Waking up to a warm bed with a woman in his arms, was great. But what made it even greater was that it was not just any woman. Twas Madilyn Brompton, his woman. Her eyes were closed, and Thomas thought about the words she had spoken.

I believe that I love you too.

His heart warmed at just the thought of it. The way she had made love to him last night proved to him that she did not merely believe it, but that she felt it too. She truly loved him, just like he loved her.

His worries and fears were forgotten when he was holding her. She had promised to sleep in his bed every night, and he would make certain she kept to that promise, for he really wanted to wake up with her in his arms every morning.

He felt a smile come on his lips, then could not resist touching her cheek. With a light touch, he caressed her, enjoying the fact that he could do that. Her lips suddenly curled into a smile, and then her head turned and she kissed his arm.

"Good morning," her sweet voice said. Finally her eyes opened, and Thomas was mesmerized all over again. He had forgotten how bright her beautiful blue eyes were, and he felt like he was experiencing her gorgeous smile for the first time. His heart skipped a few beats while he tried to remind himself how to breathe.

"Good morning," he managed to respond.

"What is it?" she asked as her hand came up to lay it on his cheek. "You seem so stiff."

"Merely nervous for this afternoon," he lied. Twas not a complete lie, though. He was nervous for the afternoon indeed, for they would go to Everton and surprise Arthur. Thomas was quite frightened to see his brother, but he did not know why. Did he fear the man Arthur had become, or did he fear the man they were about to meet was not Arthur at all?

Either way, he was nervous. He wanted to go to Everton, but at the same time he did not. He wanted to see his brother with his own eyes, but he also wanted the man to remain a mere memory.

"There is no need to be. I will be there, and Adelaide will be there. Arthur will not know what hit him."

"But what if that makes him even more dangerous?"

His eyes locked with hers, and she saw the worry she could not hide. So she kissed his lips shortly and told him: "then we have to frighten him more."

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The carriage ride to Everton was quite silent. Thomas did not bother, for his mind was spinning with possible scenarios for the meeting with his brother. They would pretend it is a surprise from Madilyn to her sister, but in reality, Adelaide knew all about it. She had send a letter saying her husband is at home and not planning to leave today.

Thomas was frightened for what he might find in Everton. His brother had become a truly evil man, if he is indeed the man calling himself the lord of Everton. He kidnapped young children from the street and sold or used them. He could not imagine a Brompton child doing such thing, yet Arthur had proven him wrong.

"Will our visit not spook Arthur?" Madilyn suddenly asked. "If he knows you are after him, will he not hide?"

"Mayhap," Thomas said with a shrug. "But while we are with him, the police are entering Halbert, the place we suspect they keep the children. If that is so, we can catch them."

"Arthur and the lord of Colston?"

He nodded. "I hope they find evidence of Arthur there, for else there is nothing tying him to the kidnappings and selling."

"But he is connected to Colston," Madilyn argued. "And he has paid the untrue Halbert family."

"Many people know Colston. As to the payment, I am certain Arthur can make up a story why he paid that money. Mayhap he can say Colston tricked him into doing so."

"So we must watch his every word," she concluded. "If he says anything suspicious, we must be aware of it so that we can use it."

Thomas nodded, but feared they would not find anything. Arthur had been good in hiding his tracks. So good that no one has found out he killed the Cook family, let alone used their house for living.

Not even lord Hayes, a notorious lawyer, saw the evil in that man, for he allowed his oldest daughter to marry him. How or why that happened, Thomas did not know yet. But mayhap today might shed some light on that.

the carriage started slowing down, and Thomas' heart beat going faster. They neared the house – a light green, old house, hidden in the woods. Twas the perfect hiding place for a man like Arthur, for no one might stumble upon it.

As the carriage drew to a complete stop, all was silent. Thomas ignored the loud beating of his heart as he listened to the birds singing their songs. When the wind blew through the trees, it added to their chants. But those were the only sounds here. No people talking, no carriages passing by. Twas truly remote.

