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Chapter Thirty
“You will pay for this,” Brexley snarled as Charles examined the rope which Edward had managed to tie around his wrists to make sure it was in place “All of you.”
“Tough ‘alk, big boy,” Jack said smirking at him.
“Your truth is out now,” Edward said. “You can’t hurt them anymore.”
“Leda,” Brexley said turning to Ariadne’s younger sister. “Come with me. I’ll make you rich beyond your wildest imagination. I’ll give you anything you want. You can be the mistress of my house.”
Leda’s only response was to hide behind Edward’s back. He shot Brexley a look of disgust. He wanted to physically harm Brexley for whatever he had put Ariadne and Leda through.
“That’s enough of that,” Charles said, hauling Brexley to his feet. He and Jack led Brexley out of the flat, the thick rope securing his wrists together to keep him in place. Edward watched them leave. He could only imagine the uproar this would cause at the Parliament. He didn’t know what would happen to Brexley. His title wouldn’t allow him to be severely punished.
Ariadne rushed beside her sister and held her in her arms, softly cooing in her ears to soothe her. Poor Leda was visibly shaking.
Emma went into the kitchen and brought her water but Leda turned her face away, refusing it. Emma’s face fell. “For all that is worth, I’m sorry. I truly am.”
“If you had been remorseful indeed you wouldn’t have let Brexley take advantage of us,” Ariadne said with a tick in her voice. “You would have confessed earlier. He may have conspired to murder our father but it was you who put the poison in his food and we were none the wiser to suspect you either. By the time Pa realized it, he was already dead.”
Emma shook her head. “How can you ever forgive me?”
“I can’t,” Ariadne said. “Leave and never come back.”
“But—” Emma began.
“Leave,” Ariadne said, turning away from her. Edward could see the tears running down her eyes, he could only imagine the pain she must be going through after being betrayed like this by someone who brought her up. “I will not have you arrested, but only if you promise not to return.”
“Where will I go?” Emma cried.
“I’ll give you the money you need to find a home for yourself,” Edward said. “But you have to promise you’ll go far away from London and never come back.”
“All right,” the older woman said. He had expected more resistance from her but it seemed like she was more concerned about the money she would receive. She walked up to where Ariadne was still consoling Leda and handed her the notebook. “Here, this belongs to you.”
Ariadne took it as fresh tears spilled down her eyes. His heart ached to see her like this. Ariadne had always needed to be strong for herself and her family. She would never have to be alone again, he vowed to himself.
Emma went to her room and started packing up her things in a small trunk. Edward knelt next to Leda who was still in shock. “Is she all right?”
“I think it’s better if I put her to bed for the rest of the day,” Ariadne said. “What happened today was—” She was interrupted when Emma came out of her room.
Edward took out his reticule and handed her some money. “Address me a letter once you find your lodgings. I’ll send you more when you need it,” he said. Anything to keep this woman out of Ariadne’s life forever. Emma nodded and took the coins from him. Edward was still curious about something and he felt like he needed to ask. “Why did you help Brexley all along? Was it only because of the money?”
Emma’s eyes flickered to Ariadne who still wouldn’t meet her gaze. Both the sisters were mourning their father’s death anew. “I met him when he was younger. Ariadne’s mother and I were…” she drifted off and then cleared her throat, “we were…well it doesn’t matter anymore but when he was younger he visited me. I found him charming and well-bred and he was the only man in my life who treated me with kindness and taught me what love is like. I was his mistress for years before he got married and left. He came back to my life when he came to our door because George Davy’s inventions had caught his ears. He had heard a few people talk about the mad genius and he wanted to take it for his own. Lord Brexley is a collector of art, and later he decided that wasn’t the only thing he wanted.” She looked at Leda as she spoke.
Edward’s mouth filled with a bitter taste. He knew that what Emma did was unforgivable but now he understood why she did it. She was blinded by love and sometimes it made you do desperate things, even if that took you down a dark path.
“I’m sorry, Ariadne and Leda,” she said one last time before she turned around and left.
Leda stood up from the chair and before Ariadne could stop her she staggered to her room. Only Edward and Ariadne remained. There was silence for a few minutes. “You shouldn’t have helped her,” she said.
“I only did it to get her out of your life,” Edward said.
Ariadne was silent for a few beats. “We’re going to go away.”
Edward balked. “Where?” was the only word he could muster.
“Somewhere far away where nobody knows us,” Ariadne said. “Start a new life, get things in order.”
Edward’s stomach sank. He knew what had happened today with Emma and Brexley was two crushing blows at once. “Running away isn’t the solution,” he said softly.
