Back with the Family

By the Goddesses what a horrible number of days. My return to the Sterling Estate in the country has gone similarly to my previous visits. Spudnic continues to condemn me and my travels as irresponsible, Alice is enjoying her freedoms, Jareth's wife Maeve remains frail of mind, Elinor is buried in his work, and the house remains a cold place to be.
 
But things are also far beyond all expectations. We had a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new ship sold to us by House Frost and were attacked by kelpie. Seems there is a plot against one of the ladies maids in our employ. That part was exciting. A conspiracy and plot? How excellent.
 
And then there were less adventurous and more horribly disappointing. It seems there is another conspiracy in our house. I underestimated Spudnic's wife, I thought there was something cunning about her. Being the true mind behind Earl Spudnic's governance of the family and her insistence on her children's excellence in their education. But I could not have expected how monstrous her ambitious were. She has committed adultery, blaspheme, manipulation, the brainwashing of her children, and the downright abuse of them for many years. So much so the Dominic and Nicholas were at each other's throats over the title of heir.
 
Nicolas apparently is a bastard of his mother and the Marquess Frost. Dominic intended to use this against him to obtain his long sought title of heir despite his lack of skill in magic. Nicolas intended to use his mother against Dominic, and Nicole threw herself from the balconies of his room. Some strange attempt to lock the family into the house to grieve and give the family a chance to mend in a way that might be favorable to her.
 
I don't know how she thought this would work out but clearly she underestimated my intervention. I took responsibility for the investigation. When I confronted Dominic he confessed everything. I felt so many things: reviled, shocked, but largely hopeful. Hopeful for Dominic. He made mistakes, he was under his mother's thrall as he combated with his brother for the title. But as things had grown out of hand, he came to himself and had integrity enough to confess and ask for help. It speaks volumes.
 
Nicholas however is another story. When I came to him, to hear his side of the story and speak to him of the events, he lashed out. He actually attacked me. He yelled and accused me of being one of the many sources of his woes. Complained that life had not been kind to him. Made every accusation to me about how horrible the people around him have made his life to have been. Other than himself of course...
 
It was like looking at an alternate version of myself. A bastard of the Sterling House, a mage, a musician, an angry young man like I once was, someone who longs for freedom... But the major difference being that Nicolas has remained with the Sterlings. He stayed and has been miserable where as I left for the world and became happy. I see his mother's thrall tightly wrapped around him like a noose.
 
For all his mother has done to prepare him, Nocholas does not have the temperament to lead anyone in my estimation. He lashes out, accuses the world for his problems, and also does not have the emotional constitution that the weight of leadership brings.
 
I had Spudnic, Nichole, Dominic, and Nicholas come together and shared with them the result of my investigation: Nicole has committed adultery and has lost herself to madness, delusional, and dangerous to all, including herself. I had arranged for to be sent to a far away facility to be restored to good health. Nicholas left and I am told that Nicholas completely lost his wits. The word "comatose" was used. Nicholas has proven to me that he is not fit for the title of heir. I write this without malice, but such a young man hasn't the will to lead anyone.
 
Dominic however, he has shown integrity, a willingness to accept good council from those he trusts. He may not be as socially sharp as others, but he also keeps a cool head in the face of shock and emotional turmoil.
 
Both boys need to learn who they are and how to stand on their own two feet. But Dominic's may just become the leader this house will require of him one day. I also hope Nicholas will come around, let go of his rage and be shown that he must take responsibility for his own life.
 
It has been a mess. I came back to prepare my niece and nephews for the season. I wanted to see the Queen and reunite with old friends and return to court. I have had about as much as I can handle and I have only been here a week. I had hoped the young of the Sterling family could have been better than the rest of the people in this country who call themselves "noble" and truly live up to the title. Now, I am not so sure... Perhaps the Sterling family will prove itself to be as egotistical and small minded as the rest.