An irresistible eagerness bobbled through Amelia as she climbed down the staircase to the hallway. Caroline had her right hand linked with Dane's and Henry stood behind them with an expressionless face.
Just as she elegantly climbed down the stairs, their gaze darted towards her direction and she could see the look of shock on their faces. Did they really expect Katherine to be dead?!
They couldn't believe their eyes as they stared at her in astonishment. How could this be possible? She was confirmed dead a few hours ago, but how come she is…? So alive!
A lot of questions ran through their heads as their expressions were beyond that of shock.
Caroline stared at her, no less stunned than Henry. Dane, on the other hand, his expression was impossible to gauge. If he was glad or shocked to see her alive, he gave no sign, and if he was displeased, he gave no sign of that either. His face was a mask.
Amelia's attention went to the lady in his arms and gasped. She was absolutely beautiful but there was something strange with the way she was looking at her as if she was disappointed, angry and shocked to see her alive. Why?
But as she stared at the face of this woman, the information she so desperately sought came flooding into her head. Katherine had witnessed Dane and Caroline in the process of making love on the night of their wedding and she had run out of the garden in tears. She could remember confronting Caroline and that's when…
" He would never love you. " Caroline had said this to her that night but she still couldn't get what the confrontation was.
" I would never love you. " Katherine had also met Dane on the night she committed suicide and he had said this to her.
Was that Katherine's memory?! The memory hit her heart like thousand stabs of knives, shattering it into pieces. It was obvious it wasn't physical pain but an emotional one. Katherine had loved Dane and his hurtful words and what she witnessed had hurt her. Dane's eyes. 'That's more than hatred. He despises her.'
As the short flashback of Katherine's last moment came flooding into her head, Amelia closed her eyes and breathed deeply. How come she was getting short clips of the last moment of the real Katherine? What other possible explanation could there be?
She knew everything that happened to the real Katherine, well, not everything, and knowledge like that had to come from memories hidden deep in modern day Amelia Smith. She wasn't inventing anything; these were actual events that happened before Katherine committed suicide or could it be that…she was murdered?
Amelia abruptly opened her eyes, and her gaze went to Dane and darted to Caroline, then Henry. These were the three people Katherine met that night according to the flashback she just had but that wasn't enough proof for her to jump into the conclusion of Katherine's death.
" You're alive? I'm so glad. " Caroline was the first to speak, interrupting Amelia's thoughts.
" I trust you don't plan on doing anything irrational again, madam? " Dane inquired coolly.
His tone was as chill as the glint in his grey eyes. Oh, such , a grey, like a mountain stream beneath a stormy sky. But she knew if that bleakness lifted and he smiled, her very soul would melt. Instead, his remoteness washed soberingly over her, causing her steps to falter a little.
She managed to reply. " I won't. " It was as if she was agreeing with him that she'd tried to commit suicide but wasn't that the truth?
" I'm sure you won't. We were so worried about you. " Caroline said. Amelia didn't know why but she could sense the sarcasm in her voice.
Henry was the only one who didn't say anything to her. It seemed that no one liked Katherine but what could be the reason?
" If you would excuse me, I would like to go to my apartment. " Henry said, referring to Dane and walked away without even sparing Katherine a glance.
What was wrong with him?" Amelia thought.
" You…" Caroline was not able to complete her statement as she was cut short by Dane.
" Please leave us. " Dane sternly said but his eyes were soft as he stared at her although Caroline looked offended she still obeyed him and walked away, leaving only the both of them in the hallway.
What was he going to say to her?
Amelia glanced at him, wanting to reach out to establish some sort of harmony, a basis upon which to gain his trust, but his cold demeanour forbade any such advance. The chill that shut her out also served as a reminder that in Regency England, he was one of the hazardous men to fall foul of, as the four duels he'd fought and won bore witness.
The silence in the hallway grew more stronger as she studied him from beneath lowered lashes, wondering what it would be like to lie naked in his arms. He was handsome and had the most mesmerising grey eyes.
She pulled herself up sharply. What was the matter with her? She was thinking about him as if he was real. He wasn't real. How could she possibly feel this way towards a man who is long dead?
