1
Justice has been served, and it was colder than steel. 🗡️
📺 Watch All Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU-N-6CWZ7E6JeraBG7QNreWWUc_Xv5fD
❤️ Episode 442
🎥 Episodes Included: 994-996
In Episode 442, Caleb delivers the final piece of the puzzle: a stolen sketch proving Stephen LeBow was the Keeper’s architect, sketching blueprints of the Hollow and even watching Alessandra and Elijah from afar. The revelation sends Edgar into a protective fury that Lockwood will never forget. 🛡️🏰
Edgar takes the "message" directly to the heart of the Red Light District. In a public execution that leaves the district in stunned silence, the Duke executes the traitorous artist and issues a final ultimatum to the Keeper: "Surrender, or I will burn your world to the ground." 🔥⚔️
Back at the estate, a heartbroken Rose confesses her guilt to Alessandra. But in a beautiful moment of grace, Alessandra chooses forgiveness over blame, deciding to paint Elijah’s portrait herself. But just as peace returns, the arrival of Lord Edmund and Lady Priscilla proves that the drama in Lockwood is far from over. ☕🧩
✨ Story Highlights
🕵️♂️ The Evidence: Caleb reveals the Keeper’s face in the sketchbook.
🗡️ The Execution: Edgar delivers a lethal blow to Stephen LeBow.
📢 The Ultimatum: "Turn yourself in, or you are next."
🚿 The Nursery Confession: Rose begs for forgiveness.
🎨 A Mother’s Gift: Alessandra takes over the portrait of Elijah.
🏰 The Visitors: Why are Edmund and Priscilla at the estate?
❓ Viewer Question
Did Edgar go too far with LeBow, or was it the only way to protect his family? And why do you think Edmund and Priscilla have arrived so suddenly? 💬🤔
🎬 Production Credits
Story & Characters: A fictional drama for The Duke's Masked Bride.
Visuals: AI-generated for creative storytelling.
Editing: Crafted with Clipchamp.
#TheDukesMaskedBride #Episode442 #EdgarsJustice #HistoricalDrama #TheKeeper #RoseAndAlessandra #LockwoodUnderSiege
📺 Watch All Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU-N-6CWZ7E6JeraBG7QNreWWUc_Xv5fD
❤️ Episode 442
🎥 Episodes Included: 994-996
In Episode 442, Caleb delivers the final piece of the puzzle: a stolen sketch proving Stephen LeBow was the Keeper’s architect, sketching blueprints of the Hollow and even watching Alessandra and Elijah from afar. The revelation sends Edgar into a protective fury that Lockwood will never forget. 🛡️🏰
Edgar takes the "message" directly to the heart of the Red Light District. In a public execution that leaves the district in stunned silence, the Duke executes the traitorous artist and issues a final ultimatum to the Keeper: "Surrender, or I will burn your world to the ground." 🔥⚔️
Back at the estate, a heartbroken Rose confesses her guilt to Alessandra. But in a beautiful moment of grace, Alessandra chooses forgiveness over blame, deciding to paint Elijah’s portrait herself. But just as peace returns, the arrival of Lord Edmund and Lady Priscilla proves that the drama in Lockwood is far from over. ☕🧩
✨ Story Highlights
🕵️♂️ The Evidence: Caleb reveals the Keeper’s face in the sketchbook.
🗡️ The Execution: Edgar delivers a lethal blow to Stephen LeBow.
📢 The Ultimatum: "Turn yourself in, or you are next."
🚿 The Nursery Confession: Rose begs for forgiveness.
🎨 A Mother’s Gift: Alessandra takes over the portrait of Elijah.
🏰 The Visitors: Why are Edmund and Priscilla at the estate?
❓ Viewer Question
Did Edgar go too far with LeBow, or was it the only way to protect his family? And why do you think Edmund and Priscilla have arrived so suddenly? 💬🤔
🎬 Production Credits
Story & Characters: A fictional drama for The Duke's Masked Bride.
Visuals: AI-generated for creative storytelling.
Editing: Crafted with Clipchamp.
#TheDukesMaskedBride #Episode442 #EdgarsJustice #HistoricalDrama #TheKeeper #RoseAndAlessandra #LockwoodUnderSiege
Category
🎈
FunTranscript
00:00He mask is off, the artist is dead, and the keeper has just been given a choice.
00:04Surrender, or watch her world burn.
00:08Caleb brings the evidence that confirms Edgar's worst fears.
00:12Now, the Duke will show the red light district why you never threaten a Collins.
00:17Welcome back to the Duke's Masked Bride.
00:21The front doors of the Collins estate swung open with a gust of wind,
00:25as Caleb marched through, clutching the stolen journal page in his fist like a weapon.
00:31He did not bother to remove his coat, heading straight for Edgar's study.
00:36Edgar walked around his desk.
00:38His eyes narrowed as he looked between Caleb's face and the paper he held in his hand.
00:44You found something.
00:46Caleb nodded, handing him the page.
00:50I pulled that out of a journal Labal had stashed in a drawer.
00:55There were also drawings of the hollow and a place called the Parlor.
01:00He clearly knew his way around the red light district.
