43. Chapter 43

Chapter 43

E velyn's lungs burned as she raced through the darkness, her feet stumbling over unseen roots and stones. The acrid smell of smoke still clung to her hair and nightgown, a constant reminder of the danger they'd narrowly escaped. But that fear paled in comparison to the rage that propelled her forward, chasing after the woman who had nearly destroyed everything.

The woods were pitch black, the dense canopy overhead blocking even the faintest starlight. Evelyn's eyes strained against the darkness, desperately searching for any sign of Nell. Her heart pounded in her ears, nearly drowning out the sound of her own ragged breathing.

For a terrifying moment, Evelyn feared she'd lost her quarry completely. She slowed, turning in a circle, trying to catch even the faintest rustle of movement. Had Nell veered off in another direction? Was she even still running?

Just as despair began to creep in, a flash of white caught Evelyn's eye. Nell's chemise, stark against the inky blackness. It was only the briefest glimpse, but it was enough. Evelyn surged forward, her determination renewed.

She crashed through underbrush, branches whipping at her face and arms. The pain barely registered. All that mattered was catching Nell, making her answer for what she'd done.

Again, the darkness swallowed everything. Evelyn pressed on, guided more by instinct than sight. Her foot caught on something—a root, a rock, she couldn't tell—and she stumbled, nearly falling. She caught herself against a tree trunk, its rough bark scraping her palms.

Evelyn paused, gasping for breath. She strained her ears, listening for any sound that might betray Nell's location. For a moment, there was nothing but the pounding of her own heart.

Then, just ahead, she caught another fleeting glimpse of white.

Evelyn's voice tore from her throat, raw and desperate. "Nell! Stop this madness at once!"

The maid's laughter floated back through the darkness, mocking and cruel. "Why should I? You don't belong here, my lady. You never will."

Evelyn stumbled forward, her feet catching on unseen obstacles. She could just make out Nell's silhouette ahead, a darker shape against the night.

"The Baron could never truly love a shallow city girl like you," Nell taunted. "You're nothing but a passing fancy, a bit of excitement in his dull life. He'll tire of you soon enough."

The words stung, but Evelyn pushed aside the flicker of doubt they sparked. She'd come too far, fought too hard to let Nell's poison take root.

"You're wrong," Evelyn shot back, her voice steadier than she felt. "At least I've had the good sense to pay attention to the estate's changes. I've learned, I've grown. Can you say the same?"

She drew in a ragged breath, her legs burning with exertion as they continued on, deeper into the night. "Nell, stop! This is madness. You can't run forever!"

As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, Evelyn realised with a jolt where they were heading. The ground beneath her feet had grown softer, more treacherous. They were nearing the edge of the Baron's land, approaching the abandoned canal project. All that remained was a large, murky retaining pond—a dangerous place in broad daylight, let alone in the dead of night.

"Nell!" Evelyn called out again, a new urgency in her voice. "Stop!"

Evelyn's heart pounded as she heard a sudden splash and a panicked cry. Nell had fallen into the pond. Without hesitation, Evelyn pushed forward, her feet squelching in the muddy ground at the water's edge.

In the dim light, she could just make out Nell's thrashing form. The maid was struggling to keep her head above water, weighed down by her belongings and the heavy wool cloak she'd wrapped them in. Nell's arms flailed wildly, sending ripples across the dark surface of the pond.

For a moment, Evelyn froze, her mind reeling. This woman had tried to kill her, had endangered the girls and the Baron. But as she watched Nell's desperate struggle, Evelyn knew she couldn't stand by and let her drown.

Taking a deep breath, Evelyn lowered herself to the ground, feeling the cold mud seep through her nightgown. She inched forward until she was at the very edge of the pond, her arms outstretched towards the floundering maid.

"Nell!" Evelyn called out, her voice steady despite her racing pulse. "Grab my hand!"

Evelyn's arm trembled as she reached out towards Nell, her fingers stretching as far as they could. The cold mud seeped through her nightgown, chilling her to the bone, but she held steady. "Please, Nell," she pleaded, her voice hoarse. "Take my hand!"

Nell's eyes locked onto Evelyn's, and in that moment, Evelyn saw a hatred so deep it made her blood run cold. Even as she struggled to keep her head above water, Nell's lip curled into a sneer, her gaze filled with contempt for the offered help.

Suddenly, the sound of heavy footfalls and laboured breathing broke through the night. Evelyn turned to see the Baron stumbling onto the scene, his chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath. His eyes immediately found Evelyn, relief flooding his features.

"Evelyn!" he called out, rushing to her side without a second glance at the pond. "The girls told me you'd run off after Nell. What in God's name is happening?"

As the Baron crouched beside her, his hand warm on her shoulder, Evelyn saw Nell's expression change. The maid's gaze darted between them, something dark and resigned settling in her eyes. Without a word, Nell stopped her frantic thrashing. Her body went limp, and she slipped beneath the inky surface of the pond, quiet as a sigh.