He spoke suddenly. " I trust your strategy to gain my attention was well received? "
In History, Katherine truly died but she wouldn't have done all that knowing that she couldn't swim just to gain his attention.
Hastily Amelia defended herself. " I have no idea what you're trying to say, your grace. " God, how weird it was to have an English voice!
He gave the thinnest of smiles. " Of course, I expected you to deny it. There was no need to pull such a stunt just to get my attention. "
Everything in his tone suggested that he believed that she jumped into the lake just to gain his attention.
" I'm not sure what made you conclude that I would do anything to the extent of trying to kill myself just to get your attention but I believe you're wrong! " Amelia replied.
He raised a wry eyebrow. " Dear God, what manner of gull do you take me for, Katherine? "
This was the first time he'd call his wife's name.
" It's the truth. Why don't you believe me? " She threw back at him. This was starting to feel off. There was something more than what he thought of Katherine.
He drew in a furious breath. " Why should I believe you when I know you've always been nothing but a liar? "
Amelia stared up at him not comprehending what he was saying. Not only did he think of Katherine as a self-centred woman, in his eyes, she was also a liar.
" I…I don't understand…" She asked, confused.
" Oh, how smoothly you play the innocent, " He scoffed
" I'm not playing the innocent, I am the innocent. "
Dane looked incredulously at her. " If you mean to astound me, madam, you succeed. I bid you goodnight. " He said abruptly and walked swiftly toward the hallway and turned to a corner till he was nowhere in sight.
Everything Caroline had said about Katherine were true and what he'd witnessed that day.
Meanwhile, after he left, Amelia felt quite rattled. All this was beginning to get just a little too creepy for comfort, and far from wanting to go on into the castle, she suddenly wanted to cut and run. No, that wouldn't do for she'd never forgive herself for being such a wimp. She had only been here for a few hours. All she needed was a few minutes to sit and think.
Was this what Abigail meant 'to solve the puzzle behind Katherine's death'?
To be continued...
It was strange how Amelia knew the layout of the castle. From the moment she climbed down the staircase, she was completely familiar with everything about the ancient fortress. But what still amused her except from the scenario from earlier was how could a lovely maid from early nineteenth century England possibly detect that beneath her ladyship's jewelled exterior there was a New Yorker from the future? Indeed, when she caught a glimpse of herself in the wall mirror, she found it hard to believe herself!She walked through the candlelit Great Hall, from where another grand staircase led up to the private apartments. She paused in the vast chamber, and looked around. History seemed very tangible in a place like this. The lower walls were panelled in dark oak, above and painted white, and everything was lit by the candles encircling half a dozen wheel-rim chandeliers suspended from a hammerbeam roof. A long table ranged down the centre of the stone-flagged floor, and on its highly pol
" Yes. " Dane replied, his gaze still on her. Amelia was suddenly startled when she saw them and that made her stop the horse when she got to their front." Good morning. " She greeted, biting her lower lip as she had forgotten how a maiden was supposed to greet in history." Good morning to you too. " Dane replied. He was giving her a strange look that she couldn't understand so as Henry." Good morning, your grace. " He responded to her and that's when Amelia realised that this was the first time he was talking to her directly. " How come you know how to ride on a horseback? "His questions seemed to have surprised her as she stared at him in confusion. She thought Abigail said, Katherine knows how to ride a horse. How come they were surprised to see a woman riding a horse? Could it be possible Abigail lied to her knowing that Dane and Henry would be riding a horse at this time? No wonder she…How dare she! How was she going to explain herself to these two men who were waiting for
Caroline raised a delicately etched eyebrow as she saw Katherine and Dane alone in his study. She stared hard at Katherine almost incredulously, her eyes sharp and immediately hostile. She noticed that Dane and Katherine were in an intimate position, and for a minute, she seemed to lose a little of her pulse. Then she smiled, almost as if by force of will, because there was no joy in her dark eyes.So, when Dane had pushed Katherine and told her to leave, there was a smug expression on Caroline's face but she couldn't help but wonder what had occured between them. The Dane she knows would never go as far as touching her." What was she doing here? " Caroline asked eventually." I don't know and I don't care. " He replied and put his hand lovingly to her cheek." I don't trust her with you. She is deceptive and can do anything to get what she wants. " She said quietly. " She only wants you! "" To me, she will never be anything more than a wife I took to oblige my father's long-standin