01:04And, from the looks of his sketchbook, he spent more than a passing moment there.
01:10But this?
01:12I had to bring this to you.
01:15She watches all.
01:18Edgar read aloud, as he focused on the sketch as though he were committing it to memory.
01:24LeBow sketched the keeper.
01:27Mm-hmm.
01:28That's my thought exactly.
01:30It's not much.
01:32Still no face.
01:34But it's better than nothing.
01:36Caleb paced in front of the desk.
01:38If we can get that into the hands of the palace guards,
01:42we might have a shot at figuring out who she is.
01:46I'll bring it to Tobias personally.
01:50Edgar nodded solemnly.
01:52Good work, Caleb.
01:54Caleb abruptly stopped pacing, running a hand through his hair.
02:00That's not all, unfortunately.
02:03Unfortunately, I found an unfinished sketch of...
02:10Caleb paused, unsure of the ripple effect his next words would cause.
02:15But he thought of Sally.
02:17He would want to know if someone had sketched a portrait of her,
02:20or anyone close to him, for that matter.
02:24Edgar deserved to know.
02:27Alessandra and Elijah, he finished.
02:31It looked like he was watching them from afar.
02:39Edgar's face darkened, his gaze steely.
02:44Caleb felt goosebumps rise on his skin,
02:47like an icy chill had just swept through the room.
02:50He was in our home, Edgar stated simply,
02:56though his tone and expression spoke volumes.
03:00In my home, with my wife and child.
03:04His hand curled into a tight fist.
03:07The muscle in his jaw twitched.
03:11Just beyond the half-closed study door,
03:15Alessandra walked the hallway,
03:17gently rocking Elijah to sleep.
03:19She hummed a soft lullaby.
03:22But as she neared the study,
03:24her lullaby faded.
03:33She stopped,
03:35listening as she caught Caleb's voice,
03:37and then Edgar's.
03:39She tried to make sense of the words she was hearing,
03:42the combination of Stephen Labow's name
03:44with the hollow,
03:46the keeper,
03:46and watching her from afar.
03:49Is what they're saying true?
03:53Stephen Labow drew the keeper?
03:56He's involved with all the terrible business
03:59in the red-light district?
04:01Her heart slammed in her chest
04:03as horror gripped her from the inside.
04:06She clutched Elijah tighter.
04:09I invited that man into our home.
04:13I let him sketch my child.
04:16I gave him access to the sanctuary of our space.
04:20How...
04:21How could I have been so blind?
04:25Tears filled her eyes
04:27as she turned and hurried down the corridor,
04:29but she could not escape the feeling of guilt
04:32that swarmed around her.
04:34Once Caleb had gone,
04:36Edgar emerged from his study,
04:38his mind still spinning.
04:40He would deal with Labow,
04:43but he could not shake his disgust
04:45that the artist had a sketch
04:47of his wife and child in his studio.
04:50He felt overcome
04:51with a sudden urge to be with them.
04:54He saw Gerald polishing a mirror down the hall.
04:58Gerald,
04:59he interrupted.
05:00Have you seen Alessandra?
05:03Gerald tilted his head,
05:05thinking.
05:06Now that you mention it,
05:07I have not seen her since this morning,
05:09but I bet she is in the nursery.
05:13Edgar headed toward the nursery
05:15without another word.
05:17There,
05:18he found Alessandra rocking Elijah
05:21in the rocking chair.
05:22The scene was idyllic,
05:25except for the tears running down her face.
05:28Edgar stepped toward her,
05:30concern on his face.
05:32Alessandra,
05:33are you all right?
05:34What's wrong?
05:40She looked up at him,
05:42pain etched into every line on her face.
05:46I...
05:47I overheard you and Caleb.
05:50I'm so sorry,
05:52I made a huge mistake
05:54letting Stephen LeBow
05:55come into our home.
05:58I didn't mean for you
05:59to hear that,
06:00Alessandra.
06:02He sat beside her,
06:03resting a gentle hand on her knee.
06:06I will make him pay,
06:08he assured.
06:10It's not that,
06:12Edgar.
06:13She shook her head,
06:14a fresh wave of tears
06:16rolling down her face.
06:17It's all my fault,
06:20he was in our house.
06:22I let in a stranger
06:23and put Elijah in danger.
06:26What was I thinking?
06:28I should have investigated him further.
06:30I trusted him blindly.
06:32How could I?
06:34Edgar didn't offer
06:36hollow reassurances.
06:38Instead,
06:39he looked at her
06:40with a determined fire
06:41in his eyes.
06:43The Keeper wanted us
06:45to feel exposed.
06:47LeBow didn't do much
06:49to hide his affiliation.
06:51He left that symbol
06:53in the sketch
06:54knowing full and well
06:55that we would find it.
06:57Listen to me.
06:59He squeezed her knee,
07:01his gaze intent.
07:03They are trying
07:04to get under our skin.
07:06Let us know
07:07that they can gain access
07:08to us.
07:09But
07:10they underestimate us.
07:17Alessandra sniffed.
07:19I feel horrible,
07:20but
07:20I'm also angry.
