"I do not resort to giving out blows like you and your brothers, Whiston," Durley said, his words distinctly said, giving Nicholas the impression that the man was very well-equipped with his temper. "I merely give threats." Durley stood up, eyes fixed on Nicholas. "And I make certain I execute them should my expectations not be met."

Nicholas did feel alarmed by the threat, considering Emma was somewhere in Wickhurst, probably doing whatever unmarried woman ought not to, unaware and without protection. He had the sudden urge to jump to his feet and return to Wickhurst and lock his sisters to safety, but he also knew that Durley was merely doing what any brother would do.

He must play this right if he wanted to have a peaceful end to all this.

If Margaret was here with him, his sister would deal with Durley in the same manner any member of the League of Founders would. She would have Durley chained, interrogate the bastard and catch Osegod.

But Nicholas did not have the same loyalty to the League as his sister had. He was merely loyal to family. He was merely loyal to his instincts.

He realized he finally came to the point where he was forced to make a decision: believe Sophia's story or not.

He chose the former and decided to risk the consequences by saying, "You shall see her soon, Durley," he said, noting the great relief on the man's face which Durley quickly covered with a menacing scowl. So the man was not quite so certain he had Sophia all along. "But you must be patient for I shall demand one thing from you before I take you to her."

Durley looked at Nicholas, gauging his demeanor, assessing his resolve. Nicholas held his breath, perfecting a look of nonchalance while his heart hammered hard against his chest.

When Durley showed his resignation by returning to his seat, Nicholas crossed his leg over the other and uttered, "The truth."

Durley's lips twitched into a smile. "What truth, Whiston? I have quite a few hidden."

"Start from the beginning. Your family. Osegod. Everything."

Durley wryly looked at him and a soft chuckle escaped the man's throat. "You are talking about years of narrative, Whiston. A day shall not suffice to tell you everything."

"Then perhaps your sister can wait where she is," Nicholas said with a sigh. "But by your expression, I know you cannot wait longer than a couple of hours to see her so start talking now and try your best to compress everything in merely a few statements."

Durley chuckled, giving Nicholas a condescending look. "You are not aware of what I am capable of, Whiston. Hand me my sister now or—"

"Give me what I want and you will see her. I give you my word."

Durley's smile vanished as he glared at Nicholas intensely. His eyes narrowed as the powerful tension grew between them. His voice as he said, "Sophia told you everything," almost came out as a snarl.

Nicholas merely shrugged. "Talk."

The man's jaw tightened, fury rebuilding in his dark brown eyes. "I reckon she has already told you how she grew up in Mecklenberg as my father's bastard with a servant." When Nicholas did not provide a sign of affirmation, Durley continued. "You must also be fully aware by now of the massacre."

"How did you escape?" Nicholas asked.

Durley's eyes narrowed at him, aware that Nicholas was testing Sophia's story. "We escaped the estate just as the fire was starting to engulf it. Sophia was captured, her mother suffered an injury. She sacrificed herself to help me escape. I did with naught but a promise to the woman that I shall find Sophia." Nicholas waited, knowing that the next part was important. Sophia did not elaborate on how Durley managed to survive all these years.

"I only found out very much later that Sophia's mother's body was found amongst the others outside the estate. The fire did not get to them. Sophia was not around and I simply assumed she was taken to be sold somewhere like the other slaves." Durley's face remained impassive as he narrated what probably were the most horrifying days of a young boy's life. "I did try to find her but many things started to prove more important. For one, I was getting hungry and had to feed myself. I found a job as a stable boy, was sold to another master when I proved to be worthless..." his voice trailed away and he paused. Nicholas was certain that Durley was skipping a part of his past. Durley cleared his throat and continued. "I landed in the care of a more considerate master who taught me more about his business for he saw my potential. He knew I was a learned boy and he saved a lot of townsends by having me around doing various jobs. He provided me access to his library in return to grooming his horses and other works that involved accounting and overseeing his other servants." Durley paused to let out a sigh of boredom. "The same master sent me to school. He loaned me money when I asked for it. My small business grew to what they are today."

Nicholas finally spoke. "And you found your sister."

