The Second Son Read online

  “Who threw the first punch?” asked the Headmaster.

  “I did, Sir,” replied Grenville.

  “Why?” asked the Headmaster.

  “My brother and his friend insulted the memory of my late recently departed grandfather, the tenth Duke of Hampshire,” said Grenville, standing a bit straighter as he spoke.

  “And your involvement, Simon-Smyth?” asked the Headmaster.

  “After the Earl of Eastleigh’s brother decided to violently attack him in an unprovoked manner, I felt honour bound to step in and protect the Earl of Eastleigh from further harm.”

  “Did you now,” replied the Headmaster, “and you two,” pointing at Hugo and Jonathan, “what part did you play in this Greek tragedy?”

  “I stopped Simon-Smyth here from harming my friend Grenville,” replied Hugo.

  “And you?” asked the Headmaster, pointing at Jonathan.

  “Nothing Sir, it all happened in the blink of an eye and was over before I could react,” said Jonathan.

  “No doubt,” said the Headmaster. “You three can go,” pointing at Stephan, Dexter and Jonathan, “you two stay where you are.” All three turned and left the Headmaster’s study; as they went, Stephan and Dexter had a triumphant smile on their faces. Jonathan left the Headmaster’s study looking glum.

  “Well, obviously, this was a matter of honour, and a personal disagreement between you Hampton boys,” said the Headmaster, “but I cannot let a breach of school rules and a lack of discipline go un-punished whatever the circumstances.”

  Grenville and Hugo nodded.

  “Three of the best for each of you.” Once the Headmaster had administered their punishment and before Grenville and Hugo left the Headmaster’s study, the Headmaster said, “I do hope this will be the last time we meet under these circumstances.” Grenville and Hugo both nodded solemnly. As they were departing the headmaster said, “I will be writing to both your parents and will raise your excellent conduct in this incident with them.” The Headmaster watched them depart and he smiled and said to himself, “You were right, Julian, my old friend, your grandson will be a credit to you.”

  As they walked back slowly to Walpole House, Grenville and Hugo were smiling. As they entered the Common Room the place was filled with the entire Walpole House, who as they entered cheered and clapped. Jonathan stepped forward and said, “The hero’s return,” and hugged them both, the House came and congratulated them, and to the surprise of Grenville he had been elevated somewhat in status for punching his very unpopular brother.

  That was the last time any incident occurred between Grenville and his brother. As the years passed, his brother finally went up to Cambridge, which left Grenville free to become Walpole House and Rayleigh School Head Boy, and as he pointed out to his father before he himself left for Cambridge, he was the first Hampton from the family in generations to become Rayleigh School Head Boy.

  Grenville, Jonathan and Hugo sat in the common room. “Well, our last day at Rayleigh School and Walpole House, going to kind of miss it,” said Hugo, smiling.

  “Are you?” said a surprised Jonathan.

  “Not the place, exactly, us three and the fun we had together.”

  “I know what you mean,” said Grenville.

  “We will keep in touch, won’t we?” Hugo asked.

  “Of course,” replied Jonathan.

  “No one can break the Walpole boys,” said Grenville, which made them all laugh.

  “So, what you going to do before you go up to Oxford, Hugo?” asked Jonathan.

  “Mother and father are off on a touring holiday around the South of France, so thought I would tag along for the ride,” replied Hugo.

  “Very nice,” said Grenville, smiling.

  “What about you, Jonathan?” asked Hugo.

  “Father has insisted before Cambridge I work in the family business, learning the workings of chambers before I start my law degree,” said Jonathan, looking glum.

  “Don’t worry old bean, it will all come out right in the end, when you inherit the firm and you are a top law court judge, you will look back and laugh,” said Grenville, smiling at Jonathan.

  “What you up to then, Grenville?” asked Hugo.

  “I am going to help out on one of the tenant farms,” replied Grenville, smiling.

  “That will keep you busy,” replied Hugo, smiling.

