Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 188: Behind Familiar Faces

When morning came, Ruelle left for the Slaters’ mansion in a carriage. The mansion looked the same as always and when they arrived at the door, Lord Azriel was waiting.

"Mr. and Mrs. Belmont. Ruelle." His eyes shifted to Hailey. "I see you found your second daughter."

Hailey blinked and Mrs. Belmont frowned at once. The older woman was quick to correct, "That isn’t Caroline. It is Ruelle’s friend from Sexton."

Ruelle barely listened as she asked, "Is Lucian here?"

"He hasn’t returned since last morning," Lord Azriel responded. "There was a sighting of tracks and drops of blood trails found near Hullemwood yesterday. Most of the officers and Lucian have gone on a trail to find it. They won’t be back until tomorrow or later."

Ruelle’s eyes swept the entrance. Even Dane was nowhere in sight.

Lord Azriel suggested to everyone, "Why don’t you have some tea before leaving?" and then turned to Ruelle and said, "A letter arrived for you this morning. Maude must have left it in your room."

A letter? "I’ll get it." She didn’t wait as she hurried up the stairs, her steps quick against the polished wood.

The moment Ruelle disappeared up the stairs, the two guards moved to follow. Before they could take more than a step, Maude appeared in front of them. Her hands were folded neatly before her, but the look in her eyes stopped them faster than a weapon might have.

"Guards are not permitted in a lady’s chambers."

One of the men straightened and replied, "We were ordered to keep her safe."

"This is the Slaters’ mansion. I will attend to Miss Belmont myself. Unless you mean to ignore the rules of this house and insult the lord you are standing under," Maude’s eyes were sharp, and she finally followed Ruelle.

Below, the Belmonts were led away for tea. By the time Maude reached Ruelle’s room, the door was already shut. She knocked once before entering.

Ruelle stood by the window with a letter in her hand. The paper was already opened and a small smile rested on her lips.

’Dear Ruelle,

Your letter reached me, and not long after so did the news of your wedding. I am glad to hear that you have found someone you wish to share your life with. More than that, I am glad it is by your own choice. I cannot wait to see you.

I wish I could be there sooner, but I will make it in time for the wedding. And if you still wish it, I would be honoured to walk you down the aisle.

Take care of yourself until then.

With love,

Your cousin, Lachlan.’

to inform you that the seamstress sent word that some of your clothes have been prepared and asked you to drop by

The guards had stayed behind, but she could still hear the faint murmur of

came out lower than she meant it to, barely more than breath. She stepped closer, close enough to smell the faint lavender of the woman’s apron. "I need you to get word to Lucian. Yesterday, I overheard my father speaking with Minister Sylvan." The names felt heavier leaving her mouth than they had in her head. "They mentioned

had known the

she heard footsteps approach from the

once I find his location and let the lord know about

appeared at the door

get your dress prepared for

but considerate. But Mrs. Belmont’s face tightened. Her daughter

adjust some time to accommodate her," Maude

father, she noticed he had barely touched the tea that had been prepared for him

way, Mrs. Belmont muttered, "This brings back memories when we first visited the

don’t know what you see in him," Mr. Belmont’s words were

soft but they landed to strike a nerve with her father. "At the very least, he is better than

for the sound of the carriage wheels moving against the ground and the hooves of the horses. For once Mrs. Belmont stayed quiet because she did end up attaching the killer to her daughter and she couldn’t complain about

Lucian is better than Ezekiel?" Mr. Belmont asked, surprise flickering across his

response. "And I don’t think I am

exasperated sigh. She pressed her lips together before

up his own wife to take the fall for his sins." Her voice dropped at the end with

didn’t comment on it and instead simply looked outside the

turned to her husband before speaking, "We should visit Imogen. We didn’t send a word to her since we left two

Belmont’s older sister, who had let the couple stay when they had nowhere else to go. She lived in Fallmount which was a town away

head to the courthouse. The

your statement?" Mrs. Belmont asked and her husband

came the curt

of them in the carriage. The ride continued for

stepped out,

woman asked, eyeing the polished carriage and the coachman dressed far

Her sister clicked her tongue, unimpressed. Then her eyes slid to Ruelle but only for a

to it. In time, she had learned to ignore the woman the same way the woman ignored

how are things going?" the woman asked

steps. The moment their backs were turned, she caught Hailey’s hand and

her shoulder where the guards still stood posted at the front of the house, unaware. They hurried down the narrow back street

guards can’t follow," Ruelle said, pulling her scarf tighter around herself. She

book house?"

owner used to like collecting odd books," Ruelle explained as they hurried through the street. "Books no one wants. Failed journals, old war records, half-burnt family diaries, maps of places that don’t exist. Sometimes when