"I finally had the means to do so. We searched for her thoroughly. I hired the best investigators to locate her. My money did not go to waste for we did find her. In that bloody brothel, blind and without memory."

"You mean to say she was born with sight?"

"She saw many wonderful things before the massacre and before she lost her memory." The raw anger in Durley's voice was no longer directed at Nicholas. It was directed on a memory.

Nicholas feigned indifference. He repositioned in his seat. "Now, tell me how you got yourself tangled with Osegod. From the first day, Durley, down to the last."

Durley squarely met his eyes and laughed. He came to his feet again. "I am afraid you shall have to wait, Whiston." He fixed his coat and straightened to full height. "You are taking me to my sister now." Nicholas started to shake his head but Durley's palms came crashing down on the table, eyes alight with danger. "Now, Whiston, or your dear sister Emma shall have to deal with my men."

Nicholas' entire form tightened. "You are not touching my sister."

"Then take me to mine before we see which brother is more capable."

His mind reeled, trying to find ways on how to get to Durley without risking his sister's life. But Durley was not a man to be trifled with. It was evident by the look in his eyes. He looked like he could murder the entire bloody Town without paying a price.

Nicholas slowly came to his feet, sighing while maintaining nonchalance. He fixed his cravat and the sleeves of his coat. "Then bloody get your horse, Durley, for I am not traveling with any of your men. They all stay here in Whiston."

*****

Nicholas had witnessed too many reunions in his past. In fact, he witnessed quite more than reunions but this was probably the only one he hoped never to happen.

What if Durley took her away from him without giving an explanation? What if the bastard would jump on his horse with Sophia and never look back?

The only consolation Nicholas had was that Sophia would not easily go with her brother. Not without an explanation from him.

He had decided to trust her this time and he should act upon it to the last even if it meant putting too many things at stake, even the damnation he would have to face in front of his siblings for being such a bloody fool should Sophia prove herself a conniving wench.

Although it was highly unlikely, Nicholas still could not stop the rapid ramming of his heart. She held this much power over him and even if she was aware of it, she may still not realize the extent of that power.

As he led Durley to the village of Puck with none of his men following behind, Nicholas imagined how Sophia would react.

*****

What she did though was just as how Nicholas predicted.

Nicholas was able to catch Durley before the man could storm to the door.

"Let go of me, Whiston," Durley gritted out.

"She has been very worried for you, Durley," Nicholas hissed. "Do be sure to not surprise her."

Durley shrugged Nicholas' hand away. "Watch me."

But Nicholas caught him again. "And one more thing," he whispered, looking at the footman who came alert upon their arrival. He leaned closer to Durley. "She is not entirely yours."

Durley's face darkened. "You dare, Whiston," he almost roared. "You walked away from her. You abducted her. You have no right over her."

Nicholas tightened his hand around Durley's arm. "Then perhaps we should ask her."

Durley scoffed. "I know what my sister's answer will be, you bastard. Dare not dream of having a claim on her for you do not." Nicholas did not loosen his grip. "Let go, Whiston, or I shall do to you what Sophia once begged me not to."

Nicholas frowned, his grip loosened. Durley took advantaged and shrugged him off once more. Before Nicholas could even ask about what he said, Durley stormed toward the entrance of the cottage.

*****

She was in the kitchen with Fanny when Durley barged inside the cottage like a madman, brushing off the footman that had been standing guard outside the door. Nicholas fell behind Durley to witness the reunion of brother and sister.

"Sophia," Durley said in a hissing, hushed, almost pained tone as he rushed forward.

Hearing her brother, Sophia's smile before they came in froze in her lips. Her eyes went wide. But she did not freeze. She jumped to her feet and Nicholas watched true joy and relief wash over her face at her brother's voice. A whimper escaped her lips just as the tears from her eyes when Durley finally took her in his arms.

"Marcus!" she cried out in a mixture of disbelief and joy.

Nicholas noted Fanny's confusion and gave the woman a curt nod to dismiss her. Fanny walked out of the kitchen silently, joining the footman outside while Sophia bawled in tears in her brother's arms.

