A lady of Resilience

Chapter 23: The Betrayal

The countryside was eerily quiet as Seraphina and Maria made their way through the dense woods surrounding the city outskirts. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a faint silver glow over the trees, but it did little to ease Seraphina's growing tension. Every rustle of leaves, every crack of a twig, sent a jolt of anxiety through her. They had escaped Montrose's men for now, but she knew they wouldn't be safe until they reached the safe house.

Maria struggled to keep pace, her breath coming in labored gasps as they ascended a small hill. Seraphina paused, turning back to help her mother, who was clutching her small bundle of belongings tightly to her chest.

"Just a little further, Mother," Seraphina whispered, offering her a reassuring smile. "We're almost there."

Maria nodded, her face pale but determined. "I'm sorry, my dear. I'm slowing us down."

"No, you're doing fine," Seraphina said gently, though her own nerves were frayed. She had chosen this route because it was less likely to be watched by Montrose's spies, but it was also more difficult to traverse in the dead of night. They had no choice but to keep moving.

After another half hour of walking, they finally reached a clearing where the safe house was hidden. It was a small, unassuming cottage nestled in the woods, barely visible from the main road. Seraphina had stayed here once before, during one of her early assignments for the resistance, and she knew it was a reliable place to lay low.

"We'll rest here for the night," Seraphina said, leading her mother toward the cottage. "Tomorrow, I'll make sure it's safe for you to stay longer. There are people who can help."

As they approached the front door, Seraphina felt a flicker of relief. The cottage appeared undisturbed, its windows dark, and the door locked as it should be. She fished the small iron key from her coat pocket and quickly unlocked the door, guiding her mother inside.

The interior was as sparse as she remembered—bare wooden floors, a small fireplace, and a table with two chairs. There was a cot in the corner, covered in a thin blanket. It wasn't much, but it would keep them warm and hidden for now.

"Sit down, Mother," Seraphina said, gesturing toward the chairs. "I'll start a fire and make us something to eat."

Maria sank into the chair with a sigh of relief, setting her bundle on the table. "Thank you, Seraphina. I don't know what I would have done without you."

Seraphina offered her mother a quick smile, but her mind was already elsewhere—on Ashford, on Montrose, and on the danger that still loomed over them all. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time.

As she knelt by the fireplace, arranging kindling for the fire, her thoughts turned to Ashford. She wondered if he had managed to reach his father safely. She hadn't seen him since they parted ways at the docks, and a part of her worried that something might have gone wrong. But she couldn't afford to dwell on that now. Ashford was resourceful; he would make it through.

The fire crackled to life, its warmth slowly filling the room. Seraphina stood and crossed to the small pantry, where she found a few dried provisions—enough to make a simple meal. She worked quickly, all the while keeping an ear out for any sounds outside.

Just as she was about to serve the food, a faint noise reached her ears—footsteps, just outside the cottage.

Seraphina froze, her heart pounding. She exchanged a glance with her mother, who had heard it too. The two of them sat in complete silence, straining to hear. The footsteps stopped just outside the door.

Seraphina moved swiftly to extinguish the fire, plunging the room into darkness. She grabbed her knife, motioning for Maria to stay quiet. Whoever was outside was either a friend or an enemy, and they couldn't take any chances.

The knock on the door came softly but insistently. Seraphina's grip on her knife tightened as she approached the door, pressing her ear against the wood.

"Seraphina, it's me."

Ashford's voice. Relief washed over her, though it was tempered by caution. She opened the door just a crack, enough to see his face, but kept her knife hidden behind the door. "Ashford?"

He nodded, his expression tense. "Let me in."

Seraphina stepped aside, allowing him to enter. He was breathing hard, as though he had been running, and his clothes were disheveled, dirt smeared across his coat.

Maria stood from the table, her eyes wide. "Is everything all right?"

Ashford glanced at Maria, then turned to Seraphina. "We need to talk. Now."

Seraphina's heart sank at the urgency in his voice. She motioned for her mother to sit, then led Ashford into the small corner of the room, away from Maria's ears. "What happened? Is your father safe?"

Ashford ran a hand through his hair, his face a mixture of exhaustion and frustration. "My father is safe—for now. But Montrose is moving faster than we anticipated. He knows about the fire. His men are already scouring the city, looking for anyone who might be connected to the resistance."

Seraphina's pulse quickened. "And us?"

"They haven't found out yet," Ashford said. "But it's only a matter of time. We've rattled him, Seraphina. And he's not going to rest until he tracks us down."

Seraphina clenched her fists, frustration bubbling up inside her. They had made their move, but now Montrose was on the warpath. "What do we do? We can't stay here for long. And my mother—"

"We need to get her out of the city," Ashford interrupted. "Somewhere Montrose won't think to look. I've been thinking... there's a man, an old family friend of my father's. He has an estate in the countryside, far from London. He might be willing to hide her."

Seraphina's thoughts raced. It wasn't a perfect plan, but it was better than staying in the city, where Montrose's spies lurked around every corner. "And what about us?"

Ashford's expression hardened. "We have to strike back. Montrose is planning something big, something that could change the balance of power in London. We need to stop him before he can make his next move."

Seraphina's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean? What is he planning?"

Ashford hesitated, glancing over at Maria, who was watching them anxiously from across the room. He lowered his voice. "I've been hearing rumors. Montrose is amassing support from several key figures in Parliament. He's using his wealth and influence to buy loyalty, and if he succeeds... well, let's just say he'll have more power than we can fight against."

Seraphina's heart sank. This was worse than she had imagined. Montrose wasn't just a threat to them personally—he was a threat to the entire city, to the fragile peace that held London together.

"We need proof," Seraphina said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. "Something that will expose him to the people. If we can turn his allies against him..."

"That's exactly what we need," Ashford agreed. "But it won't be easy. Montrose is careful. He doesn't leave loose ends."

Seraphina's mind was already working, forming a plan. "Then we'll find one. We'll expose him for what he is."

Ashford nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "But first, we need to make sure your mother is safe. After that, we'll regroup and gather whatever allies we can."

Seraphina glanced over at Maria, her heart heavy. Her mother had been through so much already, and now she was being dragged even deeper into this dangerous game. But there was no other choice. If they didn't stop Montrose, the consequences would be far worse.

"We'll leave at dawn," Seraphina said quietly. "And after that... we fight."

As the fire crackled softly in the hearth, the weight of the coming battle settled over them like a shroud. Montrose was growing stronger, and time was running out. But Seraphina was ready. She had made her choice, and there was no turning back.