07:23Did they think
07:23we would just
07:24curl up with fear?
07:26That's not who we are.
07:29There's nothing
07:30I want more
07:31than to let them know
07:32that we won't
07:33take it.
07:34We won't
07:35be bullied.
07:38Edgar reached out,
07:39gently wiping
07:40the tears
07:41from her cheek
07:41with his fingers.
07:44They've tried
07:45to send us
07:45a message.
07:46I think it's only
07:48right if we
07:49send one right
07:50back to the Keeper.
07:52We can't let them
07:53get away with this.
07:55Alessandra
07:56slowly nodded.
07:57What if we make
07:59sure that LeBow
08:00is arrested?
08:01Tomorrow?
08:02He doesn't know
08:04we're on to him yet.
08:05We can turn him
08:06over to the courts
08:07as soon as he shows
08:08up to finish
08:09the portrait.
08:10Let them
08:11handle his treachery.
08:13That will surely
08:14send a message
08:14to the Keeper.
08:17Edgar considered
08:18her plan
08:18and then shook
08:19his head.
08:20The courts
08:21are slow.
08:22There's too much
08:23bureaucracy.
08:25Any message
08:26we want to send
08:27to the Keeper
08:27needs to be quick
08:28and unmistakable.
08:32Alessandra
08:32looked at him
08:33quietly,
08:33seeing the gears
08:35turn in his mind.
08:37She dared not
08:38ask what he had
08:39in mind.
08:40She had full faith
08:41that Edgar
08:42would right her
08:43mistake
08:43and teach them
08:44a lesson.
08:46I have a better
08:47idea for how
08:48to use
08:48Stephen LeBow.
08:50His eyes
08:51burned with
08:51anger.
08:52Edgar has
08:53heard enough.
08:54He's not
08:55waiting for the
08:56courts.
08:56He's taking
08:57the fight
08:57directly to
08:58the Keeper's
08:59doorstep.
09:04The next
09:05morning,
09:06Stephen LeBow
09:07strolled up
09:07to the Collins
09:08estate.
09:08His arms
09:09were full,
09:10an easel
09:11balanced on
09:12one shoulder,
09:13his brushes
09:14and oils
09:14clattering in a
09:15case by his
09:16side.
09:17He whistled
09:18cheerily to
09:19himself,
09:20adjusting his
09:20hat,
09:21rehearsing
09:22compliments with
09:23which to flatter
09:23the Duchess and
09:24Duke and
09:25baby Elijah.
09:26Yoda.
09:27It's showtime,
09:29he whispered to
09:30himself.
09:32He raised a
09:32gloved hand and
09:34knocked at the
09:34grand front doors.
09:36Silence.
09:38He waited,
09:39then knocked
09:40again,
09:41this time louder.
09:43Still,
09:44there was nothing
09:45but silence.
09:47He leaned closer
09:48to the door,
09:49listening for
09:50movement on the
09:50other side.
09:52Finally,
09:53he rapped
09:54again,
09:54his knock
09:55more insistent,
09:56betraying his
09:57annoyance.
09:58Lady Collins,
10:00he called,
10:01his smile
10:02twitching.
10:03I believe we
10:04scheduled a
10:05portrait session
10:06this morning.
10:07We must start
10:08while the light
10:08is at its peak,
10:10otherwise we
10:10risk.
10:11A shadow
10:12shifted,
10:13catching his
10:14eye,
10:15cutting him
10:15off mid-sentence.
10:17Before Stephen
10:18could turn,
10:19a hard blow
10:20struck the
10:21back of his
10:21head.
10:22He let out
10:23a grunt
10:24before darkness
10:25took him.
10:26His body
10:27crumpled,
10:28his easel
10:29clattered to
10:29the ground,
10:30and brushes
10:31and paints
10:32scattered across
10:32the path
10:33like shattered
10:34glass.
10:35Edgar stood
10:36over the
10:37painter's
10:37unconscious
10:38body,
10:39his expression
10:39stone.
10:42Edgar dragged
10:43Stephen over
10:43to his horse
10:44and hoisted
10:45him up,
10:46strapping him
10:46in tightly.
10:48Can't have you
10:49falling off
10:49before we get
10:50to the red light
10:51district,
10:51can we?
10:54Edgar
10:55slowed his
10:55horse to a
10:56trough as
10:56he approached
10:57the outskirts
10:58of the
10:58red light
10:59district.
11:00The king's
11:00guards were
11:01out in
11:02full display,
11:03stopping
11:03merchants and
11:04any other
11:05person who
11:06tried to
11:06enter or
11:07exit the
11:07district.
11:09A group
11:10of guards
11:10raised their
11:11hands as
11:12Edgar
11:12approached
11:12on his
11:13horse.
11:14Your grace,
11:15we're working
11:16hard to secure
11:16the area.
11:17It is not
11:18safe for you
11:19to enter.
11:20One of
11:21the guards
11:21pointed at
11:22the line
11:22of waiting
11:23merchants.
11:24They're all
11:25pissed off
11:25about the
11:26king's
11:26crackdown.
11:27He stared
11:28out at
11:29the angry
11:29faces.
