His Other Woman

Chapter 2: Unfortunate Beginnings

My mother was a prostitute. To put it quite simply with no sugar coating. Born from a commoner family she had lived a relatively normal life, atleast thats what she told me. That is unfortunately until her father ran into debt after failing to pay back some money he borrowed. Because of the shady nature of the people he'd borrowed money from they threatened to kill him and harm his family.

My grandfather feeling extremely pressured ended up taking his own life. Leaving the debt to my grandmother and mother. With no other way to make the money needed at the young age of 19 my mother began to sell her body off. Throwing away the prospect of her ever being able to get married, as a woman had to be a virgin inorder to get married. She worked hard and after a few years she was able to pay off the debt. However, she unfortunately couldn't stop working. She had made quite the reputation in town amongst married couples, with many husbands and their upset wives. Which was common for prostitutes. In other words it was going to be difficult to look for a normal job in town. She couldn't get married either and have a husband look after her. So prostitution became the sole way for her to survive. She was trapped in this lifestyle but she desperately wanted to escape.

However, that all changed when she met my father. He came in for her services one day and after a few more sessions for a few times became a regular client of hers. His name was Thomas Hardwin, a Duke from the town. Apparently this was the first client of nobility my mother had ever been with and he was unmarried. Whilst my mother knew who he was there was strict confidentiality in the brothel only. All clients identitites were protected so they could get serviced anonymously. Only the brothel owner knew them and the prostitute would only be told if the client wished to do so. Although many partners would end up finding out about their husbands infidelities there were also just many

He would often come to see her and would only ask for her to service him at the brothel. In fact soon requested that my mother service him and only him as well claiming that he would increase the amount he paid for her. He would also shower her with gifts everytime he came to see her. He had clearly taken a liking to her. With each time my mother 'serviced' him she would, I assume, get more and more attached to him. I mean a rich man doting on you and showering you with gifts would make any woman swoon.

It's easy to see why my mother thought he had feelings for her. He told her he loved her and wanted to be with her. My mother thought she'd perhaps found the person who could take her out of the world of prostitution and perhaps even marry her. Their relationship continued for another year. My mother patiently waiting for him to propose to her and take her away. Then...Duke Hardwin suddenly stopped coming.

My mother wondered what had happened, someone who used to come 3 to 4 times a week suddenely stopped coming at all. At first she thought something had happened to him and was worried. However she was informed by the brothel owner that he had instead cancelled all her sessions and he wouldn't returning to the brothel. My mother pryed further but that was the only information Duke Hardwin had shared. She also didn't know where he lived she had only ever been with him in the confines of the brothel house. She knew nothing of him outside of that. As a commoner it wasn't easy knowing what nobility was up to.

It was a short while after this, that my mother discovered she was pregnant with me. As Duke Hardwin had been her only client thus far it was clear that he was the father. Surprised and was when the brothel owner revealed she had lied to my mother inorder to protect her feelings but Duke Hardwin was now engaged and getting married to a woman of nobility.

My mother was shocked and heartbroken to learn this. That the man she loved was getting married to someoneelse.She was advised not to go look for him as he would likely deny me as his child. Hurt, my mother obliged and carried on with the pregnancy without my father. The brothel owner took pity on her and allowed my mother to take a break from work ubtil she gave birth to me.

Once she gave birth she soon got back to work whilst simultaneously raising me as a single mother. Duke Hardwin never returned and never came looking for my mother. He truly had forgotten her. And it stayed that way over the years as I grew up.