Nicholas felt he had no right to be there. He felt like he ought to join the footman and the housekeeper outside!

But he held his ground. He stayed where he was standing and watched things unfold.

"But how—how did—" Sophia started, pulling away from Durley's embrace, her eyes filled with tears.

"Dare not underestimate your brother, Sophia," Durley said, his voice far from the one Nicholas had ever heard him use.

Bloody hell. The bloody bastard was a brother after all.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" he heard Durley ask.

As Sophia opened her mouth to speak, Nicholas stepped forward and broke his silence. "She is unhurt and well," he said and Sophia's head snapped toward him. Eyes searching, blindly narrowed at his direction, Nicholas saw her smile at him.

A smile of gratitude.

Bloody hell! He did not need her gratitude. He could have kept Durley away from her if he was capable of it. He was selfish enough to even entertain the thought so he did not deserve that gratitude.

"Now is the best time to talk, I believe," Nicholas said calmly. "I took you to her and you must do your part."

Durley snapped his head toward Nicholas and glared. "I do not owe you an explanation, Whiston. You must be thankful enough that your sister is safe. You shall no longer hear from us. You can be assured of that." He turned to Sophia and added, "We are going away from this place, Sophia."

Just as Nicholas stepped forward to force Durley to pay forward, Sophia shook her head and pulled away from her brother. "No, Marcus," Sophia said. "Not until you tell me what happened to you."

When Durley kept his accusing gaze upon him, Nicholas gave him a mocking smile. "Lest you wish the entire village of Puck to witness you drag your sister by the horse, Durley, I suggest you begin talking for it is apparent she is not going anywhere."

Sophia snapped her head at Nicholas and in a biting voice said, "You have said enough, Nicholas."

Nicholas gawked at her incredulously. "I took him here, Sophie."

"You took him here because he threatened you," she said, facing her brother again. "I know he did."

Durley did not offer a rebuttal, simply maintained his domineering mien. "I do not have the time to spare for this, Sophia. We are going."

"No, Marcus, not until you tell me what happened to you. Why did you suddenly disappear? Where have you been? Why did you leave me in Theobald!"

The accusation laced in her last question made Durley stiffen.

"I was drugged," Durley said. "You must believe me, Sophia. I did not mean to leave you alone," he added, face stern and insistent.

Sophia's eyes were wide with fear and Nicholas moved toward her to catch her when she swayed but she held her hand out to keep him at bay. "Who? Osegod?"

Nicholas turned his head to Durley. He realized he was simply a spectator here. Again. The two siblings could very well have forgotten he was there.

Durley's jaw clenched as he replied, "I told you I was going to talk to him but they must have drugged me for when I awoke, I was back in my chamber in Rock'oles."

Confusion crossed Sophia's face. "What?"

"The bloody bastard had me unconscious and deposited back to Rock'oles. When I awoke, a note was given to me telling me that you were taken away from Theobald."

Sophia turned to Nicholas. Nicholas scowled. "Bloody hell, Sophia, I did not dare write this bastard a note!"

She turned to her brother again. "Osegod."

"All the while I thought he has you, Sophia."

"But why—"

"To control me, of course, that bloody prick!" Durley cursed under his breath. He threw Nicholas a glaring look before he uttered, "My search for you would have been more productive if the League and the Guards were not nosing around."

"I am not a Leaguer or a Guard," Nicholas said.

"But your sister and brother are," Durley shot back, surprising Nicholas. How much did this man really know about them?

"I could have come for you sooner, I could have realized sooner that Osegod was merely bluffing, but I had to be very careful. And as much as I hate seeing Osegod enjoy this game, I needed to keep my cover for if I were exposed, Sophia, they will know and everything will come to naught."

Sophia drew in a shaky breath. Nicholas frowned at Durley and asked, "Who will know and everything will come to naught?"

Durley was not going to offer a reply but the look in Sophia's eyes gave Nicholas the answer.

"The Trilbys," he uttered.

This time Durley directed his anger toward Sophia for the first time. "How much did you tell this bastard?"