11:30Get back
11:31and get
11:32your papers
11:32out,
11:33he shouted
11:34at the
11:34growing number
11:35of restless
11:35merchants
11:36crowding
11:37the gate.
11:38A few
11:39of the
11:39merchants
11:39raised their
11:40fists
11:40towards
11:41Edgar,
11:42punctuating
11:42the guard's
11:43concern.
11:44Tell your
11:45king we
11:46won't take
11:46much more
11:47of this.
11:47The group
11:49shouted
11:49with rowdy
11:50agreement.
11:52Edgar
11:52sat up
11:53tall on
11:53his horse,
11:54the unconscious
11:55Steven still
11:56bound and
11:57unmoving
11:58behind him.
11:59He looked
12:00at the guard,
12:01meeting his
12:01gaze.
12:02I don't care
12:03about the
12:03risk.
12:04I have an
12:05important message
12:06to deliver.
12:08His face
12:08revealed not
12:09anger,
12:10not fear,
12:11just steely
12:12determination.
12:14You will
12:15let me
12:15pass.
12:17The guards
12:18looked at
12:18one another
12:19cautiously
12:20before stepping
12:21aside.
12:22As you
12:23wish,
12:23Duke.
12:25Edgar
12:25gave them
12:26a silent
12:26nod and
12:27rode past
12:28the security
12:28threshold
12:29into the
12:30red light
12:30district.
12:31It was
12:32slowly coming
12:33awake in
12:33the light
12:34of the
12:34early morning.
12:36Merchants
12:36trickled
12:37through the
12:37streets,
12:38setting up
12:38their wares.
12:39Passed-out
12:40patrons came
12:41to life and
12:42stumbled from
12:43the taverns.
12:44But as
12:45Edgar rode
12:46through,
12:47the more
12:47aware of
12:48the lot
12:49began to
12:49whisper,
12:50passing rumors
12:51that Duke
12:52Collins had
12:53arrived.
12:55Edgar led
12:56his horse
12:57on a slow
12:57trot through
12:58the winding
12:59streets,
13:00collecting the
13:00attention of
13:01onlookers.
13:02Soon,
13:03he was in
13:04the heart
13:05of the
13:05district.
13:06There,
13:07he paraded
13:08his horse
13:08in a slow,
13:10arching
13:10circle.
13:12Stephen
13:13slowly
13:14stirred to
13:15life.
13:16What is
13:18going on?
13:21Murmurs
13:21rippled in
13:22the streets.
13:23Heads
13:23turned as
13:24Edgar pulled
13:25his horse
13:25to a halt
13:26and hopped
13:27down,
13:28dragging
13:28Stephen
13:29LeBow
13:29down with
13:30him.
13:33The painter
13:34landed with
13:35a hard
13:35thud and
13:36groaned,
13:37painfully
13:38struggling
13:38toward
13:38consciousness.
13:40Hey,
13:41that's
13:42the painter,
13:43one of
13:43the tavern
13:44owners
13:44shouted
13:44angrily,
13:45his work
13:46is in
13:47my bar.
13:48He
13:49painted a
13:49portrait
13:49of my
13:50girls,
13:51a brothel
13:52keeper
13:52yelled,
13:53joining the
13:54outrage that
13:55was beginning
13:55to build.
13:57Stephen's
13:57work was
13:58well known
13:58in the
13:59district,
13:59as Edgar
14:00had suspected.
14:02One by
14:02one,
14:03people in
14:03the crowd
14:04shouted in
14:05the artist's
14:06defense.
14:07Edgar lifted
14:08the groggy
14:09artist to
14:09his knees.
14:11A ring
14:11formed around
14:12them.
14:13Cries rose
14:14up,
14:15accusations,
14:16outrage,
14:17curses from
14:18every side.
14:19You can't
14:20treat him
14:20like that,
14:21the tavern
14:22owner yelled
14:23as the chaos
14:24intensified.
14:25Who the
14:26hell do
14:26you think
14:27you are?
14:29Another
14:30shouted.
14:33The crowd
14:34shouted
14:35threats at
14:35Edgar,
14:36jeering at
14:37the audacity
14:37of his
14:38behavior.
14:39Without a
14:40word of
14:40warning,
14:41Edgar drew
14:42his sword
14:43with a
14:43single
14:44fluid motion.
14:46The crowd's
14:47shouting faltered
14:48as Edgar's
14:48sword landed
14:49with a
14:49sickening
14:50crack into
14:51Stephen's
14:51chest.
14:52The painter
14:53sputtered for
14:54a moment,
14:55impaled on
14:56the sword,
14:57until Edgar
14:58withdrew it.
15:00He landed
15:01face down in
15:02the dirty
15:02square,
15:03his body
15:04twitching,
15:04his blood
15:05spreading across
15:06the slick
15:07cobblestone
15:08streets.
15:09The crowd
15:10fell into
15:11stunned silence
15:12as Stephen
15:13Labelle
15:14finally became
15:15still.
15:17Edgar turned
15:18to the
15:19shocked crowd,
15:20blood dripping
15:21from his
15:22sword and
15:23rage in
15:23his eyes.
