The estate of Lindenberg was quite alright. The study had been completely burnt down, and the room next to it – the library – had also lost a part of its interior. But though the flames had reached high, it had been a fire that was easily controlled. The smell of burnt wood hung in the air of the house, and some of the walls were black. But if one did not go near the east side of the house, one would almost forget it had burnt.
Thomas did not want to stay in Lindenberg. Madilyn had expressed how she and Adelaide did not want to stay either, for they feared Arthur might come back. And if that were so, he would not hold back like he had done now.
Thomas did not fear his own life, but rather that of his wife, his children and his sister-in-law. So upon their request and his judgement, they departed for London as soon as they could. Once they arrived there, he called for a worker who could repair the house.
Madilyn had tried to stay optimistic. She had said she was now very free to redecorate Lindenberg as she wished. Thomas tried to laugh at it and agree with her, but his mood was not quite ready for it.
Arthur, his own brother by blood, had tried to burn down his house and had abused his sister-in-law. No one could ever forgive a man such thing. Also, Thomas was quite certain Arthur had killed the Cook family and was involved in the abduction and selling of child beggars.
And all the evidence for those crimes was now in ashes on the east side of Lindenberg.
But Thomas was lucky. The police had invaded Halbert successfully and had discussed their findings with him. He had just bid Hugh and the head of the police operation goodbye, when Madilyn came to him. Her face was worried and in her hand she was holding two notes.
"What is it, darling?" he asked.
She handed him the two notes and said: "I do not doubt who those are from."
With a frown on his face, Thomas opened the first letter. He gasped in shock when he saw the name of his two daughters – Gwendolyn and Hazel – written in a bloodlike red colour. He looked at Madilyn and realized why she looked so frightened.
He quickly opened the second note, wondering what Arthur could threaten with more. He found a similar note to the first one, only here the name was Adelaide.
He looked at Madilyn and saw tears coming in her eyes upon seeing Thomas' shocked face. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
"She will have to leave here," Thomas softly told her. "Tis too dangerous now that Arthur knows where she is."
"And the children?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"I do not believe he will hurt them. He had send similar notes to Andrew, but never hurt Alice. And even if he were to do that, than we will be in the house, watching over them."
"Where will you take Adelaide?"
She looked up at him and waited patiently for his response.
"To the place he would least expect. My mother's house."
-----------------------------------------------------------
Thomas was in the parlour of his parental house. He felt like he was the centre attention, though lady Anne was looking shocked at each of her three children who had the knowledge about her banished son. Madilyn and Adelaide were on the coach, while Mary was trying to comfort their mother.
"Arthur, in London," lady Anne said in shock. Her hands were over her mouth, but her eyes displayed every amount of shock she felt.
"Well, not in London," Thomas clarified, "but nearby."
YOU ARE READING
The Broken Daylily
Historical Fiction"I hope I can be a better mother than I am a wife." Daylilies symbolize motherhood. In China, it refers to a mother's devotion and filial devotion from a child to his or her mother. In Chinese superstition, the daylily relates to birth. It is said t...