  “Well, anything to pass the time until Cambridge,” replied Grenville. They all stood and hugged each other.

  “Don’t be strangers,” said Jonathan.

  “Easy for you to say, you are both off to Cambridge,” replied Hugo.

  “Don’t worry,” said Grenville, “we won’t forget you.”

  “As if,” said a laughing Jonathan.

  Grenville was not looking forward to the forthcoming weekend. The Farthings who were coming were apparently bringing their daughter to meet his parents; for some strange reason the girl had obviously set her sights on Stephan and the family title. Her parents were as his late grandfather would have put it “new money, not blue.” This made Grenville smile, to think of his grandfather, which he often did.

  Grenville was reading the paper in the reading room. His mother had disappeared, no doubt to speak to the Preston’s on the arrangements for the weekend, and to make sure it all ran smoothly, when he heard the family Rolls Royce pull up in front of the Hall. Looking out of the windows he watched Newton open the car door for his father, the eleventh Duke of Hampshire. Newton then rushed round and opened the door for Stephan, his brother, the eleventh Earl of Eastleigh. “What a dick,” thought Grenville; his brother was such a snob.

  His father thanked Newton and strolled into the hall; Stephan ignored Newton and followed his father. Grenville noticed father and son were so different in appearance now: his father remained tall and thin, where his brother was shorter and getting rounder by the day and thinning on top, but both had the airs of the upper class. His brother Stephan certainly outshone his father with his arrogant and self-absorbed attitude. Grenville smiled. Being the second son was sometimes a blessing. He was not really bothered, he was left alone most of the time, unless like this weekend where he wanted something so he had to play the polite, attentive second son; but Grenville knew the effort would justify the rewards.

  Grenville was ready when he heard the gong go downstairs to announce that dinner was being served in thirty minutes. On entering the lounge, he was the first to arrive, which was a surprise. He was followed by his mother and father. Grenville went and kissed his mothers offered cheek, and shook his father’s hand. His father said, “So, my boy, how was Cambridge for the first year?”

  “Rather good, thank you father,” replied Grenville.

  “How is the degree going? Same one as I did,” asked his father.

  “Yes, father, Land Economy, going rather well thank you father,” replied Grenville smiling.

  “Your mother informs me you wish to travel this summer,” said his father.

  “Yes, Jonathan Spencer is planning to spend the summer backpacking in Belize,” replied Grenville.

  “I am sure it is a good opportunity for Grenville to get some world experience,” said his mother, smiling at Grenville.

  “Looks to me you have both decided,” said his father, laughing.

  “Decided what?” said Stephan, as he approached them.

  “Grenville here wants to backpack in Belize this summer,” said his father.

  “Good. Might keep him out of trouble and out of the way,” said Stephan.

  Just as Grenville was about to reply, Preston opened the lounge doors, and announced the Farthings. “May I present Mr Gerard and Mrs June Farthing and their daughter Sara Farthing.” Preston bowed and stepped aside to allow them to enter. Grenville hung back as his parents and his brother went over to greet their guests.

  Grenville was on his best behaviour for the whole weekend. He was very attentive, to a point that impressed his parents. “That boy must want to go to South Ameri
ca very badly indeed,” said James to Sofia, when they were alone in their room.

  “I must admit he has quite impressed me this weekend,” replied Sofia.

  “I guess we can give him a decent allowance for his trip,” said James.

  “Thank you my darling,” replied Sofia, leaning over to kiss her husband on his lips which made him smile.

  Grenville woke with the sound of Preston knocking. “Enter, Mr P,” Grenville said. Preston entered with a coffee, and placed it on the table.

  “Your father has requested your attendance in his study as soon as possible,” said Preston.

  “Thank you, Mr P,” said Grenville, who jumped out of bed to shower and get dressed. Twenty minutes later Grenville knocked on his father’s study, and waited for the, “Enter,” before Grenville turned the handle to enter the study.