15:25His eyes
15:26scanned each
15:26face, dark
15:27and unwavering.
15:29If anyone
15:31dares come
15:32near my
15:33home or
15:34my family
15:35again,
15:35they will
15:36meet the
15:37same fate.
15:38My family
15:39is not
15:40yours to
15:40threaten,
15:41not yours
15:42to touch.
15:43Consider
15:44this your
15:45final warning.
15:48He raised
15:49his sword to
15:49the crowd,
15:50and they
15:51shifted backward,
15:52gasping in
15:53fright.
15:54Blood
15:54dripped from
15:55the blade,
15:56joining the
15:57puddle
15:57below.
15:57I have
15:59a message
16:00for the
16:00keeper,
16:01he said,
16:03each word
16:04like thunder.
16:05If she
16:06doesn't turn
16:07herself into
16:08the crown,
16:09he pointed
16:10the tip of
16:11the blade
16:11toward Stephen's
16:12corpse.
16:13She will
16:15be next.
16:17The stunned
16:18onlookers
16:19murmured in
16:20fear,
16:20no one
16:21willing or
16:22able to
16:22say anything
16:23in response.
16:24Edgar glared.
16:26You tell
16:27her that
16:27she has
16:28but one
16:29chance.
16:30She
16:31surrenders,
16:31or I
16:32will burn
16:33her world
16:34to the
16:35ground.
16:36A low,
16:38fearful murmur
16:38began to
16:39sweep through
16:39the crowd.
16:41The message
16:41was clear.
16:42The keeper's
16:44world was
16:44their world.
16:45If she
16:46did not
16:47turn herself
16:47in,
16:48he would
16:49destroy
16:49them all.
16:52Without
16:52another word,
16:54Edgar mounted
16:54his horse.
16:56He cast
16:57one final
16:57meaningful
16:58gaze on
16:59the
16:59onlookers
16:59and then
17:00kicked
17:01into a
17:01hard
17:02gallop.
17:03They
17:04gasped
17:04as they
17:05parted
17:05to make
17:06way,
17:07flinging
17:07themselves
17:07out of
17:08his path.
17:09They
17:09watched
17:10as he
17:10rode out
17:11of the
17:11district,
17:12leaving
17:12behind
17:13one
17:13dead
17:13man,
17:14frightened
17:15onlookers.
17:16While the
17:16district
17:17reels from
17:17Edgar's
17:18blade,
17:18a different
17:19kind of
17:19healing
17:20is happening
17:20at home.
17:21But can
17:21Rose ever
17:22forgive
17:22herself
17:23for
17:23letting
17:23the
17:24monster
17:24in?
17:26Rose
17:27looked
17:27out
17:27on the
17:27garden,
17:28a frown
17:29resting
17:29on her
17:29face.
17:30Behind
17:31her,
17:32Alfred
17:32was talking
17:33about their
17:33plans for
17:34the afternoon,
17:35but his
17:36voice did
17:36not register
17:37to her
17:38at all.
17:39She was
17:39lost in
17:40her thoughts,
17:41buried under
17:42the weight
17:42of her
17:42guilt.
17:44Rose,
17:45darling,
17:46did you
17:46hear my
17:47question?
17:48Alfred
17:49raised his
17:49voice.
17:51Rose turned
17:52to face
17:52him,
17:53shaking her
17:53head.
17:54He smiled
17:55gently and
17:56repeated
17:56himself.
17:57Would you
17:58prefer a
17:59picnic or
18:00a carriage
18:00ride to
18:01the country?
18:03To
18:03Alfred's
18:04shock,
18:05Rose's
18:05eyes filled
18:06with tears,
18:07her hands
18:08trembling by
18:08her sides.
18:11Rose,
18:12what is
18:13it?
18:13What's
18:13wrong?
18:14He asked
18:15as he
18:15made his
18:15way to
18:16her side.
18:17He embraced
18:18her,
18:19concerned
18:19wrinkling
18:19his brow
18:20as her
18:21slight
18:21frame
18:21trembled
18:22against
18:22his.
18:24He leaned
18:25back so
18:25he could
18:26look deep
18:26into her
18:27eyes.
18:28Please
18:29tell me
18:29what's
18:30wrong,
18:31Alfred
18:31pleaded.
18:36After
18:36a deep
18:37breath,
18:38she broke
18:38the silence.
18:40It's
18:40about
18:42Stephen
18:42LaBow,
18:43she said,
18:45her voice
18:45cracking.
18:47Alfred
18:47let out
18:48a low
18:48sigh.
18:50Yes,
18:51I heard
18:52about that
18:52nasty
18:53business
18:53in the
18:54red light
18:54district
18:55earlier
18:55today.
18:56But we
18:57both know
18:58that Edgar
18:58had good
18:59reason to
18:59do what
19:00he did.
19:01That
19:01traitor
19:02hiding in
19:03a painter's
19:03frock
19:04served the
19:05underbelly
19:05of Lockwood
19:06and posed
19:07a threat
19:07to this
19:08family.
19:09It's
19:10not just
19:10that,
19:11Rose said,
19:12shaking
19:13her head.
