Cinderellion (bxb)

Chapter 11: The Bottle

It had been a full day of Henri keeping me on the bed, and me pestering him to let me up so we could go.

He had even threatened to tie me down a few times, lecturing me on how I needed to let my body heal properly. I had, of course, made an obscene joke every time about tying me down which always earned me a glare.

Today, though my body still hurt, I was feeling better with the full medical care Henri and his servant had given me. I didn't think I could wait any longer. I was up before Henri, so I stared at his sleeping face next to me while I thought of ways to convince him. When he finally stirred, he opened his eyes to meet mine inches away. He smiled sleepily until he saw the determined look in my eye and groaned, "no. At least give me time to wake up before you start."

"Henri..." I drew out. "Please. I'm fine, I can handle it-"

"Your ribs need at least four weeks! Not to mention your hands which may never even heal! And your foot needs time—"

"Henri, I'm going insane! We'll go and get it over with, then I'll go right back to bed for five weeks, I promise."

He stared me down for what felt like minutes, but I wasn't budging. Henri sighed, drawn out and over exaggerated. "Fine... but you are not touching or doing anything." I opened my mouth to object. "No. It's that or we're not going."

I huffed. "Fine."

"Good. We will go tonight." He stood and stretched; I watched his back. "Rest up, I'll get some food."

                                                                                      ≥≤≥≤≥≤≥≤≥≤

On horseback, yet again seated in front of Henri, we rode onto the Tremaine estate, staying hidden in the trees. We had come in early morning again; except I had learned my lesson and we had come closer to sunrise this time. Hopefully he wouldn't be awake.

Henri and I walked to the back door, leading to the kitchen, since climbing the wall was no longer a possibility for me. I was still limping and leaning on Henri, but I was determined to get the poison and get this over with.

Boudon usually locked this door before going to bed, but I was a long-time inhabitant of this estate and knew the tricks to get this door open. On the other side was just an old rusty barrel-bolt, and since this door was crooked and half off its hinges, all I had to do was lift it and push in to get the bolt over the broken barrel. Henri didn't let me do it of course, so I instructed him on what to do and leaned against the wall while he did so. Once it was open Henri helped me inside.

One of the lanterns on the wall was on.

At first, I thought for some reason Boudon was here. Which she never was this late, or early I suppose. She was usually at home at this time.

But it wasn't. It was a woman in her early thirties, wearing a white apron over a dark brown dress and a white cap. A nurse? She looked to be wetting a few towels and placing them in a basket. She was half turned towards us with wide, tired eyes. She was frozen and looked to be debating the option of running.

I was confused, Lord Tremaine didn't like nurses. And he would not tolerate having an unknown person in his home so late. He didn't trust them.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

The nurse let out a squeak of fear and moved to press herself against the basin. "Who are you, and what do you want?"

"I'm... Lord Tremaine's stepson." An awkward silence. "Ellion Lascorie-Tremaine... I'm not going to hurt you, I promise." She nodded but didn't look completely reassured. "Why are you here?" I asked again.

"I'm here to look after the Lady Anastasia."

I frowned. "What's happened to her?"

"She... has a bad concussion."

Shit. "And where is Lord Tremaine?"

Her brow furrowed. "He has not been here. Lord Drury Tremaine was the one who hired me, and the one who has been in oversight while I have been here."

"Do you know where Lord Tremaine is?"

"I do not."

I sighed. I was going to regret this but- "Can you go get Lord Drury for me? Tell him Ellion wishes to speak with him."

The nurse looked apprehensive but turned and left to go fetch Dru. I filled Henri in on why I was so confused by the nurse, and a few minutes later the nurse came down with a very annoyed and tired looking Dru.

"What in the Hell are you doing here Ellion?"

"We need to talk."

"About what?"

I gestured to the hall that would eventually lead to the parlour. "I'll tell you, just... please Drury, this is important."

Dru sighed but nodded. He led us to the parlour, clearly annoyed that Henri and I were taking so long. When we finally got there, I had sunk into the couch and it felt like absolute heaven. Henri sat next to me and Dru sat across.

"Where is Lord Tremaine?"

"Custody. After you escaped, he hurt Anastasia for helping you. I reported him to the authorities."

I sighed in relief, but I knew it wouldn't last. "He is going to get out of it you know."

"Both Anna and I told them-"

"It doesn't matter," I interrupted. "He has gotten away with much worse."

Dru raised his brow, annoyed at the interruption. "What? Beating you? Holding back your inheritance? You haven't reported those things, of course he's gotten away-"

"Not those. Your father killed both of our mothers."

That shut him up. He looked shocked, then angry. "Are you insane-"

"Just listen Dru! For a few minutes. I have actual evidence."

He was quiet for a few moments. Then reluctantly waved for me to continue.

I explained everything, from them both dying of unknown diseases, the doctor's reports that said they both have symptoms of arsenic, to the envelopes of bank notes we found in the detective's office. By the end Dru was deep in thought. And silent for so very long.

Eventually I said, "I know where the last piece of evidence is." I stood up slow and shakily. "Come, I'll show you."

The three of us walked upstairs to Lord Tremaine's office. Henri pushed open the door and helped me inside. We walked over to the desk. I picked up the desk clock that wasn't ticking and searched the face. I found a little chip in the coating and went to put my finger in the rough indent when Henri took it from my hand and shot me a look that said, remember your promise, vazey.

He pried the face off, it opened by a hinge hidden on the inside. The face revealed not a piece of a clock's normal mechanisms, but a small glass bottle filled with a clear liquid.

Dru, who was looking over Henri's shoulder, reached in and grabbed the bottle.

"Be careful," Henri said, "that's arsenic."

"You are sure?" Dru asked, examining it.

"What else would it be?" I answered.

Dru stared at the bottle for a few moments before cursing and putting the bottle back in the clock, then walking out.

Henri looked to me and smiled triumphantly.

I smiled back.