  Grenville was surprised but not shocked to see his brother Stephan sitting opposite his father. “Grenville my dear boy, come in and sit down,” said his father. Grenville did as instructed, and sat next to Stephan.

  “Morning father, Stephan,” said Grenville, but despite Grenville’s acknowledgement of his brother Stephan ignored him.

  “Morning Grenville, So,” said his father, “tell me about this trip to South America you are planning.”

  “Well, Jonathan Spencer and I have decided to take in Belize,” said Grenville.

  “For the purpose of?” asked his father.

  “Just to see a different culture and to further one’s education,” replied Grenville.

  His father smiled. “Just like your grandfather. Well, your mother has persuaded me that this trip might be the making of you, so who am I to disagree with your mother,” said his father with a light chuckle.

  His father passed a plain brown envelope over to him, which Grenville placed in his pocket. “Thank you, father,” Grenville said.

  “All I ask, please do not let the family name down. Or embarrass your mother or me,” said his father.

  “I promise I will not let down the trust you and mother have placed in me,” replied Grenville.

  “That’s all we ask,” said his father, standing and offering Grenville his hand. Grenville shook his father’s hand and realised the meeting was over. Nodding to his brother Grenville left the study; once outside, he took the envelope from his pocket, opened it, kissed it and punched the air.

  After Grenville left, Stephan said to his father, “Are you sure you’ve done the right thing, father? After all he is not the most reliable person on the planet.’

  “Perhaps not,” replied his father, “but for all his faults he is a Hampton, and I cannot see him coming to any harm with young Spencer along for the ride, he is a sensible lad. Plus, I get rid of Grenville for the summer, and I for once am in your mother’s good books. For me, win-win all round I think,” said his father, laughing.

  “Still cannot see any good coming out of this, father.”

  “Please Stephan, for once have a bit of faith in your brother,” replied his father.

  “Perhaps,” said Stephan too quietly for his father to hear.

  Grenville immediately went and telephoned Jonathan to break the good news.

  “Excellent,” said Jonathan, “leave all the preparations to me, I will get your share of the cost when we meet.”

  “You sure?” said Grenville.

  “Of course, but only if you are good for it,” said Jonathan, laughing.

  “I am now father came through,” said Grenville, joining in the laughter.

  The night before his departure the Duchess arranged a family dinner, and she made it clear to Stephan he would attend. The evening went without incident and everyone was in flamboyant moods; even Stephan tried to be civil towards his brother.

  Afterwards as they were sitting enjoying a drink, his mother said, “All ready, Grenville?”

  “Think so mother, all packed and raring to go,” replied Grenville.

  “Well, make sure you have a lovely time,” said his father. His father and mother both stood, and came over and gave Grenville a hug,

  “Well, keep safe, and see you soon,” said his mother, smiling at Grenville.

  “Remember who you are,” said his father.

  “Always, father,” said Grenville. They both said goodnight to Stephan and Grenville and left for bed. After they had departed, Grenville said, “So what you got planned for the summer, Stephan?”

  “That, Grenville, is none of your concern,” replied Stephan.

  Grenville stood and looked at Stephan and said, “Sometimes, Stephan, it surprises me we are from the same gene pool.”

  “Grenville, my dear chap, you are a waste of space,” replied Stephan as Grenville left the room.

  Stephan sat and pondered what his brother had said – “from the same gene pool.” He was sure he was not too far from the mark; he never had since his birth shown any love for anyone or anything, not even his mother whom everyone loved. He could not feel close to her, and he had no brotherly love for Grenville. He was always an irritant to him, the “family pet”; everyone loved Grenville. When his brother was three and he was six, his parents gave his brother his first puppy, a soft little thing that followed Grenville about every day, which annoyed Stephan no end, so going to the gardener’s shed he took some slug poison and then took some meat from the kitchen – making sure that nosy bitch Mrs Preston did not see him, or she would have reported him to his mother – and waiting until the puppy was alone, he poisoned the puppy. He sat on the stairs smiling with a strange feeling as he watched the puppy suffer and gained even more pleasure watching his brother’s anguish. Eventually, his grandfather had taken the puppy and gave it a humane ending.

