Page 45 of An Earl's Scandalous Return
“Here,” Edward said, leading her to a window.
“We have to start somewhere, and I don’t believe the door is the best way. I’ve already looked through them while watching Gregory’s movement, and I think this one leads to the main room. That way, we will be able to find out where Seraphina is without waking the man.”
She nodded, and he dropped her hand and used both of his to slowly slide open the window.
Jumping inside, he landed quietly and then helped Arabella in as well. She was frustrated that her skirts impeded her, but eventually, she was inside the house, and all was quiet. All was quiet except for her heartbeat pumping in her ears, and she tried to focus her eyes in the darkness. They were there for a reason – to save Seraphina. But it all felt so ghostly and quiet that she was nervous again that some ill fate had befallen her sister.
They took a few tentative steps forward, but then, they heard the strike of a match, and a tiny glow illuminated the room, showing a face behind it. Arabella gasped, and Edward put an arm out to protect her. It was Gregory sitting in a chair.
“And just where do you think you’re going?” he asked, having lit a candle that he put down on the table, his eyes glinting with anger.
He rose to his feet, and Arabella looked around even though she was fearful. There was just the one area, and there was no upstairs. She found another door, and she was determined to get there.
“We are here to retrieve Seraphina, this lady’s true sister and not your rightful daughter,” Edward said firmly.
“Over my dead body, lad.” Then, Gregory lunged forward at Edward, and knowing that Edward, younger and stronger, would be well, Arabella rushed away towards the door, where she saw a key hanging on a nail next to it.
Seraphina. I am sure of it.
There was chaos behind her as Edward fought Gregory to the ground, knocking over a table in the process. With a shaking hand, she unlocked the door, and then it swung open to reveal Seraphina with a lone candle sitting against the back wall. When she saw who it was, she got to her feet.
“Arabella?”
“Seraphina.” Arabella rushed to embrace her and pulled her towards the door. “We need to go, and now.”
Seraphina needed no more encouragement and hurried out of the room, her hand in Arabella’s.
Chapter 48
For an old, limping man, Gregory put up more of a fight than Edward had expected. Well, he hadn’t expected any of this, hoping to come at night when the man was asleep so that they could easily steal away with Seraphina.
But eventually, he hit a fist to the man’s face, and Gregory fell to the ground, lying still. He stood tall, breathing hard, and saw the two women heading for the door. Racing after them, he held it open as they rushed out, and then he shut it behind them, wishing he could lock Gregory in.
“I do not know how long he will remain unconscious; it is better that he have as many barriers as possible.” Their boots crunched on the ground as they ran towards the carriage, and within a matter of minutes, they were on the road again, the horses racing away from Maidstone and out towards their next destination.
As they’d entered, Sampson told Edward that he’d called for the local authorities in case they’d be needed. They would likely be there to find Gregory. Edward was grateful and made a note to send word to the magistrate of the crime as well.
It took some time before everyone could breathe easily and Seraphina could speak. “You came for me,” she said, and Arabella squeezed her hand.
She had chosen to sit next to her sister, and Edward could see the pure joy on Arabella’s face that their mission had been successful.
“Of course we did. I was so worried that something had happened, and Edward suggested we come for you in case Gregory had locked you away or worse.”
Seraphina leaned back in her seat and covered her face with her hands for a few seconds. Her shoulders began to shake, but just as Edward thought she might be crying, her hands fell away, and he saw that she was, in fact, laughing.
“I do not know how to thank you, for you have done me a great service. I feared that Gregory planned to keep me there forever, or at least until he could get me to agree to tell no one what happened, to agree that I would remain his pretend daughter for the rest of his days while he got that money from the duke.”
Edward crossed his arms and laughed as well, followed by Arabella. “I can say right now that for all my travels, I’ve never done something as nerve-wracking as all that.” He waved a hand. “What about you, Arabella?”
“No,” she said, her face glowing with happiness as well as the exhilaration of the adventure. “But I would do it again for you, Seraphina. Shall we tell you all our plans?”
Seraphina now looked shy, but a smile still hung on her face. “Please do.”
Arabella glanced at Edward and began, “Edward suggested we go to his aunt’s in Essex. I shall send word to my brother, and we shall spend a little time there before we go onward to London. He was right to suggest that you might need a little time before we pull you into the maelstrom that is London during the Season.”
Seraphina nodded, her eyes wide. “I cannot believe that this is all coming true. And now, since I spoke to him, I shall tell you the truth of all I have learned from Gregory Marsh, the man I thought was my father.”
Arabella looked very eager, and Edward had the greatest urge to lean over and kiss her. She looked so pretty in her happiness, and he winked at her when she looked his way.