The next few hours, in the evening during supper Katherine decided to confront Caroline of taking her family's heirloom. Why would she do that? What right does she have to go into her chambers and take one of her properties? Katherine noticed Caroline standing at the other side of the dining room talking to her maid, Molly. She made her way towards them as slow as possible without creating a noise in the quiet dining room. Though she didn't look around, she knew Dane had guests to come have supper with him in the castle.At the head of the table sat Duke Dane, next to him on the other side were Sir Henry, and Lord Ethan who kept Dane and Henry company as they conversed. Lord Ethan was also a friend to Dane but not very close. Next to Lord Ethan sat his fiancee, Lady Charlotte and Sir William.The table was long enough to accommodate ten more people.They didn't notice Katherine's arrival as the men were too engrossed in their conversation.When Katherine got to Caroline's side, " Car
Caroline was in her room, sitting on a chair and in front of the dressing table mirror as she admired her flawless features. She reached up swiftly to pull out the jewelled comb and countless hairpins keeping her coiffure firmly in place. Slowly she picked up a tortoiseshell-backed hairbrush and began to draw it gently through the long black curls." Caroline, you can bring any man to his knees with your beauty. " She giggled in her thoughts.Her moment was soon to be distracted as a young lady with curly brown hair quickly entered the room. " My Lady, "Caroline frowned at the sudden interruption and was about to give her a lashing, but seeing the expression on her face she knew something was wrong and she was here to gossip about it to her." What is it? " She asked." You wouldn't believe what I just saw! I saw Katherine in the kitchen. " The young woman said, making Caroline frown, but after a while she started to laugh. Was this some kind of joke?" A woman of Katherine's social
" Denham Manor? And who is Carissa? " " Carissa Denham is betrothed to the prince. She would soon become a princess. " Abigail told Amelia.The following day.Amelia and Abigail were on their way to Denham Manor.Her green eyes looked outside the window, seeing the trees pass one after another as four horses pulled the carriage through the forest. Her tongue peeked out to wet her lips that had turned dry. The air blew against her face. " It is a very different city from the one I'd seen when I just moved into Denham Manor. " She said to Abigail, who was sitting next to her in the carriage." I wonder what the city would be like in the future. " Abigail whispered." Old, quiet and secluded. That is how this city would be like in the future. " Amelia stated. " How come you look so young but know too much? " Something about Abigail conjured thoughts of sorcery and old magic. She seemed to know too much.Abigail smiled. " My great grandmother was a witch, so was my grandmother, and then
" J…Jacob" She thought.He had the same eyes as Jacob. His black hair was partitioned at the side and neatly combed. " My apologies for not looking ahead. " The man apologised in a deep voice, and Amelia stared at him. He looked so much like Jacob.Not wanting to make a fool of herself, she quickly composed herself and said. " I should have been careful. I thought I was the only one up here because I didn't see anyone. " She apologized.But then it wasn't just her who was staring. When her eyes fell back on his hands that had not let go of her, the man seemed to realize, and he quickly let go of her arms as if he had touched a burning iron. Was he disturbed by her?When he started walking, Amelia couldn't help herself but step as if she was giving him space, when in truth, the passage was wide enough to let more than five people pass at a time. The man disappeared without uttering another word. Amelia continued looking at where he had disappeared to.Whilst she was on the same floor
The rain was still falling. " George Denham. " Amelia stated. She didn't look surprised when Abigail told her because she already had a suspicion. No wonder Simon said those things. She could still remember his words after she had introduced herself. *If you are his wife, he couldn't have allowed you to come here* It was obvious that Dane didn't like the Denham family because of George's affair with his mother. " Yes. The Denhams are bound to cheat on their partners or have secret affairs. It runs in their blood. From generation to generation. " Abigail continued. Amelia gasped. It's just like a curse. So Jacob was bound to cheat on her even without her losing the baby. Losing the baby was just an excuse he used to justify his wrongdoing. He was following in his ancestor's footsteps. History was just repeating itself. The next morning. As soon as Amelia stepped out of her room, she noticed some movement to her right, and her gaze fell on a maid. She was just exiting Dane's apar