A/N: Sorry for the delay due to the fiasco with the older chapters. I hope you enjoy this chapter! As always, vote if you liked this chapter and comment your opinions below :)

          The sun was high in the sky when we finally reached the Marsh's manor, which was still as large and grand as it had been the night of the ball. I was sore and tired from sitting so stiffly atop the horse, in my attempt to refrain from touching Sir William. Once I had dismounted I noticed a number of serving boys carrying chests and boxes full of my possessions into the house.

"Did you speak to my steward Arthur about removing my possessions?" I asked Sir William, speaking to him for the first time since we had left the village.

"Of course. It was his idea that you be taken care of by my family," he replied, handing the reigns of the chestnut horse to a short, round stableboy. My eyes widened in surprise at his response, I knew Arthur did not wish to worry me, but did he really believe I would be better off in the care of the Marsh family?

"Welcome to your new home," said Sir William, cutting into my thoughts. I scowled at his words but followed him inside nonetheless. The main hall had not changed much and was still completely spotless as always. Sir William led me through to the room where he had cornered me during the ball and stopped. I froze in place and swore I could see realisation washing over him. He turned to face me properly, a sinister grin spreading across his face, as he said,

"If I wasn't so sure he was the Blacksmith; I could have sworn that it was Sir Lewis you were speaking to earlier." I kept my expression neutral but my heart thrummed frantically in my chest.

"The Blacksmith?" I laughed, feigning surprise, " what a ridiculous suggestion. Where would he get an invitation to the ball, let alone have the composure to converse with gentlemen such as yourself." I fluttered my eyelashes and gave him a coy smile, hoping flattery would distract him from the topic.

"Perhaps," he mused, flashing me a reassuring grin I knew I couldn't trust.

          After leading me through the rest of the manor I was finally delivered to my new room. I couldn't deny that it was everything a young lady could want, a large balcony, expensive furnishings and beautiful decorations. I might have stopped to admire it longer if I did not have more pressing concerns. I needed to catch up to the man who had taken Uncle Henry and every moment I wasted in the Marsh manor allowed the man to take my uncle further and further away from me. I paced about the room trying to think of anything that would give me an excuse to leave. I remained deep in thought for over an hour, until I heard a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" I called as I quickly sat down at a nearby table.

"It's Elizabeth," she called, from behind the door. I was surprisingly relieved, I had almost forgotten Elizabeth was Sir William's younger sister.

"You may enter," I responded, standing up once more. When she opened the door and entered the room I noticed she had a light bruise on her left cheekbone.

"What happened to your face?" I exclaimed, rushing over to inspect the injury. 

"My punishment for disappearing," she stated, pulling away from my reach. Hearing the resignation in her voice I gave her a small smile, but knew better than to upset her pride by pitying her. It was then that I realised she was my way out of the manor.

"Elizabeth..." I began, looking straight into her bright, green eyes, "I need your help."

          An hour had passed by the time I had explained the situation to Elizabeth and formulated a plan to escape. She was hesitant at first, afraid of being punished so soon after her last escapade. However, once I reminded her of her debt to me, she eventually agreed to help me. The plan itself was relatively simple. Elizabeth would speak to her brother and say that I had delicate, personal possessions hidden in my bedroom and wished to go and fetch them myself, rather than trust them to the care of a servant.

"There's no guarantee he'll listen to me," Elizabeth sighed, "but I'll do my best."

"Thank you," I replied, giving her an encouraging smile as she disappeared into Sir William's study. I leaned against the wall outside the room while she was gone, hoping that she would be able to persuade him. I tried to distract myself as I waited, but my impatience was getting the better of me. Twenty minutes later Elizabeth emerged and gave me a small smile, shortly followed by a scowling Sir William.

"My sister tells me that you have personal belongings to collect," he said, an irritated expression replacing his usual smirk.

"Yes," I replied, keeping my words short and simple.

