The Masterful Trickery

ditaFootman

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years

ewing mirror. She looked over her shou

llowed herself to smile, staring at herself, awed by the beautiful woma

n a beautiful gown such as this o

he bedchamber and she immediately cleared her throat a

ding in Wickhurst. And i

*

n the worst of Nicholas

utterly

older brother. Yesterday, he thought the

rard was getting worse

h, his brother's work was almost indecipherable. The once simple map of the Town had grown multiple

e to one per

tragedy between the two, after the secrets and lies, Sophia and Nicholas had fi

d until Sophia was on her way to the wedding. Sophia neve

verards' mother, Lady Alice, crying after having witnessed how

hurch. The bride was gone, replaced

one. You take mine, I take yours. Felicitatio

wall, reminding his brother of that day he was

hands on his hips. He looked unkempt, his hair a mess and his shirt seeme

as he a member of the League of Founders. He was amongst the citizens that the two groups vowed

s information to ease his brother's mind, but he kept

finally whirled around to face him. He drew a breat

had been banished to hell? His hair had always been donned in perfect fashion, his clothes alw

he had always been proud of it because he was th

s he was still there, deep inside, waiting for his time to shine and once more be the fooli

not see that h

words weeks ago ec

k. Wherever, whoever I was befor

Ralph knew it would not happen in an instant

Sophia. Not until t

e," Nicholas said, glaring at Ralph as though he was the enemy, his emerald gr

e certain it shall begin again soon." He paused to consider his next w

ish who the culprit is? She might be somewhere waiting for all of us

not the first that Nichola

tigated thoroughly, while the rest of us are searching for a sign of her. Someone had seen a colored woman being forced into a c

y from Ralph as if telling him he had had enough of the To

s did not care if he was listening at all. "I see it is a bloody mess," he uttered with honesty for

hat is what I am saying

elf was afraid that they were running out of time. If only Osegod wou

find Aurora Randolph

*

she knew she would find Ysabella

re a few

sabella's wedding. She might get lost or worse,

specifically asked for her

m from Ysabella and Emma's stories and she had the chance to be introduced during

holas was the easiest brother to deal with. He was the most fun a

he a

las Everard? But how did she end up

ge's reigns as the

one. And it was bloody intimidating to be outsi

on was enough warning to anyone with bad intentions that the estate of Whiston would not act in kind upon a threa

. my baby.

ns and shrugged off whatever

essage from the Forest Lady. She would tell

w her to meet his sisters for a short while before she returned to Meriwether. Or mayhap sh

ance of Whiston and down the pat

ght to

*

down the steps to where his horse wa

ld to a modiste in the village of Cromwell. It would have missed the Guards' attention if not for the bloody fight that happened between t

llage and the fact that it was damaged before the modiste made repairs. The modiste was adamant that the gown was from Wickhurst

a was wearing on the day of the wedding when she was abducted. Their suspicion was made stro

but he was desperate. He had asked for the gown to be taken to Wickhurst at once. His ow

t to evoke hope. Should the gown prove to be Sophia's, per

icked him out of the study,

an asked the butler who

wo servants. A horse was riding toward them and it see

e footman ran to meet the rider. With a frown on his

rider was a woman

*

an standing below her. "I'm here te see yer master, Nichola

a look of arrogance. The bloody bastard was

l him a friend of his sisters' is here, a

ccept beggars into the estate, lass. If you could k

laring at the footman. "Ye wanna make me turn ye into one

most proper day to request for his lordship's attention

nother voice asked and thi

ht and found Ysabella and Emma's other brother coming toward her. His obvious lean build was covered by a cape Alex knew

s the Town Guard, Ra

"It is lovely to see you again," she s

had it been? He had grown bristles around his c

but do I

om a stream. Ah, so he did not remember. Very well,

d with a wave of her hand. "I'

, studied her from head to foot while she was atop Siege. And i

a bloody dress! Save for that one Ysabella's husband bothered to procure for her, of course. But it

ou have with my brother

" she replied with a shrug, lifting her c

ther is currently indisposed.

ds with Ysabella and Emma, see. Ye ca

r you are planning to do here in Whiston." Alex rolled her eyes. He p

to Ralph to whisper, "She

he footman, "I told ye I'm no beggar. And I told ye

p to the side. "S-she must be a b-ba

true or not, she addressed him by saying, "I'm here upon a frien

ed help?"

about her answer. "S

en find someone else to help you. As I hav

of life 'n death.

o offer my services at this time. Go find a Guard in Wickhurst." Ralph Everard was already w

aid after him. "It'll be

tracks and turned to

ed her. "Step aside, ye mongrel," she snapped, slapping the footman's hand away. "Yer brot

e said behind them, stopping

by three horses bounding toward them. Atop them were men clad in black capes very s

her in the Dark Forest wear. They were the same one

bloody T

eard Ralph Everard ask behind her as

is eyes hooded by his hat were not on Ralph but on Alex. "Pardon our

iege but her horse was bein

dy h

ntrance of the estate. She started to calculate the risks when she heard

the saying amongst bandits was true. Gu

Ralph demanded and then he s

rd named Peters said, "We have been tracking down this band

ation chorused with Ra

d from their horses and st

f you don't mind," Peter