She was different.

Thomas had been in his study all day, like he used to do. He had expected his wife to knock on his door and start speaking with him, but she had not. She had not even played the piano to make her presence known.

Twas not the first time he realized she had pulled back. For the last month or more, she had returned to the Madilyn she had been in Lindenberg. The woman who would hide herself and avoid Thomas.

Was it something he had done? Or said? Was she angry with him? Or was it a strange mood she had because she was pregnant?

He did not believe any of those suggestions. Things had been going well between them. She would like it when he would wait for her to return from her morning walk, and then she would accompany him in his study. On some days, when he did not feel like working, he would not even enter his study and just talk with her in the sitting room or ask her to play the piano in the music room.

But it seemed like lately, she was avoiding exactly those rooms. Was she avoiding him?

He had been afraid to ask her why she did that, for she might not do it on purpose. Or mayhap she did, and since she had not told Thomas, she did not feel like sharing it. And he was alright with that, for everyone needed moments on their own. But he feared everything would go back to the way it was before – to the sad and lonely life they led.

He would make certain they ate at the same time. And when he would talk to her, she would answer shortly. But he noticed how her eyes always avoided his.

He mentally shook his head and hoped it would go over soon. He stood up from behind his desk, took his coat and hat, and set out to the library. He had read the file about Everton and the Cook family, but he wanted to read it again. He did not want to miss anything, certainly now that he knew his brother was involved.

He had always feared the man his brother might turn into, but if he was working for Colston, he was even more fearsome than Thomas could have ever imagined. He wondered how much Arthur knew of what Colston was doing. Could the man merely have been tricked? Was it possible he believed he was doing something good? Or was he aware of all and proud of his disruption?

The carriage stopped in front of the library. He got out, entered the building and went straight to the corner of the library where he had found the Everton file. He found it quite easily, then settled on a chair and read through the papers again.

He ignored the part he had already read – where it is explained how they were murdered – and focused on the people themselves. Mayhap there was another secret to reveal.

The family consisted of lord Kenneth Cook and his wife lady Hazel. They had four children, Edmund, Jasper, Elizabeth and Lawrence, the oldest was at the age of nine, the youngest only a few months. Both parents had no living relatives anymore, and also the children were too young to have a wife or husband.

The family had no known enemies, though Thomas did not doubt that everyone has someone who does not like them. Yet if they had no known outspoken haters, he did not think they were killed by that person. It only confirmed his suspicion that Arthur was the killer.

Inside the file, Thomas found handwritten notes of people who had known the Cook family. They were friends of the family and they wanted to bring one last tribute.

Dear Cooks,

I have not known you for long, but you were a bright light in my life. Upon the passing of my wife, you were always there to comfort me and make me feel important. With or without children, you were always happy and optimistic, and very loud. But twas a kind of loud everyone loved.

The balls you organized were small but wonderful. Only the people you truly loved were invited. And only the people who wanted to be there for you, would come.

I never got to thank you for bettering my life. And tis a regret I will have to carry with me forever. I hope you can hear my prayers at night, for they only go out to you.

May you find peace in heaven.

Percival, lord of Shestershire

Thomas sighed as he put the paper down. Why did good people have to die in such an evil manner? The Cook family did not have the appreciation they deserved if what this man wrote was true.

Thomas took the paper underneath the one from the lord of Shestershire and read it.

Dear Hazel,

My friend.

What was brought upon you, was not what you deserved. I expect you would celebrate your passing like you celebrated every birth of your children: grand and festive. The day was to become as such – the celebration of your strength to bring Lawrence on this earth – but has become the most horrifying day of my life.

I will never forget the day we met. When I stumbled into your summer estate, seeking shelter for the storm, and you gave me your first smile and a nice "hello". But I will also never forget the last time I saw you, covered in blood. Why was it I who had to find you?

One thing is fulfilling to know: you died in the arms of your husband with your children near. And I hope you keep them as such now that you are all in heaven.

Rest in peace.