Evelyn stared at the spot where Nell had vanished, her outstretched hand still frozen in place. The black water rippled gently, then stilled, as if nothing had happened at all. Nell was gone.

Evelyn stared at the dark, still surface of the pond, her mind reeling. The Baron's warm hand on her shoulder anchored her to reality, pulling her back from the edge of shock.

"Evelyn?" The Baron's voice was gentle but insistent. "What's happened? How did you end up out here?"

She turned to face him, her lips parting to explain, but the words caught in her throat. The weight of everything—the fire, the chase, Nell's final, hate-filled gaze—came crashing down upon her. A sob escaped her lips, and she found herself trembling uncontrollably.

The Baron pulled her close, his strong arms enveloping her. "It's alright," he murmured. "You're safe now."

Before Evelyn could gather herself to respond, the sound of running feet and breathless voices broke through the night.

"Father! Miss Evelyn!"

Julia and Augusta burst into view, their faces pale with worry in the dim light. Evelyn's heart leapt at the sight of them, relief washing over her.

"Girls!" she exclaimed, her voice hoarse. "I told you to stay put. It's dangerous out here."

Despite her words, Evelyn was reaching for them, desperate to assure herself of their safety. The girls rushed forward, and she wrapped them both in her arms, holding them tight.

"We couldn't just wait," Augusta said, her voice muffled against Evelyn's shoulder.

Julia nodded vigorously. "We were so worried about you!"

Evelyn closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the love she felt for these children—her children now, in all but blood. She pressed a kiss to each of their heads, her earlier fear and anger melting away in the warmth of their embrace.

Evelyn felt the Baron's strong arms wrap around her, gently guiding her away from the pond's edge. Her legs trembled, threatening to give way beneath her. The adrenaline that had fuelled her chase was rapidly fading, leaving her exhausted and shaken.

"Nell—" Evelyn began, her voice catching in her throat. She couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence, to put into words the horrible scene she'd just witnessed. Instead, she glanced back at the still, dark surface of the pond.

The Baron followed her gaze, his expression crumpling as understanding dawned. Evelyn felt his arms tighten around her, offering silent comfort and support.

Before either of them could speak, Julia's voice cut through the night air. "Father, Miss Evelyn, there's something we need to tell you."

Augusta nodded solemnly beside her sister. "It's about Nell."

Evelyn turned to face the girls, her heart clenching with worry. What more could possibly have happened?

Julia continued, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Nell woke us up earlier. She looked... wrong. Like she was having a terrible nightmare, but awake."

"She told us to run," Augusta added, her voice barely above a whisper. "She said... she said that Miss Evelyn was a monster, and that she was going to hurt us."

"Nell was a liar," Julia interjected, her sooty face creasing into a dour expression. "So we didn't run."

Evelyn felt as though she'd been struck. She stared at the girls in disbelief, her mind reeling. How could Nell have said such things? After everything they'd been through together?

Evelyn's mind reeled as she listened to the girls' words, her heart pounding in her chest. She clutched them closer, as if her embrace could shield them from the horrors they'd witnessed.

"You... you didn't run?" Evelyn asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Julia shook her head, her eyes wide. "We hid in one of our spots in the hall, behind that tapestry."

Augusta nodded solemnly. "We saw Nell start the fire in the hallway. She was muttering to herself, saying awful things about you, Miss Evelyn."

Evelyn felt the Baron stiffen beside her, his hand tightening on her shoulder. She glanced up at him, seeing the shock and anger warring in his eyes.

Julia continued, her voice trembling. "And then, when she was outside your room, we heard her say something terrible."

For a moment she couldn't breathe. She steeled herself, knowing that whatever came next would change everything.

Augusta's voice was barely audible. "She said... she said that she started the first fire in the West Wing. The one that..."

The girl trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. But Evelyn knew. The fire that had claimed the life of the girls' mother, the Baron's first wife.

Evelyn watched as the Baron's face paled, his eyes wide with disbelief. He turned to the girls, his voice hoarse. "Is this true?"

Evelyn met his gaze grimly, giving the barest of nods to confirm their story. "From the mouths of babes," she said quietly, her heart aching for the pain she saw etched across his features.

The Baron looked utterly rattled, his usual composure crumbling before her eyes. "I... I'd always thought it was a knocked-over candlestick," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Or maybe I'd left something too close to the fireplace..." He trailed off, shaking his head in disbelief. "All these years, I've blamed myself. If not for starting the fire, then for not being able to save her."

Evelyn's heart clenched at the raw anguish in his voice. She could see the conflicting emotions warring across his face – devastation at the truth of what had happened, mixed with a glimmer of relief at finally knowing he wasn't to blame.

Without a word, Evelyn took his arm, offering what comfort she could through her touch. On his other side, Julia and Augusta pressed close, their small hands reaching for their father.

Together, the four of them began to make their way slowly back towards what remained of their home. The night air was heavy with the scent of smoke, a stark reminder of all they had nearly lost. But as they walked, Evelyn felt a flicker of hope. They had survived, and they were together. Whatever came next, they would face it as a family.