Ashes of Devotion

Arrival at the Winchester Estate

The journey to the Winchester estate was long, cold, and tense. The roads were treacherous with ice, the snow-laden trees lining the path looming like silent sentinels, their branches bending under the weight of winter’s touch. The journey took hours, their carriage trudging slowly through the uneven paths, and the bitter wind slipping through even the thickest of coats.

Daniel and his men traveled in a well-crafted carriage befitting nobility, their disguises meticulously prepared. Each man had a role to play, and failure was not an option. Daniel sat across from Lieutenant Hale, his second-in-command, who had been assigned the role of his personal advisor. He adjusted his cuffs and smirked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“You ready for this, Captain?” Hale asked, his voice steady despite the gravity of their mission.

Daniel smirked slightly, leaning back against the plush seat. “I’ve played harder games than this.”

Their cover was carefully designed, Daniel was to assume the identity of Lord Ethan Blackwood, a distant relative of an influential noble family with deep-rooted business ties to the Winchesters. He had supposedly returned from an extended deployment overseas, seeking to re-establish himself in society. Hale would pose as his trusted confidant, with the remaining men playing the roles of footmen and attendants. Everything had been arranged to ensure that their infiltration went undetected.

As they neared the grand estate, the first signs of aristocratic excess came into view. The sprawling Winchester property loomed in the distance, the towering mansion rising like a fortress against the darkened sky. Golden candlelight spilled from its many windows, illuminating the snow-covered grounds in a soft, inviting glow. The scent of pine, wood smoke, and cinnamon lingered in the air, mingling with the crispness of the season.

By the time they arrived at the estate’s entrance, night had fully descended. The massive wrought-iron gates swung open at their arrival, and a butler greeted them with a practiced bow. Daniel stepped from the carriage, straightening his coat as his sharp eyes swept over the entrance. He took in the details, the perfectly arranged wreaths on the doors, the frost-covered lanterns casting long shadows, the faint sound of laughter spilling from the inside.

The interior was even more lavish than he had anticipated. Marble floors stretched beneath ornate chandeliers, their light catching on polished surfaces. Servants bustled through the grand hall, ensuring that every last detail was prepared for the upcoming Christmas festivities. The opulence was stifling, a stark contrast to the world Daniel had known.

After being shown to their quarters, Daniel excused himself under the guise of wanting to familiarize himself with the estate. He moved through the corridors with practiced ease, noting exits, blind spots, and potential escape routes. The halls were dimly lit, the soft flicker of candlelight casting long, dancing shadows against the walls.

Then, he saw her.

Through a slightly parted door, steam curled into the air, beckoning his gaze inward. What he saw made him momentarily forget everything else.

Emilia Winchester stood in her bathing chamber, her bare skin glistening as she stepped from the clawfoot tub. The flickering candlelight kissed her damp body, illuminating the soft curves of her back, the graceful arch of her spine. Her hair, still wet, clung to her shoulders, droplets of water slipping over her collarbone before trailing lower, vanishing into the dip of her waist.

Daniel’s breath caught. He should have turned away, should have left the moment he realized what he was seeing. But he didn’t. He couldn’t.

She reached for a silk robe, the fabric pooling around her fingertips before she pulled it up, but not before he caught a fleeting glimpse of her, the full curve of her breast, the way the candlelight caressed the swell of her hips. For the briefest of moments, time seemed to still, his mind betraying him as he memorized every detail.

Then, as if sensing something, Emilia turned slightly, her fingers gripping the edge of the curtain before she pulled it shut, disappearing from view.

Daniel exhaled sharply, his pulse unsteady.

This was a complication he hadn’t anticipated. She was nothing more than a target, just another piece in the game he was playing. And yet, in that moment, something dangerous stirred within him. Something he had long since learned to suppress.

He took a slow, deliberate step back, forcing himself to regain control. He had a mission to complete. He had enemies to deceive. And whatever temptation had just flickered within him needed to be buried before it became something he couldn’t afford.

Or so he told himself.