Georgina

Again Thomas sighed as he lowered the paper. He wanted to read another note, hear more about the greatness of these people, but he could not find the strength to do so. They were dead – murdered – and that made their greatness disappear in debris. There kindness will never be remembered, for their death was the opposite. The mystery will forever haunt their name, making their kindness merely a side story to make such tragedy only more tragic.

Suddenly, Thomas's caught two words in the note he was holding. "Summer estate." He thought about the Everton estate, deep in the woods with a long drive to the front door. Solitude and privacy were the two most important properties of the building.

Light would not reach the house, for the trees were in the way. And it was quite far from where most people lived.

The Everton estate was not a summer estate at all, Thomas realized. Twas no place to enjoy the sun, nor to meet friends for a walk in the park. The Cook family must have a second estate.

He did not doubt the house would also be hidden, but not far away from where people lived. The family was quite secluded and did not want people to interrupt their life. But they wanted to meet their friends and help strangers.

What had happened to the second estate now that the Cook family was dead? Had anyone bought it, or had it been forgotten?

Thomas looked through the file and searched every page until the one word he was hoping to find. And suddenly everything made sense.

As fast as he could, he left the library and drove to Hugh's estate. He hurried inside and found the man in his study behind his desk. He threw the file on it and pointed at it.

"There is our connection," he told Hugh.

The man lifted the file and read: "family Cook." His eyes lifted up to Thomas. "We already about them. They used to live in Everton and were probably killed by Arthur Everton – who is probably your brother."

"Yes," Thomas agreed, "but there is more. The family had a second estate, a summer estate. Tis nearer to London, yet still hidden away. Tis large, but secluded. Everyone has forgotten it even existed." He leaned on the table and bend closer to his friend. "Guess what the name of the estate is."

Hugh's eyes went wide as he realized what Thomas was saying. Without a doubt, he spoke: "Halbert."

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Hugh was going to tell the police. They would start planning an invasion, and execute it. It would be a hard task, for the lord of Colston was a powerful man. It might take a long time before any action could be taken, but Hugh and Thomas were hopeful.

They were counting on the policemen to find evidence inside the house. That is why every man involved was to be chosen for his trustworthiness. They could not risk having one of Colston's henchmen in their midst.

Thomas left this work for Hugh while he would start looking for other ways to prove Colston's involvement. But he would also spend his days preparing for his first child. Only two more months before the child would be there, and Thomas could hardly hold back his enthusiasm.

But apparently his wife could. She had been heard crying herself to sleep. Thomas had asked her lady's maid if she was in pain, but the woman had said she is not. yet Madilyn kept pushing him away, and he did not know what to do anymore.

Mayhap he should force her to talk to him, and he would voice his concern. But that sounded quite harsh, and Thomas was not very comfortable with it. So mayhap he should wait a little longer. Hopefully, she would come to him and tell her what was on her mind.

Upon his arrival at home, he noticed a few changes. The biggest one of all was that the house seemed lighter. He walked through some rooms and found that the curtains had been changed to a lighter colour. They were also left open, letting a lot of light inside. Also people could watch inside now, but Thomas believed that Madilyn did not mind that.

He also noticed that some of the pieces of furniture had been replaced. The dark wooden chair, for example, had been changed into light wooden chair with light blue cushions. The dining room had a royal feeling to it, and it was quite nice.

He had always liked the heaviness of dark wood, but now that he saw the lightness the house was filled with, he must admit he quite liked that too. There were still some dark wooden pieces of furniture, but Thomas hoped Madilyn would replace that too, for now it looked hideous.

He walked around the house, in search for his wife. She had done a great thing, making the house lighter. He wanted to tell her he had not expected it, but that he quite liked it. He wanted to compliment her.

But after looking through his study, the parlour, the sitting room and the music room, he had not found her. He asked a servant where his wife was, but she told him that Madilyn was in her room and that she had asked to be alone.

So for the first time, he would be the one to start a conversation, and she was nowhere near.