Westminster 1822

Graves and their secrets

‘Will you shut up old woman. Just tell me what I want to know and I’ll leave you alone.’

Agrona landed in the dirt with a thud. She coughed and scurried to the wall. The smiles on the faces of her captors sent shivers up her spine.

‘I don’t have anything you want. I’m a maid and I’ve been one for over twenty years.’ Agrona lifted her trembling chin.

‘Uh-ha that’s precisely the reason you’re here. You’ve been here a while, heard things, seen so many things.’ Liam chuckled. ‘We just want to know a couple of those things.’

Agrona scoffed, ‘You! How dare you do this to your brother?’

Liam hunched down to her level. ‘You, old woman, know many things, but you know nothing about my brother. He’s always had it easy. I know my father loved me more, but Elton was always favoured.’

Ella rolled her eyes, ‘Enough now. What happened to Emily’s mother?’

Agrona bit her lip. Her promise to the marquess echoed in her mind. She shook her head. Ella sighed. She raised her hand and struck the old woman. Agrona hit the ground. She cradled her cheek.

‘Let’s try this again. What happened to the damned woman?’

Agrona trembled but kept her lips sealed.

Ella raised her hand to beat the woman’s cheeks until she was red. Still Agrona didn’t speak. Ella panted and glanced at Liam.

Liam shrugged. Ella noticed the tall window and smirked.

‘Since you want to be useless, I’ll treat you like trash. Open the window!’

‘No. no! Please Ella it isn’t worth knowing what happened in the past.’ Agrona pleaded.

The two men grabbed Agrona’s shoulders and dragged her like a sack of maize to the window. The scent of moisture in the air burst into the room. Agrona sobbed as she was lifted to the window frame.

‘It is if it’ll help me in the present.’ Ella spoke.

‘She was no one! No one!’ Agrona cried.

Ella smirked, but didn’t stop her men from tucking the old woman’s head out the window.

‘She was a maid, a young maid. The marquess fell in love with her.’

Ella lifted her hand and the men shoved Agrona to the ground. She inhaled dust and hacked until she was out of breath. Ella burned the with heat of a thousand suns. Her nostrils flared while she waited for Agrona to continue.

‘The Marquess was already married to your mother, but each child she gave birth to passed away unexpectedly. Your parents never loved one another it was an arranged marriage, for convenience. It was when Oscar met Emma that he knew what real love was—’

‘He’s a foolish old bat!’

Agrona shook her head, ‘He fell in love with her. Your mother hated it. She wouldn’t let a maid embarrass her. Things got worse when Emma got pregnant. Your mother told your grandparents. They came up with a plan to have the child adopted quietly. I would have taken her myself!’

‘How noble of you,’ Ella spat.

‘Your father refused the arrangement. He loved Emma so much, he was willing to risk disinheritance. He was going to leave your mother—’

‘He wouldn’t—’

‘He would have. His father was on his side. Your mother framed Emma. She planted her with a stable boy and let the Marquess find them. The marquess was furious so much so he did something he regrets until this day. He made Emma believe Emily had died during childbirth then chased her from the castle. By the time he knew what Cecilia had done it was too late. He lost the only woman he ever loved. He had Emily to take care of, he swore to take care of her, but Emily was never to learn what he had done.’

Ella cackled she ran her hands through her hair and filled the tower of triumphant laughter.

‘She’s a bastard… where is that wretched woman now?’

‘I haven’t heard from her in years that’s the honest truth.’

‘Well, that wasn’t too difficult. We could throw you from the tower, but that would look suspicious. So, to the pond it is. Make sure she’s quiet.’ Ella ordered.

‘I told you all I know!’ Agrona sobbed as Ella’s henchmen dragged her out of the tower. Her screams echoed in the tower until they were snubbed out like a candle in front of an open window.

‘That was… something.’ Liam rattled his head.

‘It was more than something. I underestimated my parents. One steals a child and the other successfully discards a foolish mistress. He came up with an entire story of a first wife who tragically died and fooled the entire society to cover up his affair. His mistake. He should have gotten rid of Emily then.’

‘The woman said he was in love,’ Liam’s brows burrowed.

‘Love is for the weak. You won’t get anywhere sympathizing with people. I have my father to deal with now.’

Ella marched to the door. Liam caught her arm and pulled back to the tower.

‘I don’t need to remind you we have a deal, am I correct?’

Ella snatched her arm back, ‘I know. You’ll get your money and a handsome reward it’ll be when all this is over.’

Liam raked his hair, ‘I’m not worried about that, what about the title?’

Ella smirked, ‘Darling Elton will give you my father’s title once we are married. I’ll be his wife and convince him he won’t need it. Rumour does have it he’s inline for a dukedom.’

Liam nodded, ‘That’s all I needed to hear.’

Ella cupped his cheek then planted a kiss on his lips. She had another fish to fry before the sun woke. Her deal would be sealed before the stars disappeared.

***

Ella marched to her father’s room. She was tempted to storm into her sister’s bedroom and profess all she knew. She contained herself and pushed the double doors open.

Oscar’s face lit up. He straightened his back against the bedframe.

‘What is the matter now Ella?!’ He blasted.

Her cackle filled the bedroom. Oscar’s eyes turned to saucers; he thought his daughter had lost her mind.

‘Agrona! Agrona! Remove her at once,’ he demanded.

‘Oh, your darling Agrona can’t help you now. She just spilled the tea.’

‘I beg your pardon?’ He blasted.

‘I know now father! Why you always loved Emily more—’

‘I love you both equally, but you make it difficult at times Ella I will admit to that.’ Oscar coughed.

‘No father, you’re weak. You’ve always been weak. Truth be told if it weren’t for my mother who knows what would have become of you?’

Oscar rubbed his forehead, ‘Leave now Ella. I don’t have time for this.’

‘I know she’s a bastard!’ Ella sucked the words out of her father’s mouth. ‘A maid’s daughter. Which means she can’t inherit anything! Not a title, not Westminster, no fortune, she can’t even have an arranged marriage with a dignitary!’

‘Quiet down Ella please or people will hear you,’ Oscar begged.

Ella laughed, ‘You thought you could decide my fate, did you? You wanted to steal my status, my class. Never will a man impose his foolish whims on me!’

‘Please Ella I don’t want your sister to hear you,’ Oscar rubbed his chest.

‘Oh, she’ll learn all of it I promise you that. How her mother was a worthless maid that you fell for, how she’d entitled to nothing in this world.’

Oscar shook his head, ‘I don’t want her to find out I stole her from her mother.’

Ella smirked. Then there is a deal to be made. Ella stalked to the edge of the king bed.

‘We can omit that part of the story, but if you want me to be quiet you have to cancel Emily’s marriage. Elton is mine.’

‘There is other eligible men Ella, why must you take your sister’s man—’

‘Because Emily doesn’t deserve him or anything else. She’s had your love her entire life she’s had enough. Now destroy the arrangement or your precious child will know everything. Believe me father, she will hate you forever.’

Oscar hung his head. What had he done? His mistakes had finally caught up to him.

‘Alright, alright. Have it your way. I’ll send word to the countess tomorrow. You will have your wish.’

‘Good.’