19:14I'm the
19:15one who
19:15vouched for
19:15him.
19:16Were it
19:17not for
19:18me.
19:18He
19:19would
19:19never
19:19have
19:19set
19:20foot
19:20in the
19:20house.
19:22She
19:22took a
19:22deep
19:22exhale.
19:24I was
19:24so excited
19:25when
19:25Alessandra
19:26announced
19:27that she
19:27wanted
19:28Elijah's
19:28portrait
19:28painted
19:29that I
19:30didn't
19:30think
19:30twice
19:31about
19:31recommending
19:32him.
19:33I
19:33didn't
19:33even give
19:34her a
19:34choice.
19:35I
19:35led him
19:36to our
19:36family.
19:37If
19:38anything
19:38had
19:39happened
19:39to
19:39Elijah,
19:40her
19:41words
19:41trailed
19:42off.
19:43Rose,
19:44you're
19:45being
19:45too
19:46hard
19:46on
19:46yourself.
19:48Alfred
19:48gently
19:49took
19:49her
19:49by
19:49the
19:49elbow
19:50and
19:50guided
19:51her
19:51into
19:51a
19:51seat.
19:52You
19:53didn't
19:53know,
19:54he
19:55said
19:55gently.
19:56You
19:56couldn't
19:57have.
19:58None
19:58of us
19:59did.
20:00But
20:01they
20:02should
20:02have,
20:03Rose
20:04whispered.
20:04And
20:05now,
20:06what if
20:07they
20:07blame
20:08me?
20:09What
20:09if
20:10this
20:10puts us
20:11right back
20:11to
20:12where
20:12we
20:12were
20:12before
20:13we
20:13reconciled?
20:14What
20:15if
20:15they
20:16ask
20:16me
20:16to
20:16leave?
20:18Her
20:18lips
20:19trembled
20:19as she
20:20considered
20:20the
20:20thought.
20:24Alfred
20:25squeezed
20:25her hand
20:26firmly.
20:27They
20:28love
20:28you,
20:29Rose.
20:30You're
20:30family.
20:32He
20:33looked
20:33in the
20:33direction
20:33of
20:34the
20:34window.
20:35Edgar
20:36is
20:36probably
20:36on
20:37his
20:37way
20:37back
20:37shortly.
20:38Word
20:39travels
20:39faster
20:40than
20:40his
20:40horse.
20:41But
20:42surely
20:42Alessandra
20:43is
20:43tending
20:44to
20:44the
20:44baby.
20:45Go
20:45to
20:46her.
20:46Speak
20:47honestly.
20:48I'm
20:49sure
20:49that
20:49she
20:50will
20:50understand
20:51and
20:51you
20:52can
20:52release
20:52this
20:52burden
20:53you're
20:53placing
20:53on
20:54your
20:54heart.
20:56Rose
20:56hesitated,
20:57her heart
20:58pounding.
20:59But
20:59then,
21:00with a
21:01quiet
21:01nod,
21:02she
21:02agreed.
21:03I'll
21:04talk to
21:05her.
21:05I only
21:06hope
21:07you're
21:07right.
21:10Elijah
21:10laughed
21:11cheerfully
21:11as he
21:12kicked,
21:13splashing
21:13water
21:14across
21:14the
21:14floor
21:15and
21:15into
21:15Alessandra's
21:16face.
21:17She
21:17dried
21:18her
21:18face
21:18with
21:18a
21:19nearby
21:19claw.
21:20Please
21:21with
21:21yourself?
21:22She
21:22asked
21:23him
21:23playfully.
21:27May
21:27I
21:28be
21:28of
21:28help?
21:29Rose
21:30stepped
21:30in
21:30quietly,
21:31her
21:32voice
21:32soft.
21:34Alessandra
21:34looked
21:34up,
21:35surprised.
21:36Of
21:37course,
21:38but I
21:38can't
21:39promise
21:39that
21:39you'll
21:39be
21:40dry
21:40at
21:40the
21:40end
21:40of
21:41his
21:41bath.
21:42She
21:42smiled
21:43and
21:43shifted
21:43her
21:44position,
21:45making
21:45space
21:45for
21:45Rose.
21:46Rose
21:47knelt
21:47beside
21:48her,
21:48dipping
21:49a
21:49cloth
21:49into
21:50the
21:50water.
21:51Together
21:51they
21:52bathed
21:52the
21:52child
21:53in
21:53silence,
21:54the
21:54only
21:55sounds,
21:55the
21:56dripping
21:56water
21:56and
21:57Elijah's
21:58happy
21:58gurgles.
22:02After
22:03a deep
22:03inhale,
22:04Rose
22:05turned
22:05to
22:05Alessandra.
22:07I
22:07need
22:08to
22:08say
22:08something.
22:09What
22:10is
22:10it,
22:11Rose?
22:12I'm
22:13so
22:13sorry
22:13for
22:15Stephen,
22:16for
22:16recommending
22:17him and
22:17bringing
22:18him into
22:18this
22:19household.
