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.

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

tied her hair the way she used to when she was here. At Sexton she had fallen into the habit of

who had arrived. But then she heard raised voices and she wondered what was

second, Ruelle nearly failed

faint bruise darkening near his jaw, yet the

Mrs. Belmont hurried forward at once, with an

the moment she noticed two men

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

sneered, "thinking you could try running

answered through gritted teeth. "I was only

him off, spitting onto the floorboards. "You have enough coins to gamble through

you would settle it today, Harold Belmont," the second Halfling added coolly. "Come on Saturday and take your money. Those were your words, weren't

and then they landed on Ruelle. He commented, "Looks

in a way that made her skin crawl and she felt the room shrink around her. Her hands curled at her sides as

already looking at her. Then, as though the answer

them the

word left her in a

said you earn well, as

man, her pulse racing and she managed to speak, "I—I don't have that

back to her father

I'd rip your head clean off

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

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

it, I would give it," Ruelle said, her voice trembling despite her effort to stay calm.

pocket with a shaking hand. She turned them out. Coins clinked softly into her palm, which was barely enough for

have," she said, holding it out to

the small offering

to be satisfied with a handful of change?" he

wall, Ruelle and Mrs. Belmont

husband. For a fleeting moment, her thoughts went to the diamond earrings. But she said nothing about them. Instead, the older woman turned her gaze sharply on Ruelle. Confusion

house. I'm done waiting," the Halfling said flatly with his patience that had grown

a hammer. Mrs. Belmont clasped her hands

daughter will be visiting today. She married well. Her husband is a respectable man. He will be

repeated with a sneer. "I've heard

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

hand shot out

out a small cry. The Halfling hissed, leaning close to Mr. Belmont's face,

pride and fear floating in his eyes. He struggled before he was shoved roughly which nearly sent him stumbling. He coughed hard, clutching his neck, then forced himself

and I will," he insisted hoarsely. "There will

at Mr. Belmont. A slow, unpleasant smile spread across the first one's

just as quickly. As the Halfling continued, "But in the meantime, we will