Edmund's POV

The manservant came running in clumsily. "M'lord..." he panted.

"Spit it out. Did you find Juliet?" he demanded patiently.

"M'lord..we...we..." the manservant stuttered and hurriedly wiped sweat of his face.

Edmund got up, stalked towards the manservant and grabbed him by the collar. "I demand you to anwer immediately. If not, you can get someone to collect your dead body."

The manservant swallowed his saliva and trembled. "M'lord, I fear that none of our men have found the whereabouts of Lady Juliet."

Edmund's face turned dark and raised his hand. The manservant cowered and braced himself for the impending slam and for the ring of pain to occur. 

"Pardon me, I've lost my temper." Edmund lowered his hand and closed his eyes. 

"Please do not apologise, sire," the manservant stammered. 

"Tell our men to continue searching. Mobilise all the staff if you have too. Finding Lady Juliet is my utmost priority right now," Edmund gritted through his teeth. 

"As you wish, m'lord," the manservant bowed and hurriedly left the room.

Sighing, Edmund stumbled over to his wine cupboard and grabbed the most expensive Bordeaux wine one of the royal relatives had bought for him a few years back. Renowned for its spiciness and ability to knock people out, the Bordeaux wine was just what he needed.

"Is that the infamous Bordeaux wine I see?" A loud, unmistakable masculine voice boomed. Annoyed, Edmund looked up to find Captain Jack striding in confidently.

"I thought you were out at sea this month." Edmund frowned.

"Nay, the storms were too fierce. I'm setting out a week later," Captain Jack said cheerfully and eyed the glass bottle in Edmund's hands. "My dear friend, shouldn't you be preparing for your wedding with Lady Juliet? Why are you nursing your soul with the infamous Bordeaux wine which is guranteed to knock you out?"

"You won't believe what happened, my friend," Edmund replied darkly.

"A tiff?" Captain Jack lounged on the armchair. "Trust me, women are fickles creatures. I've had my share of arguments with women. Apologise to her the next day with a bouquet of roses and she will allow you into her bed once again."

"Jack." Edmund closed his eyes. "Juliet is missing."

"WHAT?" Captain Jack leapt up, his dark eyes flashing. "Why did you not tell me earlier?"

"I just discovered it this morning."

"She became a runaway bride?" Captain Jack wrinkled his eyebrows. "Atypical of the lady."

Suddenly, Juliet's words flashed across Edmund's mind.

Captain Jack's my father Edmund.

Should he tell him? "Jack-" Edmund started. 

"Yes, my friend?"

Maybe not. This was after all, Juliet's story to tell. She would want to tell him personally. "Nothing," he muttered.

"Don't worry, my friend. I will get my crewman to help search for Juliet too. They have nothing to do until we set out to sea and this will give them something to do lest they go to the whorehouse and start getting drunk and womanizing." Captain Jack patted him on the shoulder. "Rest early, my friend. You need energy and your dark eye rings are prominent."

"'Tis not a time to worry about my flawless face."

"Aye, I agree," Captain Jack said gravely. "Shall I....help you finish your Bordeaux wine?"

"You bastard." Edmund couldn't help but crack a smile. "I should have expected that of a renowned drunkard."

"I will go get some glasses." Captain Jack lumbered out of the room and Edmund's face turned sombre.

Juliet. Please tell me you are safe. 

******

Juliet's POV

"Tuck in everyone!" Francis said merrily and a chorus of "Ayes!" rang out.

Juliet stared at the wide spread infront of her. There was potato soup and a whole array of dishes she didn't recognize.

"What are you staring at? It's not poison." Francis elbowed her.

"Francis! You shouldn't treat a lady like that," his mother chided softly.

"This is why you will never get married," Sarah, a pleasant looking girl with plaited hair, teased. 

"Says the unmarried women," Francis muttered.

"Peace my children, you are startling our guest." Francis' mother glared at all of them and stuffed some food into her husband's, who was a timid-looking man, plate.

Suddenly, there was a loud knocking on the door. "Open up!" A man shouted.

Everyone froze. "Everyone keep quiet," Francis' mother snapped. "It's probably the landowner's men. We don't want any trouble." She got up and walked towards the door and opened it slightly.

Juliet peered but could only see a burly looking man holding a torch. Suddenly, she gasped. There was an emblem on the soldier's clothing. It was the Aughust's family emblem. This was one of Edmund's man.

"Good evening sire, may I know why you are here at this hour?" Francis' mother said pleasantly. 

"Have you seen a young woman pass by here earlier today?" the soldier demanded.

"No sire."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes sire."

"Then you wouldn't mind if I check your compound?"

Juliet saw Francis' mother's body stiffen but she bowed and nodded. "Please go ahead."

