CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

*

''Father?''

Duke De Beaumont drops Williams down and then faces him ''Pray tell me son, do you prefer to be a laughing stock in the whole of the province?''

''No Papa'' Williams sniffs

Duke nods ''Aye, would you rather go crying back to your mama, hide under her skirts and suckle at her breasts?''

Williams shakes his head ''No Papa''

''Aye, what do you want son, what do you want?'' he shakes his shoulders

''I want to be able to defend myself Papa'' he cried

''Aye, good answer''

''But Papa'' Adrian speaks up again