"Can it not wait until tomorrow?"

"I'm afraid not," I lied, " I have difficulty sleeping without them, they're the only reminders I have of my parents." I felt guilty for using my deceased parents as an excuse, but I didn't have much choice in the matter.

"Very well," he conceded. He had begun to walk down the hall, when he turned and added, "Elizabeth, go with her."

          As Elizabeth and I rode in a carriage back to my home, I was growing even more restless, my knee bouncing up and down in an agitated rhythm beneath my skirts. When we arrived I had to refrain from running up the path into the house. We entered the main hall and found it was deserted, save for Tia who was sitting at the base of the staircase, her expression forlorn. As I approached she looked up and her blue eyes bulged with surprise.

"M'lady!" she cried, rushing over to embrace me.

"Where is everyone?" I asked as I peeled her arms from my shoulders and stepped back.

"Everyone's gone to look for m'lord," she murmured, "everyone 'cept for me, 'cause it were all my fault." Tia had started to cry, staring down at her feet.

"I see," I responded. I pitied her but I didn't have time to comfort her.

"We need to go," Elizabeth pressed, her voice filled with urgency. I placed my hands on Tia's shoulder and made her look up at me before I said,

"Tia, I want you to go to the tavern and speak to the barkeep. Tell him Lady Thorel sent you and that he is to find work for you until I return. Do you understand?"

"Yes, m'lady," she replied softly, looking down at her feet once more. Elizabeth and I dashed past her, up the staircase and into my bedroom. I went through the wardrobe into my den and quickly set about changing into my fighting gear. As I went to put the red paste on my face, I noticed Elizabeth was pulling on a spare pair of my black breeches.

          "What are you doing?" I hissed, my red fingers still hovering in front of my face.

"I'm coming with you," she said, her voice nonchalant as she continued to dress.

"It's far too dangerous!" I exclaimed, stowing the paste into one of the large, leather saddlebags that I had slung over my shoulders.

"I want to go on an adventure! Besides, I owe you," she said, fully dressed now, reminding me once again of my younger self.

"Fine. I don't have time to stand around arguing with you," I sighed, "Find yourself a weapon and then run to the kitchens. Pack any food that will keep over a long period of time." Elizabeth's face lit up with excitement at my words and she hastily grabbed a nearby bag before she dashed out of the den. Once she had returned and I was ready, I tossed a brown cloak to Elizabeth and pulled the hood up on my own. I then began to crawl through the passage, staying lower than usual to stop the leather bags from snagging on the rocky ceiling. We only had a few hours of daylight left when we emerged in the clearing but I was desperate to travel through the night in order to catch up to my uncle. I began to fill my canteen in the stream and motioned for Elizabeth to do the same, before we headed into the village.

          When we entered the town square there were people everywhere, watching as a group of men began to hand out wanted posters and put them up on nearby walls. As we passed through the crowd of people Elizabeth quickly snatched at a poster and began to read it.

"So that's why my brother agreed..." She trailed off as she handed the poster to me. I looked down and was greeted by a drawing of Charlie beneath a caption that read; 

WANTED ALIVE for impersonating Sir Lewis Byron of Dalbury in order to cause bodily harm to a nobleman. REWARD 10,000 gold pieces.

When I had finished reading I clenched my fist in a mix of rage and frustration, causing the poster to crumple. When I had not moved for a while Elizabeth began to tug at my arm, pulling me away from the crowd as she said,

"We need to find and warn him before somebody else does." I was in a daze but allowed her to lead me toward the forge. Sir William had recognised him. That was the only reason he had let me leave, his plan was to seize Charlie while I was away and have me return to find him either dead or dying. When we reached the forge, Charlie had already gone inside for the night, his forge quiet and abandoned. I began to panic, had someone already found him? I ran to the front door and hammered on the thick wood with my fist as I cried,

"Charlie? Are you there? It's Amelia. I need you to let me in, it's urgent!"