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As I approached the estate, I saw a flickering light. I paused my horse and quietly disappeared into the shadows of the trees, watching. Just a moment after, a large man emerged holding a lantern. I didn’t recognize him. Turley must have hired ruffians to secure the house.
I imagined the large man’s rough hands on Amelia, and I felt white hot rage course through my veins.
Instead of entering the house through the front drive and alerting the man to my presence, I steered my horse into the parkland surrounding the house. Turley may have hired back up, but he didn’t know the intricacies of the grounds like I did.
I circled around the house, giving it a wide berth in case any more men were lurking in the hedgerows, but I saw none. Eventually I made it to the back, where a large garden fanned out behind the estate. It was in disrepair after years of neglect, with vines growing across the paths.
I sighed, remembering how I had come here as a child a few times. Back then, the estate had been taken care of. Not anymore.
I kicked in the back kitchen door and found myself in the dark. Some quick rummaging produced a candle, and then I made my way into the main hall, my heart pounding in my chest.
Amelia. Amelia.
Where was Amelia?
Just as I entered the front hallway, I heard a faint noise from above. I rushed up the stairs, following the noise down a hallway and then another, my footsteps echoing throughout the silent halls.
As I grew closer to the noise, I realized with a sinking realization where I was going. I had spent little time at Bedham House, but I visited occasionally, only when I absolutely had to, to ensure that everything was alright. I despised the house more than anything… and I especially despised the room where the noise was coming from.
It was my mother’s bedroom. It was where she had spent the last decade of her life, wasting away into nothing… a slave to her addiction.
Every part of my body was telling me to turn around, to leave this house and never return.
But Amelia was in there, I knew it.
And Amelia mattered more than my own pain.
I entered the room without any hesitation. Inside, I was met with the bright light of at least a dozen candles. A woman I recognized to be my mother’s nurse was lighting them, her eyes resigned to the ground. Beside her stood Lord Turley, overseeing her work.
The light was cutting through a slight smoky haze. The smell of opium immediately hit me, and I felt a deep revulsion, as if I was going to throw up. But the smoke was sparse. The last time someone had actually used an opium pipe in here must have been several hours before.
I saw the shape of a frail woman on a couch in the corner of my eye. I knew, without a doubt, that it was my mother. Turley had tied her up, like a madman, but it had not roused her from her opium-induced dream state.
Behind Turley, tied to a divan, was Amelia. I felt a rush of relief as I saw that she was relatively unharmed. Her expression was fixed on Lord Turley and it was full of loathing.
At my entrance, both Turley and Amelia looked up with startled expressions. His face morphed into a manic, evil grin when he saw me. Amelia looked surprised and then, for just a moment, I saw a hint of relief sweep across her face.
The fact that she was relieved to see me gave me the slightest hope that she would forgive me… that is, if I could get her out of this mess unscathed.
“You!” I yelled, approaching Turley. “What have you done!”
He grinned even wider, his teeth suddenly resembling a shark’s.
“Ah, Marsden, you’ve finally arrived. Pleasant trip?”
I glared at him. He was being a sarcastic prick, using my own methods against me. I felt anger building up inside of me.
“What is the meaning of this?” I fumed, looking towards Amelia, whose eyes were wide.
Turley laughed.
“The meaning of this? It’s simple. You took something from me that I wantedverymuch. Now, I have done the same to you in return. It’s only fair.”
I felt my mouth open in shock.
“Juliana Pembroke? This is all because of Juliana-”
“My fiancé!” Turley yelled, interrupting me. “She wasmyfiancé, and you… you abominable rake… you just couldn’t stop yourself! You took what belonged to me! And now, I have taken what belongs toyou.”
