“He’s still bleedin’!” Zettie shouted. “Come on, hurry up!”
“Damn it!” Another voice answered her. “Where’s that Odo?”
“It don’t matter!” Zettie shouted. “You’re gonna have to help me.”
“Me? I can’t go upstairs! I ain’t allowed! It ain’t fit!” The other person responded anxiously.
“This ain’t no time for what’s fittin’!” Zettie hollered. “The master done been shot and Mrs. Cage is up there dyin’. Them officers is in the house, lookin’ ‘round and we got the one young officer sick in the guest room. Now, are you gonna come up with me or am I gonna have to drag you by your ear?”
“I’ll come, I’ll come.” The other person answered angrily.
Barbara waited until the voices stopped and then pulled Charles by his lapels toward the house’s rear door.
“Surely you’re not suggesting that we go in there now?” Charles shook his head. “You heard the woman. There are officers in the house and people rushing around! What makes you think we’ll get to Ulrika’s room without being caught?”
“To begin with, Edward Cage and his wife—the only two who would recognize us—are shot and dying respectively. They’re occupied. If anyone else sees us, we’ll say we’re helping out and slip into the chaos.”
“What of the staff?”
“I worked for Ulrika in Marionneaux. Not here.”
“Zettie knows you. You were both in the same house. And even if she doesn’t, she knows me. Some of the men, too. They know I’m the Duke’s valet.” Charles argued.
“Just come with me!” Barbara tugged on Charles’ jacket again.
Charles snorted and followed Barbara into the house.
At that very moment, outside of the city—the air thick with a cold mist and the stale smell of standing water—Adrienne Halifax ran toward a carriage stopped by the side of the muddy road, he eyes trained on the flash of auburn hair she had seen cutting the darkness.
“Ulrika Rittenhouse!” Adrienne screamed.
Ulrika turned and looked, first in horror and, then, with amusement, as Adrienne—her skirts swaying and rustling—rushed forward.
“Give me my son!” Adrienne demanded.
“I told you we shouldn’t have stopped!” Giovanni hissed into Ulrika’s ear.
“I had to think.” Ulrika whispered back.
Cecil, Robert, Marjani and Mr. Punch quickly caught up with Adrienne.
“Hand over my boy, you bitch!” Cecil growled.
“What makes you think I have your boy?” Ulrika snarled.
Mr. Punch raced toward the carriage and opened the door.
“He’s here! Fuller’s here!” Punch whooped as he scooped up the child who cooed upon seeing his friend, reaching for Punch’s/Julian’s nose.
“Give him to me!” Adrienne exclaimed, reaching for her baby as Punch deposited him in her arms. She wept with joy over her son.
Cecil walked up to Ulrika—his eyes flashing scarlet with anger.
“And just what do you intend to do, Mr. Halifax?” Ulrika smiled.
“You caused my wife and son to suffer.” Cecil said coolly. “I intend to murder you.”
Did you miss Chapters 1-412? If so, you can read them here.
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