Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 93: Cost of Coming Home

The carriage slowed as it reached Brackenwell and came to a creaking halt. Ruelle stepped down, her trunk set carefully at her feet. For a moment she stood watching the carriage wheels roll away, the familiar rattle fading into the narrow road.

She drew in a breath that smelt of wood smoke. Home at last, she thought to herself with a smile. She then took hold of the trunk's handle before pulling it towards the house.

A few villagers noticed her at once. Heads turned with their voices lowered. One of the men nudged the fellow beside him and muttered,

"Looks like Harold Belmont's troubles are finally coming to an end."

"With his gambling habits? Hardly," the other man snorted. He shamelessly traced the figure Ruelle had begun to fill out.

"I think Sexton will put a price on her. High enough to settle debts, I'd wager," whistled the first one.

Their words never reached Ruelle. She was too far away and far too occupied with the pleasant mood to notice the murmurs trailing behind her.

When she reached the front door of her house, she set her trunk aside and knocked. A moment later it was opened by her mother.

"Mother, I am home," Ruelle greeted brightly.

Mrs. Belmont stood in the doorway, her expression faltering for the briefest moment as her eyes swept over Ruelle's well-tailored dress, the polished shoes, and the healthy colour in her cheeks.

"Good. You are here after all. It seems my letter reached you," Mrs. Belmont said with a slight smile.

"It did," Ruelle replied, stepping forward and embracing her mother, warmth filling her chest. "Forgive me for not visiting the past weekends. I was caught up with things."

"So I see," Megan murmured as a faint crease appeared between her brows. She asked, "It seems you have been doing well in Sexton?"

Though Mrs. Belmont's words were meant to ask about earnings, Ruelle mistook them as concern for her wellbeing. She nodded and replied,

"Yes, I have been doing well, Mother. How have you and Father been?"

"We have been managing. Your father kept asking when you might come. He will be pleased to see you. Let me help you with the trunk. You must be tired from the journey," Mrs. Belmont took the trunk from Ruelle's hands with an eagerness that almost seemed kind. She then said, "Why don't you go wash up?"

Those simple words were enough to brighten Ruelle's mood. She replied, "Okay."

Once Ruelle disappeared down the corridor, Mrs. Belmont set the trunk on the table and flipped it open. The older woman's hands quickly rummaged through the things before her hands paused over a small velvet box. She picked it up.

And when she opened it, diamonds caught the light. Megan Belmont stared at the earrings in her palm.

"Sexton must be treating her very well… if I had to send a letter just to remind her to return," she murmured to herself.

She walked to her own room and murmured, "It wouldn't do for something so valuable to get misplaced. I will keep these safe for you, Ruelle," and she set the earrings on the side table.

Ruelle closed the door of the room she shared with Caroline. Everything inside was exactly as she remembered it. From the mattress to the dressing table still scattered with Caroline's old ribbons. Nothing had changed. And yet she felt oddly out of place standing there.

in Sexton than she had at home. How strange that before leaving for

was here. At Sexton she had fallen into the habit of letting her hair down, which had always kept

voices and she wondered what was going on outside. She made her way to the living room and

a second, Ruelle nearly

was rumpled, his hair untidy. There was a faint bruise darkening near his jaw, yet the man looked

at once, with an alarmed expression. "What happened?! Are

words faltered the moment she

enough, but their boots were scuffed and muddied as though they had spent the night walking through streets rather than sitting at any gentleman's table. One of them looked around the modest house with open disdain before his gaze

some nerve," the man sneered, "thinking you could try running

told you I wasn't running away!" Mr. Belmont answered through gritted teeth. "I was only

thing I damage," the first Halfling cut him off, spitting onto the floorboards. "You have enough coins to gamble through the night, but none to pay

coolly. "Come on Saturday and take your money. Those

to Mrs. Belmont and then they landed on Ruelle. He commented, "Looks like the daughter has

her skin crawl and she felt the room

her father without thinking, hoping for some reassurance. But he was already looking at her. Then, as though the answer had been obvious all along,

them the

her in

first Hafling turned to her completely and stated, "Your father said you earn well, as you are in Sexton. Now hand

she managed to speak, "I—I don't have that much money. I don't

back to her father and said in a low,

head clean off your shoulders right this instant.

He seized Ruelle by the arm, his fingers biting into her sleeve. He glared, saying, "Give it to him,

her chest, not knowing what to do. Her nails dug into

her voice trembling despite her effort to stay calm.

hand. She turned them out. Coins clinked softly into her palm, which was

she said, holding it out to the Halfling. "You can take

the small offering

be satisfied with a handful of

one of the nearby chairs and threw it right at the wall, Ruelle and Mrs. Belmont flinched at the sudden

went to the diamond earrings. But she said nothing about them. Instead, the older woman turned her

this house. I'm done waiting," the Halfling said flatly with his

struck like a hammer. Mrs. Belmont

she bowed her head. "Our other daughter will be visiting today. She married well. Her husband is a respectable man. He will be more than willing to assist. Only give

with a sneer. "I've

"I gave you my word, didn't I?" he snapped. "I am not some

expression darkened. The next second his hand shot

Belmont let out a small cry. The Halfling hissed, leaning close to Mr. Belmont's face, "Your word has been costing

struggled before he was shoved roughly which nearly sent him stumbling. He coughed hard, clutching his neck, then forced

said I would settle it and I will," he insisted hoarsely. "There will be money. What I

A slow, unpleasant smile spread across the first one's face, who finally agreed, "Fine. You'll have your

quickly. As the Halfling continued, "But