There was an oddness to waking up next to her husband, but Elizabeth quickly got used to it again. Also the fact that she barely used her night gown was feeling more and more normal every night. And she quite liked it.

She could open her eyes and see her husband's face, sometimes still sleeping, sometimes already watching her. And when his beautiful blue eyes were open, she would lean in and kiss his bright red lips. Then his muscled arms would wrap around her and pull her closer, deepening the kiss.

That was the perfect way to start the day.

For an entire week, she did not have to hear the knock on the door. For seven days, William refused to work and just enjoyed the presence of his wife, children and family. They visited his sister Emily and her six children, his brother Alexander with his three girls, and of course Andrew and Victoria often saw their faces.

But every night, he would only have eye for her. He would tell her how he had waited all day to have her all for himself, and then he would prove his love by pushing her on the bed and enjoying everything she had to offer.

In the morning he would help her dress, slowing the process with kisses and gentle whispers. Whenever he smiled, her belly fluttered like it always had, and when he laughed, she wanted to push him on the bed and repeat the night before.

But William also spent time with the children. They too had missed him so much, and Elizabeth granted him every minute with them. She would just watch and enjoy the sight before her. A handsome father playing with his kind children.

Elizabeth was happier than ever before.

But the week after, William decided to go back to work. Things went back to how they were more than half a year ago. They would wake up at the hateful knock on the door, Elizabeth's lady's maid would dress her, and most of the day, William would be hidden in his study, wishing to be undisturbed.

Elizabeth could not always control herself. Sometimes she would make her way to the study without realizing what she was doing. And before she knew it, his arms were around her and their lips were touching her ever so dearly.

Today was one of those days where here instinct would take over and she would stand up without fully realizing it.

But a cry from Lewis seemed to bring her back to reality, and instead of walking to the study, she walked to her son's room. He had been sleeping during the day, for he still needed that.

But when she entered his room, she realized he did not cry because of a bad dream had woken him - although that could be discussed.

Arthur bloody Brompton was standing next to the cradle, little Lewis in his arms.

A mean smile played the man's lips as he looked at Elizabeth.

"Mothers seem to react quickly to their children's crying," he told her. "And children seem to cry quickly in someone else's arms."

"Put him back in his cradle, Arthur," she obeyed sternly, lucky she was able to keep the shiver out of her voice.

He clicked his tongue. "No can do. See, Nora is a kind girl, but it seems you do not care much for her. I have warned you. If you take away my resources, she does not get them either. But mayhap you need more encouragement." He lifted Lewis a little to show Elizabeth it was him he was talking about.

"You are not taking my son," she obeyed him again, her vision becoming blurry from the unshed tears.

"Mother?" a soft and innocent voice asked behind her.

She kept her eyes on Arthur and Lewis as she said: "Francis, get out of here."

"No, Francis," Arthur said, "stay here. Your mother will need comforting."

"Francis," Elizabeth said, more sternly than she had ever used against her sons. "Get out."

She heard his footsteps run away from him. They ran toward her left, in the direction of the study. Good, she thought.

Arthur titled his head. "He is beautiful. Tis only-"

"Then why not take him?" Elizabeth interrupted. "Is it because a twelve year old boy is stronger than you? Is that why you resort to taking two year olds?"

He clicked his tongue again. "You must not be so rude toward your brother."

"You are not my brother! And a child taker and abuser is not someone who deserves kindness."

"Then mayhap I should reward you with the same kindness you show me." He looked down at Lewis. "This little boy will be the perfect way of doing that."

Elizabeth scoffed. "You do not even know his name."

The mean smile reappeared on his lips. "I do not need to know his name to take him with me."

The anger inside her was growing, and when it was close to exploding, she heard heavy footsteps in the hallway. Arthur did not hear them, for he merely looked at her, waiting for her response.

So she stepped forward with big and angry steps. She snatched Lewis out of his arms, which was surprisingly easy as Arthur's gaze caught William.

With the child in her arms, she ran to the corner of the room and watched as William, big and muscled as he was, walked toward Arthur.

"You were going to take my son?" Elizabeth's husband said with a loud voice, making even her fearful. Lewis' cry became louder as well, and Francis passed the open door. She motioned for him to keep walking and not enter the room, and he did exactly that.

