Mysterious Seduction

XXVII. Burn

Ellie entered the Glocheshire mansion after a morning walk around the estate and the plantation surrounding it.

She had basked under a large hole and was quite eager to tell Byron that they ought to have a picnic by the lake that afternoon. It was a rare sunny day!

But instead of the calm quiet that was inherent of Glocheshire, a commotion greeted Ellie.

"What's happening?" she demanded when she saw men in uniforms dragging Byron down the hall.

The leader of the men replied, "His lordship is under arrest."

"What?" Ellie exclaimed. "For what?"

"Treason."

-Above and Below

*****

"This will put us in a ton of trouble, Wynne!" Ezra shouted after Wynne.

Wynne looked over his shoulder, throwing his young uncle a murderous look.

"I am merely telling the truth! The moment we interfere and the very moment they learn about it, we are dead!"

Wynne stopped and grabbed Ezra by the collar and growled, "If you do not go with me, Ezra, their lives will be on you! And I will skin you myself before Noah and Amelia can get their hands on you." He pushed Ezra away and raced to his horse. There were very few guests outside the tent now as everyone else were inside, waiting for the play to start.

"Bloody tarnation!" he heard Ezra scream behind him before following his path.

"My lord! My lord! The play!" a man shouted after them as Wynne and Ezra jumped on their respective horses.

"Get on with it!" he shouted, kicking his horse to make it move.

Without another glance at the confused servant, Wynne urged his horse to gallop away from Ulric, intent to get to Wickhurst as fast as he could.

Ezra was not far behind him.

His jaw was tight as he bent lower, eyes stern on the road. His thoughts were no longer on anyone but the children in the Devitt household.

He honestly did not know what to expect when he got there or how he could even face it. All he knew was that there were children's lives at stake tonight and it was because of his bloody family.

The very moment they entered Wickhurst, Wynne realized he did not know which way to go.

"I have been following them since this morning," Ezra said, passing by Wynne.

Wynne followed the man, his heart already racing.

Bloody hell, he left his pistol in his office. Should a fight ensue, he only had his fists.

Wynne did not have to ask Ezra if the man knew where he was going because from where they were, they could already hear screaming. And the air was getting warmer—hotter even. The hint of smoke filled his nostrils.

He stiffened as he realized what was happening.

"Fire! Fire! Help!" someone was shouting from afar.

Wynne's horse was starting to show signs of distress so he opted to jump off. Ezra did the same and they both found a safe alley to tether the animals before running to where the fire was causing havoc. When they emerged out of alleyway, they ran against a number of people escaping the scene and both stood stunned at what they were seeing from across the street.