15 Dukes threat- Part 2 (2/2)
She tightened the grip on the bag she was holding on to, conflicted at what to do. She wanted to run away but not at the expense or harm on anyone. Her freedom was so close yet now it looked farther than ever before.
”Step inside the carriage. Now.”
Reluctantly, she got in and Uncle Raymond followed after her, closing the door he asked his coachman to start the carriage. On the way, they made no stops and continued their journey in silence. Neither did her uncle or her brother question her as she sat in silence. Her uncle had said they could talk once they arrived back home but would it really happen? None of them showed any sign of anger and she didn't know if it was a good sign. Were they perhaps upset that she left abruptly? No that couldn't be, she thought to herself.
She didn't know how they had traced her so easily. She should have known that her uncle had good connections when it came to finding out things in Woville. She regretted staying at the inn for a long time. Now that they had found her, there was no saying what was going to come at her.
Once they reached the town, Heidi noticed that they passed the street where their house was located and instead they were going elsewhere. She glanced towards her uncle who didn't speak a word seeing her questioning look.
The carriage stopped after nearly half an hour at a huge mansion which she had never been to before. The mansion had barbed wire fences with two guards standing outside the main door. The scene reminded her of something which she brushed away while she followed her uncle cautiously into the mansion. They were received by a maid at the entrance who led them to the holder of the house. When they stepped into a room, Heidi felt her palm sweat seeing that her father and her sister were already present with a well-dressed man. The man seemed to be in his early thirties, his black hair parted at the side due to which a part of his hair fell over the round glass he wore that rested on his delicate nose.
”I see you have retrieved your niece back safely,” the man spoke pleased looking at Raymond and the girl next to him.
”So I did. I don't go back once I have given my word, Duke Scathlok.”
With the way she had heard her uncle speak about the Duke previously she had thought that the Duke was an old man like her uncle but he was young.
”I should say, at first I thought you wouldn't be able to find her. You did well,” Duke Scathlok walked to where Heidi was and asked her, ”Why did you run away dear? Please feel free to tell what you hold in your mind without a worry.”
Heidi had her mouth sealed, terrified with the number of people who were in the room. It was apparent that her father was angry but he was containing it in, her sister's eyes darted from Heidi to the Duke and back to Heidi again.
”What do you think I must do with her Mr Curtis? Has she turned dumb that she is unable to talk anymore?”
”I leave her in your care Mr Scathlok. Please do as you see fit with her,” her father replied in a clipped tone not looking at Heidi since she had stepped into the room.
The Duke turned to the servant who was standing in a corner and indicated him something to which the servant left the room. Heidi stood there quietly as minutes passed until she saw the servant drag a beaten Howard along with him. The man was beaten badly, bruises covering his hands and face where the skin had turned black.