22:19I
22:20never
22:20imagined
22:21he
22:21was
22:21involved
22:22with
22:22the
22:22likes
22:22of
22:23the
22:23keeper,
22:24but
22:24that's
22:25inconsequential.
22:27I
22:27should
22:28have
22:28done
22:28better.
22:30Alessandra's
22:31hand
22:32stilled
22:32as she
22:33looked at
22:33Rose,
22:34wide-eyed.
22:36I
22:36understand
22:36if you
22:37and
22:37Edgar
22:38don't
22:38want
22:38me
22:39here
22:39anymore.
22:40Rose
22:41continued,
22:42her eyes
22:43glistening
22:43with
22:43unshed
22:44tears.
22:45I
22:46only
22:46hope
22:47that
22:47you
22:47know
22:47I
22:48would
22:48never,
22:49ever
22:50put
22:50this
22:51family
22:51in
22:52danger
22:52knowingly.
22:53But
22:54I
22:55am
22:55ready
22:55to
22:55take
22:56any
22:56consequences
22:57that
22:57you
22:57and
22:57Edgar
22:58feel
22:58are
22:58appropriate
22:59for
22:59my
22:59role
23:00in
23:00this
23:00whole
23:00horrid
23:02affair.
23:04Time
23:05seemed to
23:05stand
23:06still
23:06as
23:07Rose
23:07waited
23:07for
23:08the
23:08final
23:08verdict.
23:09Then
23:10Alessandra
23:11reached out
23:12and took
23:12Rose's
23:13hand
23:13in hers.
23:15No,
23:16she said
23:17softly.
23:18We're
23:19not
23:19losing
23:20you.
23:20Not
23:21over
23:21this.
23:22If
23:23anyone
23:23is
23:24to
23:24blame,
23:24it's
23:24me.
23:25I'm
23:26the
23:26one
23:26who
23:26brought
23:27him
23:27into
23:27our
23:27home.
23:28Let
23:28him
23:28sketch
23:29Elijah.
23:30You
23:31do
23:31not
23:31need
23:31to
23:32carry
23:32this
23:32blame
23:33alone,
23:33Rose.
23:34In
23:34fact,
23:35neither
23:36of us
23:36should
23:36carry
23:36it.
23:37I
23:38think
23:39we
23:40both
23:40need
23:40to
23:41forgive
23:41ourselves.
23:43Rose's
23:44breath
23:44hitched
23:45as she
23:45took
23:45in
23:46Alessandra's
23:46kind
23:47eyes
23:47and
23:48words
23:48of
23:48forgiveness.
23:50You
23:50really
23:51mean
23:51that?
23:52Tears
23:53welled
23:53in
23:53Rose's
23:54eyes.
23:55I
23:56love
23:56this
23:57family
23:57with
23:57all
23:58my
23:58heart.
23:59I
23:59would
24:00never
24:00want
24:00anything
24:01or
24:02anyone
24:02to
24:03harm
24:03the
24:03baby
24:03or
24:04you
24:04or
24:05Edgar.
24:07I
24:08know,
24:09Rose,
24:09and I
24:10mean
24:10every
24:11word
24:11of
24:11what
24:11I
24:11say.
24:13Alessandra
24:14nodded.
24:14I
24:15assure
24:15you
24:16that
24:16you
24:16are
24:16not
24:17going
24:17anywhere.
24:18Our
24:19family
24:19is
24:20exactly
24:20as
24:20it
24:21was
24:21always
24:21meant
24:21to
24:22be.
24:22Together.
24:24Alessandra
24:25smiled
24:26reassuringly.
24:28They
24:28embraced,
24:29Elijah
24:30babbling
24:30his approval
24:31between
24:31them.
24:33As
24:34they
24:34pulled
24:34apart,
24:35Rose
24:35tilted
24:35her
24:36head,
24:36looking
24:37at
24:37Alessandra
24:38quizzically.
24:39You
24:40know,
24:40I
24:41don't
24:41even
24:42know
24:42why
24:42I
24:42insisted
24:43on
24:43that
24:43man
24:44doing
24:44the
24:44portrait.
24:45You
24:46could
24:46have
24:46done
24:46it
24:46just
24:47as
24:47well.
24:48Better,
24:49in
24:49fact.
24:50Hmm.
24:53Alessandra
24:53paused,
24:54blinking
24:55in
24:55thought.
24:56She
24:57had
24:57been
24:57so
24:57enthralled
24:58with
24:58Labau's
24:59dramatic
25:00confidence
25:00and
25:01his
25:01seemingly
25:02innate
25:02skill
25:03that
25:04she
25:04had
25:04not
25:04stopped
25:05for
25:05once
25:06to
25:06think
25:07that
25:07she
25:07could
25:07be
25:07the
25:08one
25:08to
25:08paint
25:08Elijah's
25:09portrait.
25:11That's
25:11actually
25:12not a
25:12bad
25:12idea,
25:13Rose.
25:14She
25:15turned
25:15back
25:15to
25:15Elijah,
25:16wrapping
25:17him
25:17in a
25:17soft
25:18towel.
