The Earls lie or a scoundrels promise

He gave her one last smile.

                  

Chapter 19 - He gave her one last smile

Elizabeth sat in the newly decorated nursery she had fitted out in the last couple of weeks. It had kept her extremely busy. It was her way of telling her husband he was to be a father.
She stared at the beautifully carved cradle swamped in soft cream baby blankets in the middle of room. She had fallen in love with it when she saw it. Small toys which she had salvaged, that had once belonged to her husband. The smell of polish was still strong in the air. She had been doing up the nursery each day while Blake was out, and she was going to surprise him. Now she sat in the nursing chair next to the crib wondering how she got here. She was being held hostage in her own home, by a woman who had lost her mind. She watched her pace the room tutting disapproval at Lizzie's hard work. 'What horrid taste you have, he will hate it.' She watched her pick up the small teddy bear from the crib and carelessly drop it back in after it didn't meet her standards.
Lizzie wasn't sure how long they had been sat in here, but her husband would be back soon if he was not already and he would realise she was missing. She was not sure how this was going to end. Melissa stood looking out the window into the darkness, her thumb gliding up and down the jewel incrusted handle of the blade as if it was a comforting motion.
She could make it to the door if she ran, but what if she didn't and ended up with a knife in her back, she could not risk it. There was only one way in and out of this room, she didn't know why Melissa had chosen this room but she suspected she rather liked a bit of drama.. She had learned from Blake that Melissa was not what she seemed, she could become anyone, anyone she needed to be in that moment, a great performer. She had seen her do it with Robert, she had become the exact woman she thought her brother would love one day, someone caring, kind, someone who put others before herself because that is what Robbie was like. Melissa looked over to her with a small smile, that echoed in the darkness, then she heard why. Blake, Calling her name. Her heart beat faster in her chest and blood swirled in her head. Her ears were ringing, Whatever this woman had planned was about to unfold. She had not spoken since, she was too scared to utter a word. 'He's home' she watched her, with one bony finger she sent the vase full of red roses that sat on the side crashing to the ground and made her way over to where she sat.

They waited in the darkness, silent, yet she could hear that feline smile on Melissa lips, she could somehow hear it grow, until eventually the door knob turned slowly, no longer squeaking against the rotation, as she had seen to every detail of the Nursery, including that. The door swung freely into the room.

He stepped inside and a coldness crept into him. He took in the room, beautiful pieces of furniture, toys and a crib. His crib, new somehow. The faint smell of polish in the air, the walls were fresher, the room had been aired and dusted, ready for use. His beautiful wife sat teary eyed in a chair on the opposite corner of the room, 'Liza? She nodded and he stepped through the door, he looked to her lap where hands lay, bound. He noticed the figure stood behind his wife, and the glinting of the blade threatening her Precious neck. His mind was swamped with information and it tripped over itself in an attempt to process it fast enough.

'Hello, my love.' Melissa spoke to him, he didn't want to antagonise her, he kept his voice steady, calm almost unbothered. 'Melissa' his eyes flicked between the terrified face of his wife and the tip of the blade, he prepared himself to fight, to throw himself between his wife and that blade if need be, but all of a sudden, her grip loosened, he dared to look away from his wife and watch as her face melted. Her hard exterior gone, the guard lowered.'Bliss, such bliss to hear my name on your lips once more.' He didn't say anything for fear of saying the wrong thing. 'I love you.' Her breath was near a whisper 'I have always loved you.' He watched her fingers loosen around the blade a little more.'I'm the one you want.' She sniffed a little laugh and her fingers tightened around the weapon once more.
He looked into his wife's face, a tear, single and silent ran down her pale cheek. He knew what he had to do,