"From the look in your eyes, you did not know I am home," William said dangerously to Arthur. The latter had his eyes wide open, fear shown obviously. He did not step away as William stepped closer to him, but his discomfort was clear.

"My mistake," Arthur said, his voice holding more certainty than his look. "I shall leave at once."

"No, you shall not," William ordered him, but Arthur tried walking past him anyway. William quickly grab his arm and pulled him closer. "No one takes my son."

After those words, Elizabeth diverted her eyes, for William's fist went up, and right after, she heard the sound of skin meeting skin. Arthur let out an "ouf", but silence did not return.

She listened to the many sounds of bones smashing into bones and things falling on the floor. The furniture was being moved, but Lewis' cries drowned out most of the sounds. She was grateful for it, for not only did Arthur get beat up, her husband did as well.

Whenever William would try to keep the pain to himself and fail, Elizabeth would hurt with him. She might have saved Lewis - and was holding on to him a little too tight - she would never be able to catch Arthur as well. He was too smart for her.

Suddenly the noises stopped at the sound of the mirror breaking. Elizabeth dared to look up, but wished she had not.

Arthur was holding a piece of glass from the mirror. She assumed it was sharp, but did not know with certainty, for she could not see the end of it. Her husband's skin was in the way.

With a self-complacent look, Arthur let go of the piece and stepped back. William fell to his knees, a piece of glass sticking out of his belly. Filled with panic, Elizabeth ran to her husband and lowered herself next to him.

She did not know what to say. Are you alright? Of course he was not!

She did not know what to do. Take Lewis while I look after your wound. Not quite possible.

With open mouth, she looked at her husband. He tried to bite the pain as he grinned at her.

"I shall live," he said, his voice tense. "Do not follow Arthur. He is too dangerous."

She shook her head, then looked around the room. Arthur had run away indeed. She could hear a servants shout in surprise, but she barely heard it. Though William said he shall live, he was starting to look more and more pale every second.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Thomas finally walked it the room. Elizabeth had send out letters to everyone in her family, and except for Andrew who was caring for his highly pregnant wife, everyone was present. Even lady Anne had come to see if William was alright.

He was, the doctor had said, though he must rest a few days. The selfish part of her was happy, for it meant no more morning knocks on the door.

Lewis was alright as well. Though he was very shaken up, he had quickly forgotten what had happened. But just to be certain, Elizabeth had asked to move the boy's cradle to another chamber, where he could sleep in peace with no reminder of the events whatsoever.

"Madilyn shall look after the children," Thomas told them all after having greeted everyone. "She already knows everything I know."

"Do you know why Arthur wanted to take my son?" Elizabeth asked with an accusing tone in her voice. She could not hide it. She was too furious with Arthur.

"I fear I have an idea," her brother said with a nod. "And it is not good."

"Out with it," lady Anne ordered, and Thomas obeyed.

"He feels like he is being hunted."

Mary scoffed. "He has been hunted for years."

"But this radical act must prove that we are finally getting close."

Elizabeth frowned. "What have you discovered?"

"Not only have I stopped Arthur's main source of intel, I also have found proof that he worked with Colston and stole those young children."

Thomas told them of how he had found out that his sister-in-law Eleanor was in love with Arthur, carrying his child and telling him everything of their family. He had convinced her of Arthur's ill will, and she was fearing him now as well.

"He had stored all his money under Eleanor's name, as Hugh had discovered," Thomas told them. "So yesterday I sent her to the bank to take it all. Twas under her name, so legally hers to take."

Elizabeth gasped. "So that is what he meant with taking away his recourses."

Thomas nodded. "We are coming close."

"What about the proof you talked about?" Eli asked. "Proof that Arthur was working with the lord of Colston?"

His face lit up a little as he said: "Yes, I have. Hugh had once suggested to talk to the children we saved. We had been to occupied looking through bank accounts, that we completely forgot. But then I thought of it again, and decided it was the best thing I could do. Tis what Hugh would have wanted, and tis what truly paid off."

"Tell us already," lady Anne interrupted, being impatient as always.

"One of the children had drawn what had happened to her. I have asked the other children to do the same, and now I have a big collected of drawings of the evil men who hurt them."

He looked around the room, seeing the wonder in everyone's eyes. With a smile he toldthem: "I have about ten drawings of the lord of Colston and a man who looks awfully much like Arthur."