Grace ran across the courtyard, her dress making sounds on the grass as she moved. She seemed excited to be outside. Emma noted that Grace loved the sun. She liked when the day was bright, so she could play in the garden. She was the exact opposite of her elder sister, Ana. Ana liked to stay indoors and read books. She liked to be left alone. And when she wanted to speak, she would speak on all the books she had ever read. Poetry was her favorite.

Sally placed a tray on the table, while Greta and Veronica, nursemaids to Grace and Ana respectively, stood close to each child.

“Careful, Gracie…so you do not fall,” Emma said as Grace giggled and picked flowers from the garden. She walked over and took a seat, while she watched Grace. Ana was also seated, her eyes watching Grace’s every move. Despite the fact that Ana was different from Grace, Emma admired that she looked out for her.

Ana smiled when Grace walked over and took a seat, clapping her hands and giggling. After all that had happened a few years ago, Emma was so grateful for her children, and for Brighton. Brighton was a new home, it was light, it was hope. She was happy that Ana and Grace would never have to live under fear. She was happy that her family was happy.

Her father had come down to Brighton twice, to see her and his grandchildren. And he often kept in touch, sending letters and sometimes, gifts. Mr. Anders also reached out as well. He had never come down to visit, but he did send greetings from time to time. Although Emma always remembered Henry’s father, it did not hurt so much to do so anymore. The pain was long gone, and she had only memories. Memories that caused no pain. The happiness her family had given her made it possible for her to overcome all of that.

The nursemaid, Greta, who had been following Grace around came beside Emma and curtsied. “My Lady, may I take the children in to have lunch?”

Emma nodded. “Of course. Of course.”

She kissed both their foreheads before they walked inside the house with the nursemaids.

“Darling.” Emma heard as she closed her eyes to sip her tea. She placed it down when she saw Henry walking towards her, grinning.

Emma giggled. Even after all these years, he still made her laugh. He still made her smile so much. He still made her blush. Henry was perfect for her. Even after all these years, he still treated her like she was fragile.

He kissed her forehead when he approached her. Then, he proceeded to take a seat beside her.

“How was your day?” she asked.

“Splendid,” Henry nodded. “Splendid.”

“Did the business deal go through?”

He took her hand in his and nodded. “Better than I expected.”

She smiled in satisfaction.

Henry relaxed in the seat, smiling. The cool breeze swept past them, and the sun dimmed a tad. Emma squinted her eyes and looked up.

Henry sighed. “Perhaps it would rain today?”

Emma shook her head. “I hope it does not. Rachael is arriving today.”

Henry’s eyes widened. “Of course.”

Emma nodded. “I can’t wait to see her.”

“As I.”

As they sat outside, talking and laughing, Emma could not help but wonder how everything had worked out so well for her. Henry squeezed her hand and she knew that everything she got, she deserved. She loved Henry with all her heart, and she never regretted that their paths crossed at all. Meanwhile, she would wait for her old friend to arrive. She had missed Rachael a lot.

****

Lady Rachael Allen, Duchess of Loringham, was who she had been. But now, Rachael was unaware of the woman who was seated now seated in the carriage. A woman in her late twenties, a wife to no one, stripped of her title, but favoured by the King. She knew that they had been praised for giving up the traitors, but she still felt ashamed, for having lived with Loftus all those years, and pretending that everything was alright, when nothing was.

She had been so afraid of what he would do to her, so all she had done was obey him. And now, even as she was finally free, she still felt that he was watching her somehow, waiting for her to betray him. She had a habit of looking over her shoulders nearly every passing minute. Even his death did not make her feel any safer.

She had been caged. At the beginning of their marriage, she had indeed loved him. She was mesmerized by him, by his ways and by the ease in which he carried himself and by the fact that he had acted as though he cared for her. But he had not. Everything changed when she had miscarried their first child, and from there on, she was unable to bear another. They had tried a few times, until Loftus got tired of trying, and rendered her useless.

The carriage hit a bump, and Rachael snapped out of her reverie. She wondered now, what she was going to do with her life. Although she was heading to Brighton, to stay with Emma Blackmoor in her new home, she still felt out of place. They had welcomed her with open arms, and were awaiting her arrival, but the awareness that they cared for her, did not ease her pain, or fill the void she felt inside.

The carriage hit another bump, and this time, it wheeled to a halt. Rachael sighed. She wondered what the problem was this time. Suddenly, she heard noises outside. There was a loud scream, and then, a struggle. Rachael’s heartbeat increased. She looked around her, but the curtains prevented her from seeing the outside. But she was curious, so she made to raise the curtain of the carriage, but the door was pulled open and she was dragged out. Her red hair flew around her face as she tumbled out of the carriage, falling to the ground.

She looked up, frightened. All she saw were two men, in black clothing, their faces were covered with black cloth as well, so all she saw was their eyes.

“Who are you?!” she screamed. “What do you want?”

But she was ignored. One of the men who stood above her brought a black cloth, like the one on their faces, and moved towards her. She moved back, screaming. Behind him, she saw her coachman, his hands were tied, and he was stuck by the carriage. His screams were muffled by what they had tied around his mouth.

Just as Rachael made to run, one of the men gripped her arms, and the other placed the black cloth around her mouth. She screamed and shook her head, her screams were now muffled. She however, kept struggling, until the black cloth covered her eyes as well. All she saw was darkness, as she was taken away.

If you haven’t already, please leave your review on Amazon

If you want to stay updated on my next book, and want to know about secret deals, please click the button below!

If you want to be always up to date with my new releases, click and...
Follow me on BookBub