, but he told me to give you what you needed," she said.

"That is all I need," Lewis said, thinking Olga seemed somehow friendlier then usual.

Olga laughed, and said, "Well that was easy."

"Thank you so much, I am very grateful," Lewis said.

"Oh I will show you out, Olaf may have gone off," Olga sighed, "I thought I heard the door."

Suddenly there was Neils in the doorway with his horsepistol, the one Jamie had taken from him.

Neils swore and pointed the gun at Lewis.

"Not with my wife you will die." Neils roared.

"No please it is not as it looks," Lewis pleaded, he had always feared he would be killed by a cuckhold but this was not the case.

"Neils do not do this . . ." Olga screamed in disbelief.

Across the street the new parsons Bram Dubiose heard the gun discharge and jumped. Well he was in a very wild country not in gentle city of his birth, a young man rode past on a horse and there was quite a bit of shouting.

Bram wondered what he should do, Clive was gone to visit his wife to be and he had asked him to stay around the place.