Thomas was glad they had decided not to bring the children along. They did not believe Everton would have a children's room. The real reason? They did not trust Arthur.

He stepped out of the carriage, then helped his wife out. Before they had completely exited, the front door opened and Adelaide ran out. Without stopping, she ran to her sister and fell in her arms.

"I am so glad you are here," she told her. Thomas watched as Adelaide enjoyed her sister's touch with her eyes closed. He felt pity for the lady, for she had to live with Arthur every day. She had said she avoided the man as much as possible, but Thomas knew what that felt like, for he had avoided his wife for some time as well. Thus he knew how awful a life like that was.

Adelaide pulled back and curtsied to Thomas. "I am glad you are here too," she told him.

He bowed and told her: "I hope it brings you comfort."

"Certainly," she answered with a smile. "I merely wished I could leave with you."

"Hold tight, Adelaide," Madilyn told her. "Soon it will all be over."

"I hope so," she responded with a small smile. "Shall we go in now? I fear he might suspect if I do not announce our 'surprise' visitors soon."

With a nod from Thomas, Adelaide turned around and he and Madilyn followed her inside the house. She guided them through the dark hallway into an even darker parlour. Adelaide opened the curtains, but the trees were so dense, not much light entered.

"Fetch Arthur," she told the butler. "Tell him my sister came to surprise me with her husband."

With a nod, the butler left and everyone settled in the coach. Madilyn came to sit next to Thomas and took his hand. He was glad for it, for he felt very nervous. He had not seen his brother in years. He had not even heard of him in years before he knew he pretended to be the lord of Everton.

The room remained silent until suddenly the door opened and everyone jumped up. Like a king, Arthur walked in the room, unaware of who his guests exactly were. Twas only when he was halfway the room that his pace slowed down and his eyes remained on the man in front of him.

Thomas' heart quickened and he felt himself freeze up. Madilyn squeezed his hand, and he was grateful for it. He needed her comfort now more than ever, for fear might render him like a statue.

A flash of surprise and wonder passed Arthur's eyes as he realized who the man in front of him was, but he quickly hid it and put on a smile.

"Thomas," he said with an overly happy tone in his voice, "what a surprise. I did not expect you."

He wanted to respond, say something, anything would be good. But he felt numb and could merely stare at his brother. He still looked like the Arthur he remembered, only older. But there was also this mean look in his eyes that he could not seem to hide. Looking at his chocolate brown hair and his bright green eyes, he could no longer deny it. The man in front of him, was his brother.

"He came with me," Madilyn said when Thomas could not bring himself to speak. "And I came for my sister."

"I do not doubt that," Arthur said, his eyes still on Thomas. "You are her husband?"

Thomas wanted to nod or say "yes", but he could not. He was frozen with the realization that his brother truly was an evil man – a killer and child abductor.

"We are happily married," Madilyn answered in his place, and Thomas was glad for it. She sounded enthusiastic, like she was not bothered by the fact that her brother in law was so evil.

"What is it, brother?" Arthur asked lightly. "Have you lost your tongue?"

He swallowed, then answered, for the first time speaking to his brother: "I am saving my words for someone who deserves them."

With forced laughter, Arthur walked away from Thomas and fell down on the coach. He motioned with his hands for the everyone else to do the same, which they did.

"Say, Arthur," Thomas said, "what brought you here?"

The man looked confused. "I live here."

"I mean," he explained with a pretended smile, "why did you decide to live here, at Everton? I have heard the previous owners, the Cooks, have been killed here."

"Is that so?" Arthur asked, crossing his legs nonchalantly. "I did not know that."

"How did you manage to own the house? I believed the Cooks did not have any relatives, nor was it sold."

Arthur gave him a stern look, then he asked: "and how would you know that?"

Thomas was quite certain his brother could see right through him, so he decided to play it honest. Mayhap that might frighten him. "I am an investigator. You would have known that if you had stayed around."

"I was banished, remember."

"And yet you are here, close to London," Thomas reminded him. "And besides, the banishment was completely your fault."