Petrified, Juliet's eyes scanned the room but there was no place to hide. She could only maintain a straight face as a few men entered the room. The once cozy cottage suddenly had a chilling atmosphere.

The men scanned their faces. "Are these all your children?" he motioned to them.

"Aye, sire," Francis' mother replied.

The head soldier's eyes touched lightly on each of them but luckily, his gaze didn't linger on her. Thankfully, she had taken a bath earlier and was dressed in plain farmer's clothes and Francis' sisters had plaited her hair so she appeared to be younger than she actually was.

"Sorry to disturb you m'am," the head soldier nodded and he motioned to his men to leave.

Everyone held their breath until the door was shut close.

"What was that?" Francis asked loudly.

"Hush my dear," Francis' mother said and turned to Juliet. "Lady Juliet, by any chance, were those men looking for you?"

"Mother! Your imagination is letting your mind run. What does Juliet have anything to do with those soldiers?"

"I...." Juliet lowered her head. "I...I have some affiliations with Lord Aughust..."

Francis dropped his plate and the crockery crashed to the ground. "You serious?" his eyes widened not with surprise but with fear.

"What's wrong with Edmund?"

Francis' mother closed her eyes. "Oh dear lord." She clasped her hands together.

"What's wrong?" Juliet's eyes flicked across the table. All of them looked grave and suspicious.

"What's your relationship to him?" 

"I...." It was time for the truth. Nothing could be kept under wraps. "I'm his fiancee," Juliet answered softly.

"Oh lord," Francis' mother stammered and took  a step back.

"You're that bastard's fiancee?" Francis blurted out.

"Language, Francis," Millet hissed.

"Sister!" Francis merely looked appalled.

"What's wrong with Edmund? How can you call him a bastard?" Juliet demanded. 

"Lady Juliet, are you aware of the Aughust's family's background?" Francis' mother demanded.

"I....I've met his mother before. Lady Irina is the most gracious and friendly person I've ever met."

"The Aughust family built their riches upon the sweat and blood of poor labourers," Francis' mother's face darkened. "My own father worked to his death because he was bound to contract by Edmund Aughust's grandfather and even though my father requested to be let off due to his age, Lord Aughust's grandfather broke his leg and made him limp."

"But that's...probably an isolated case," Juliet protested.

"It's not," Francis interrupted. He didn't look like his cheery self from before. "All the families here, we've suffered in some way or another due to the Aughust family.  My buddy's family, their grandfather borrowed money from the Aughust family and couldn't return and they killed him."

"That's not work of Edmund. It's his ancestors. You cannot blame him for that," Juliet retorted.

"The sins of the ancestors are the sins of the current generation," Francis' mother said. "Did my father deserve the treatment he got? Granted Edmund Aughust did not personally cause everything but his luxuries were built on us and for that, I despire him and for you, young lady, if you marry into the family, you will be one of them and I will look down on you too."

Juliet got up. Her timid nature usually prevented her from voicing out her thoughts but this was Edmund. She loved him and despite leaving him, she had to stand up for him. At least to compensate him for her departure.

"Is it honestly fair to blame Edmund for it? He is a good person and he's caring to his servants. Yes, he is hot-tempered but he sincerely cares for people. His mother too is a good person and she married into the family. Just because his ancestors exploited people does not mean Edmund is a manipulative person." All the words just rushed out of her mouth.

The whole family became silent and Juliet could only hear the ticking of the clock. Embarrassed, she bowed. "I shan't intrude on all of you any further. Thank-you for your generosity and kindness." She took her cloak and quickly left the room.

As she walked down the battered path infront of the cottage, she suddenly heard a loud voice. "Wait Lady Juliet!"

Surprised, she looked behind and saw Francis bounding after her. 

"What are you doing out here?" Juliet frowned. "Go back and finish your dinner."

"Don't leave," Francis said. "You are right. We are jerks for blaming Edmund Aughust for his ancestors' sins."

"I didn't imply your family and you were jerks," she softened her voice. "All of you are nice people but I don't think it's right just to blame Edmund for everything."

"Please come back," Francis pleaded, his blue eyes shining with remorse. 

"Won't your mother mind?"

"Mother is fine. She thinks she went overboard on you. After all, you aren't technically married into the Aughust family yet."

Juliet bit her lips. She will never marry into the family now. Edmund must have been furious for her departure and betrayal. 

"You really do love him huh?" Francis said, observing her.

"Yes, I do," she said softly. "He's righteous, kind and treats me well."

"Sounds like a perfect guy," Francis mused. "I admire you."

"Admire me? For what?"

"For finding your one true love not through arranged marriage." Francis grinned. "Someday, I hope I can find someone like that."

"You will." Juliet squeezed his hand. 

"Let's get back. It's getting frosty out here."

Juliet smiled and nodded.