25:19I
25:19might
25:20not
25:20be
25:20as
25:20fast
25:21or
25:21flashy
25:22as
25:22Stephen,
25:23but
25:23I
25:24can
25:24try
25:24to
25:24use
25:24my
25:25skills.
25:26I'll
25:26paint
25:27his
25:27portrait
25:27myself.
25:29Elijah
25:30let
25:30out
25:30a
25:30tiny
25:31delighted
25:32coo.
25:36Edgar
25:37stepped
25:37inside
25:38the
25:38hallways
25:38of
25:39his
25:39estate,
25:39his
25:40boots
25:40muddy,
25:41his
25:41hands
25:42still
25:42tingling
25:43from
25:43the
25:43grip
25:43on
25:44LeBow's
25:44hair
25:45as
25:45he
25:45pulled
25:46him
25:46to
25:46his
25:46knees
25:47to
25:47deliver
25:47the
25:47death
25:48blow.
25:49His
25:50mind
25:50echoed
25:51with the
25:51crowd's
25:51silence
25:52after
25:52the
25:52blade
25:53struck.
25:54His
25:54eyes
25:55still
25:55saw
25:56the
25:56red
25:56of
25:56the
25:56painter's
25:57blood
25:57spilling
25:58out
25:58over
25:59the
25:59cobblestone
25:59street.
26:01One
26:01thing
26:01was
26:02clear,
26:02he
26:03had
26:03made
26:03his
26:04point
26:04to
26:04the
26:04keeper,
26:05and
26:06now
26:06it
26:06was
26:06just
26:07a
26:07matter
26:07of
26:07time
26:08until
26:08she
26:08gave
26:09herself
26:09up
26:09or
26:10made
26:10a
26:10move.
26:11Either
26:12way,
26:12he
26:13would
26:13be
26:13ready.
26:15As
26:16he
26:16walked
26:16deeper
26:16into
26:17the
26:17house,
26:18voices
26:18drifted
26:19from
26:19the
26:19nursery.
26:20Gentle
26:21laughter,
26:22soft
26:22lullabies,
26:23the
26:24warm
26:24cadence
26:24of
26:25home.
26:26He
26:27paused
26:27at the
26:27door
26:28and peeked
26:28in.
26:30Alessandra
26:31and
26:31Rose
26:31sat
26:32side
26:32by
26:32side
26:32on
26:33the
26:33sofa,
26:34cradling
26:34Elijah
26:35between
26:35them.
26:36A warm,
26:37clean scent
26:38wafted out
26:39from the
26:39nursery,
26:40lavender
26:41and roses.
26:43Edgar
26:43watched them
26:44for a long
26:45moment,
26:45the tension
26:46in his chest
26:47finally easing.
26:49This was why
26:50he fought.
26:51This was what
26:53he protected.
26:53and it
26:54was worth
26:55every drop
26:56of blood.
27:01The next
27:02day brought
27:03some semblance
27:04of peace
27:04and normalcy.
27:06The news
27:07of Stephen
27:07LeBow's
27:08demise
27:08had quickly
27:09spread
27:09through the
27:10entire
27:10capital
27:11and there
27:12was a
27:12quiet
27:12lull
27:13as everyone
27:14waited
27:14for whatever
27:15was to
27:15come next.
27:17Alessandra
27:18sat with
27:18Elijah
27:19in the
27:19sitting room
27:20enjoying
27:21an afternoon
27:22cup of
27:22tea,
27:23her mind
27:24already
27:24thinking
27:25of what
27:25colors
27:26she would
27:26use
27:26for
27:27Elijah's
27:27portrait.
27:28He babbled
27:29happily in
27:30her arms
27:31as though
27:31trying to
27:32tell her
27:32how he
27:33wanted
27:33to be
27:33painted.
27:35The
27:36calm
27:36was broken
27:36by the
27:37measured
27:37steps
27:38of
27:38Gerald
27:38as he
27:39entered.
27:40Pardon
27:40the
27:41interruption.
27:42He
27:42bowed
27:43slightly.
27:44Lord
27:44Edmund
27:45and Lady
27:46Priscilla
27:46have
27:46arrived.
27:47Shall
27:48I have
27:48them
27:48return
27:49later?
27:52Alessandra
27:52blinked
27:53at the
27:53unexpected
27:54announcement
27:54but
27:55signaled
27:55for
27:55Gerald
27:56to
27:56allow
27:56them
27:56forward.
27:57She
27:58adjusted
27:58Elijah
27:59on her
27:59shoulder
28:00and
28:00rose
28:00to
28:00her
28:01feet
28:01as
28:01they
28:01crossed
28:02the
28:02threshold.
28:04The
28:05artist
28:05is
28:05gone
28:06but
28:06the
28:06shadows
28:07of
28:07the
28:07past
28:08are
28:08returning.
28:09Why
28:09have
28:09Edmund
28:10and
28:10Priscilla
28:10arrived
28:11now?
28:11The
28:12mystery
28:12continues
28:13in
28:13episode
28:14443.
28:16Join
28:16now
28:17for
28:17early
28:17access
28:18and
28:19don't
28:19forget
28:19to
28:20like
28:20and
28:20subscribe
28:21to