"Is that what they have told you? You were too young to know what truly happened. So what lies did they tell you?"

"Are you talking about why you were banished, or how you stalked my brother and his wife?"

Arthur laughed, then took a glass from the table and filled it with brandy, before he gulped it all in once. "He is my brother too, you know."

"No, he is not," Thomas responded. "Not since you were banished."

"So you are going to blame me for not being around," he said, pointing an accusing finger toward Thomas, "while you tell me I cannot call Andrew my brother. Is that not contradictory?"

Thomas took a sharp breath and released it slowly. This man was getting on his nerves – and he was already so stressed.

His shivered even more when Arthur suddenly directed his eyes toward Madilyn and told her: "so you have married. And here I thought you were going to marry the lord of Colston."

Madilyn shook her head and acted like she was talking to an old friend. "My parents wanted that, but I did not."

"So you married... my brother?"

Her eyes suddenly became stern. "Is that a problem for you? If so, tis too late now. We have been married for a while now."

"Nine months, is it not?" Arthur looked from Madilyn to Thomas. "I have heard the rumours. I did not know my own brother was the man they talked about, but I do not mind being uncle once more."

"You are no uncle," Thomas said through his teeth. "Not to anyone."

"I was wondering," Madilyn suddenly said, completely changing the topic, "how did you and lord Colston meet? I have heard you know him."

"Everyone knows of the lord of Colston," Arthur said. Thomas was glad Arthur went along with the change of topic, for he did not want to talk about his family to an evil man like Arthur. Now the topic was back on him, and Madilyn, Thomas and Adelaide pricked up their ears and hoped he would say something that would betray him.

"But you are friends, are you not?" Madilyn asked. When Arthur gave her a levelling look, she responded with: "I am merely asking as his almost-bride. I would have been happy to see my sister more."

"That is your mistake, lady Madilyn," Arthur calmly said. "Had you married him and not my brother, you would have been able to see your sister. But do not worry about my relationship with the lord of Colston. That is not your concern."

"Does that mean there is something we should not know?" Thomas asked. Twas too straightforward, he knew that. But he could not help but ask the question.

With a smile, Arthur filled his glass once more and emptied it immediately. Then he looked at Thomas with slit eyes.

"So, you are an investigator," he sighed. "I have had my eyes on the wrong brother, it would seem."

"And I believe you have had you eyes on young girls," Madilyn said before Thomas could react. Well, so much for him being too straightforward.

Arthur tilted his head as his eyes focused on her. "Do you have any prove to claim that statement?"

Madilyn moved forward to meet his gaze. "I see it in your eyes."

"But that would not go up in court," he responded calmly. "So I would suggest you take back your words."

She shrugged. "Your suggestions leave me cold."

While Thomas' heart feared Arthur's anger, the man started laughing. Once it died down, he said: "you seem to have grown very bold, lady Madilyn. Did my brother teach you to be so?"

"Tis lady Lindenberg for you," she sternly responded. "And no, I always had it in me. But finally I am strong enough to speak my mind."

"Or you have a death wish," Arthur said silently.

Madilyn was not intimidated, for she simply said: "is that a threat?"

"Tis as much a threat as you believe it to be."

"Then I would watch my tongue, if I were you, for I will listen to your every word carefully. And if I find anything to believe you mean ill will toward the people I love, I will rip them out of your life and ruin you slowly but painfully, until you are nothing but a shell of dirt and disgust."

What a woman.

Even Adelaide seemed impressed with Madilyn's words. Thomas had never seen his wife as anything but kind, but it would seem she had a side to her he did not know. And he quite liked it – as long as she would not use it against him.

Arthur casually leaned back in his chair and met Madilyn's challenging look. "I believe you think you know my business."

"We know your business," Thomas interrupted, hoping his gaze was as challenging as he wanted it to be. "Tis merely a matter of time before I can prove it.

Arthur's eyes slowly moved to him, and he gave him a mocking smile. "Good luck with that."