Juliette scoffed. “I wanted to kill your mother, but your father refused to do that. So I came up with the idea of tucking her away in Bedlam. Even if she did tell people about our plan, no one would believe her.”
Simone’s eyes burned with fury. “Do you even have any remorse for what you have done?”
“Why would I?” Juliette asked. “We are at war with your country, or did you forget that? I do what I must to live another day.”
“You will pay for what you did to my mother, what you both did!” Simone declared.
Juliette grinned. “What are you going to do?” she asked. “The only reason you are still alive is because we haven’t released the grenades.”
The music in the ballroom started up again, indicating a set was about to begin.
In a commanding voice, Lord Hungerton ordered, “Release the grenades.”
“No! Stop! You can’t do that!” Caleb exclaimed. “Just think of what you are doing. All the people that you are going to kill.”
Victor held up the grenade. “It will be so easy to release this one in the ballroom. It will roll right by people’s feet and they won’t be the wiser. Then when it explodes, during the chaos of the aftermath, I will release another one. And another one.”
Simone took a step forward. “I won’t let you do that.”
Juliette cocked her pistol, causing Simone to come to an abrupt stop. “I should have known you would be difficult about all of this.”
“Once all the explosions have gone off, we will depart for the ship, and leave this despicable country behind,” Victor shared.
Lord Hungerton met Victor’s gaze. “Go. Now.”
Victor tipped his head before he disappeared back into the trees.
Turning towards Simone, Lord Hungerton said, “It isn’t too late for you. You can join us on our journey to France.”
“She can?” Juliette asked, a stunned look on her features.
“Yes. She is, after all, my daughter,” Lord Hungerton replied.
Juliette frowned. “I gave you my word that I wouldn’t hurt her, assuming she didn’t get in our way. But she is the enemy, or did you forget that?”
Lord Hungerton didn’t acknowledge Juliette’s remark as he asked Simone, “Will you come with me?”
Simone visibly stiffened. “How could you ask me such a thing?” she questioned. “Do you even know me at all?”
Disappointment showed on Lord Hungerton’s features. “Very well, then. If you want to die, I won’t stop you.”
The sound of an explosion could be heard in the distance, and it was followed by an eerie silence.
Juliette’s eyes lit up. “That was the first one. Now we wait for the second explosion.”
Caleb had never felt such raw emotion as he was feeling right now. He couldn’t even imagine the destruction that the grenade had caused and how many people had died. And he and Simone were helpless to stop it.
As they waited for the second explosion, Juliette asked, “Shall we kill them now?”
“There is no reason to stop the inevitable,” Lord Hungerton replied.
Caleb stepped in front of Simone. “You are going to have to kill me first,” he stated.
Juliette pointed her pistol at him. “My pleasure,” she said.
While he braced for being shot, Simone stepped out from behind him and released a dagger, which embedded itself in Juliette’s chest.
Juliette dropped her pistol and pulled out the dagger. “What have you done, you stupid chit?” she asked, her voice breathless. She took a few raspy breaths before she collapsed onto the ground.