  This was the first-time Stephan felt alive and since that day he went out of his way to feed his pleasures. Then again, he himself had never shown any affection to anything; since an early age he was self-absorbed, and knew he had been born into privilege for a reason and he had no intention of engaging with anyone below his social class. Once when he and Grenville were on a term break from Rayleigh School, and wishing he was back at school and feeling bored with Hampton Hall, he had tried to engage a young pretty maid who after a struggle had finally submitted to his advances. Stephan smiled even now at the encounter; not even with the threat of her losing her job did she submit, so in the end he had to get very physical, and afterwards he felt empowered like he had before. He knew after that day, he would have to have a little spice in the encounter to get any sexual gratification.

  But this brought a side effect he was not expecting: the girl had been found in tears with a bloody lip by Preston, that old interfering codger of a butler. Many a time he had thwarted his plans for enjoyment, and above all Stephan hated him the most. Preston had report him to his grandfather, the Duke. Stephan was summoned to the Duke’s study and he was asked outright if he had molested the girl. Stephan did not even try and deny it, and told his grandfather he could not see what all the fuss was about; after all, she was a servant and he was blue blood so she was there to serve him.

  His grandfather looked shocked by his outburst, and it was his grandfather who gave him his first and last thrashing. Stephan learned an important lesson that day, and afterwards made sure he was more cautious in his pursuits. His only friend at school was Dexter Simon-Smyth; although he was well beneath Stephan’s class and social standing, Stephan trusted him totally.

  Dexter knew him well and pampered to his enlarged ego and self-importance, but best of all he could make sure his needs were fulfilled. After all, Dexter had the same sexual tastes as he did, a true friend. Stephan smiled. Even when the old bastard had died and his brother had attacked him for no good reason, Dexter had come to his rescue, and made sure no further harm had come to himself, a true friend.

  As he sipped his whisky he thought about Sara Farthing, who he was sure would agree to marry him when he asked her. After all, he was a Lord and a future Duke, how could she refuse such an offer? Stephan admitted to himself she wa
s a pretty little thing, Stephan had met her father at the club in Soho where Dexter and he had become members. The club catered to men with certain needs. Farthing was also a member. When Farthing mentioned he had a daughter Stephan had invited the Farthings and their daughter down for a weekend, which no doubt had pleased his mother and father; and just as Farthing had said, she was very compliant. She would do nicely: came from good stock, and would no doubt produce the mandatory heir to please his parents, plus he would soon have her broken like a good filly. He had tried a few times to bed her, but she was having none of it. She would eventually enjoy his advances, but for now he would wait until the wedding ring was on her finger and it was too late for her to back out of the arrangement. Now with his odious brother out of the way for the summer, Stephan finally closed his eyes and dreamed of his forthcoming trip to London with Dexter; he had promised Stephan a weekend of delights and pleasure. Dexter was a true friend.

  As the plane was on its final approach, Grenville had his eyes tightly shut, and clung onto the arm rests trying not to panic. To say the flight had been rough was an understatement; since the pilot announced they were on their final approach into Belize International Airport, it was as if the gods were playing with the plane as a child does with a toy one. Finally, the wheels touched down with a bump, and Grenville could imagine the pilots looking at each other and smiling on a job well done. Grenville looked over at Jonathan, who still had his eyes shut, mumbling a silent prayer to whatever god was listening at the time. The plane finally came to a stop and over the speakers came, “British Airways would like to thank you for flying British Airways to Belize International Airport, it is three fifteen local time, and the weather is a warm thirty degrees, I hope you all have a pleasant stay, and hope to see you again when you fly British Airways. Please make sure you exit the aircraft with all your belongings, and have your passport ready for inspection at customs. Once again, thank you for flying British Airways.”