Nicholas stepped beside Sophia to block her from Durley. "She did not have to tell me anything if she was not scared to death, Durley. She was left alone—"

The rest of his words were left unspoken when Durley suddenly snatched him by the collar and snarled, "—and abducted by you, you bastard!"

"Marcus!" Sophia was crying but neither of them heard her.

"You took her as hostage and I believe I change my mind. I believe I shall make you pay for it now, Whiston, for no one," Durley said, gripping Nicholas' collar tighter, "takes my sister away."

Nicholas struggled and managed to push Durley away. The man began to storm back but Sophia squeezed herself between them, shouting, "Stop it!"

"Even until now, Durley, you still care more for your vengeance. Admit it, you are keeping Sophia because you fear that her presence will be known to the Trilbys. If so, your plans will be doomed."

"Stop it, Nicholas," Sophia ordered.

But Durley had his eyes on his sister and he looked stricken. "You surely cannot believe this bastard, Sophia. You are the only person I would sacrifice my vengeance for. You are the only family I have. I would not trade you for it."

Sophia placed her palm over her brother's chest to gently push him away from Nicholas. "I cannot deal with the both of you if you are this intent to kill each other."

"I have had the entire journey from Whiston to think of the many ways to make this man talk," Nicholas said.

"And I spent mine thinking of the many ways I can torture you, you bastard!" Durley shouted, taking a step forward for another attempt to attack but his sister stopped him, throwing her entire weight to keep him away.

"Should I not be the one to tell you that?" Nicholas shouted. "My brother barely escaped that ambush you set up!"

That made Durley pause and stare at his sister with confusion. The exchange was caught by Nicholas but he ignored it as he continued, "Why did you want to spy on me and Ralph, Durley?"

Durley scoffed, tearing his gaze away from Sophia. "I merely needed to know how much the Guards know of the slave trade. I was attempting to gain Osegod's trust and gaining that bastard's loyalty is paramount to my plans."

"Get to Osegod, get to the Trilbys," Nicholas surmised.

Durley did not answer.

"Why the ambush, Durley? If your only task was to know what the Guards know, why the bloody ambush! You killed two men, you bastard. You have blood in your hands. So tell me now—why the need for the ambush!"

Durley opened his mouth but Sophia interrupted by saying, "Nick, please, not—"

"No, Sophia. You never told me why the ambush had to happen. No one knows why those two Guards had to lose their lives. I was a part of it as much as the two of you were and I need to know—"

"It happened because all of us were fools to trust one another!" Sophia shouted, making Nicholas and Durley take a step back. Her chest was heaving and she closed her eyes. She placed her hand press against her temple and she swayed.

"Sophie—" Nicholas started, reaching for her, but Durley was faster and stronger, grabbing his sister before Nicholas could even touch her.

"I wish to go back home, Marcus," she said.

Durley nodded. "Not to day, Sophia. You look faint."

"But—"

"First thing on the morrow," Durley promised.

Nicholas froze.

Durley swept Sophia off the floor and like a child, cradled her in his arms. His gaze met Nicholas. "We leave after your sleep, Sophia." And to Nicholas he added, "And you will let us."

*****

Nicholas paced around the cottage while he waited outside Sophia's door. Durley would not allow him entrance and had not left his sister's side since he delivered her the food Fanny prepared.

He looked out the window, his eyes focused on the main road of the village.

Where the bloody hell was Ralph? He had specifically given his butler instruction before leaving Whiston. His brother ought to be here by now.

As much as he was certain that Emma or his other sisters were safe, Nicholas still had to make certain. And as much as he knew that Durley meant them no harm for they shared a common enemy, Nicholas still had to make the bastard talk.

He could not simply arrange an ambush and get away with it.

Then Nicholas remembered the look Durley gave Sophia earlier when he brought up the ambush. There was something there that he could not seem to point out. What was it?

Nicholas paced the room for another half an hour until he heard the sound of horses' hooves. He frowned, rushing to the entrance of the cottage.

It was indeed Ralph abound his horse, but someone else was with him. Nicholas' jaw knitted even further as the pair neared and he finally recognized his brother's companion.

What was Thomas Hayward bloody doing here?