I read the letter several times just to confirm that I had read it correctly and that my eyes weren't just playing tricks on me. They weren't.

Abacus the horse belonged to Mr Marlow.

Rebecca had said that Abacus had belonged to her father, but that could only mean one thing. Mr Marlow had only ever had one daughter by blood with his first wife and none with his second wife. That daughter was Lily. Except Rebecca couldn't have been Lily Marlow. I would have recognised her the moment I saw her. Not only that, but she would have told us, even if it did sound ludicrous. Rebecca couldn't be Lily. Could she?

I dropped the letter onto my bed and dived under my pillow to grab the pendant. Just having a letter from a servant wouldn't be enough for anyone to believe me. I needed actual proof. Father wasn't going to believe any of it unless I could categorically prove that Rebecca and Lily Marlow were the same person. That would be far easier said than done. Lily Marlow was supposed to be dead. We had attended her funeral several years before. No one would believe she had been alive all of this time. Even I struggled to believe it.

Except it somehow made sense. No one had seen Lily before she died. We had all just taken Mrs Marlow's word for it. It wouldn't have been difficult for her to pay off the undertaker, and passing Lily off as a servant would have been a lot easier after all the other servants had been replaced. If it were to be believed, it would explain Rebecca's reaction to the Marlow's name. The pieces of the puzzle slowly started to slow into place. I just had to prove it to Father.

Stuffing the pendant into my pocket, I threw open my bedroom door and raced down the stairs. Doctor Merrick had yet to arrive, and I took it as a sign that I had time to gather the proof I needed just as long as I had help. The servants darted out of my way as I hurried down the servants' staircase. I burst into the kitchen where Mrs Lucas stood over a tea tray, no doubt preparing for the impending visit.

"To what do we owe the pleasure, Master Nate?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Is George around?" I asked.

"He left for the village over an hour ago. I thought he told you that."

I ran a hand through my hair. "Right. Do you know when he'll be back?"

"I don't know, not for a while, I expect. I can send him up to you when he returns."

"That would be great, thank you."

I turned and ran back up the stairs, annoyed at myself for not remembering what George had told me only an hour before. He was unlikely to return in time, so I had to find the evidence myself, even if it landed me in more trouble with Father. I would take whatever punishment he had to offer if it meant that I could prove Rebecca and Lily Marlow were the same person. It would be worth it in the end.

"Nate? What are you doing?" Alice said behind me. I twisted my body to watch her slowly descend the staircase.

"Looking for George, but he's not here."

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"No." I looked away from her and headed towards the front door, pausing before I opened it. "Actually, there is. I need you to keep Miss Edwards and Mrs Ramone from leaving until I get back."

"What? Where are you going?"

"I'll explain everything later. Just don't let them leave."

"What about the storm? It looks like it's about to start raining."

"I won't be long."

"Nate!"

Before she could stop me, I wrenched the front door open and ran across the grounds to the stables. The wind had picked up, transforming from a light breeze into gusts that shook the trees and sent leaves and sticks hurtling to the ground. The weather was not that dissimilar from the day Joseph and I had found Rebecca in the woods. I prayed it wasn't a bad sign.

I found Oliver almost immediately and instructed him to tack up Lightning as fast as he could. With the approaching storm, I knew I would be risking it, but I had no choice. Lightning and I would have to hurry. Oliver did as I asked, his initial protest falling on deaf ears as I bounced nervously on the balls of my feet as my nervous energy built up. Time was something that was not on my side that day, and I had to move with as much haste as I could muster.

Once Lightning had been tacked up, I led him outside and scrambled on his back, steering him towards the woods. I couldn't warm him up the way I usually would and pushed him into a gallop as we entered the trees. Lightning's ears reacted to the sound of the wind in the trees and the cracking of branches above our heads. Usually, he would bolt back to the stables at the first sign of a storm, but he must have felt my anticipation of getting to the village. He pushed forward as I asked him to and gave no inclination of wanting to turn back to the warmth of the stables.

The wind picked up as we reached the village, with large spots of rain starting to fall. I ignored the freezing sensation that went through me with every raindrop that hit my skin and directed Lightning towards the Inn. There were fewer people around than usual due to the bad weather, but there was no sign of George.

I climbed off Lightning and led him into the Inn's stable, looking around for any sign of Joseph. He and I locked eyes across the stables and I rushed towards him, Lightning needing no encouragement.

"Master Nathaniel? What are you doing here in this weather?" He took Lightning's reins from me.

"Your letter. Are you sure that the information is correct?"

"Yes, sir. You can ask David yourself." He waved to someone on the other side of the stables. "David, this is Master Nathaniel Thorpe. He was the one asking about the horse."

"Abacus?" David looked at me. He was a few years older than Joseph, with dark hair that just hit his collar.

"Yes," I said. "Are you sure he was Mr Marlow's horse?"

"Positive. I don't forget a thing, especially the names of the horses we look after. Mr Marlow left Abacus with us countless times."

"Alright, thank you, David."

"I hope it helps."

"More than you know." I turned back to Joseph. "Can you watch Lightning for me? I have one more person to visit."

"Of course, sir, but surely you should get Lightning home before the thunder starts."

"I'll be quick. Thank you again."

I left Lightning in Joseph's capable hands, knowing he would be fine for fifteen or so minutes whilst I hunted out Mrs Reed for a second time. Outside, the rain started to fall thick and fast. Through the curtain of water, I could scarcely see my own hand in front of my face, let alone anyone in the village. If George were outside, I would have difficulty finding him.

Rather than waste my time trying to find him, I headed out into the rain and towards the house I had visited just a few days before. If anyone could help to unravel the mystery in front of me, I hoped Mrs Reed would, since she knew Lily better than anyone.

The rain soaked me within seconds of emerging into the village. My clothes stuck to me almost immediately and cold water dripped off my hair and into my eyes. I ran across the village and towards the row of houses where I knew Mrs Reed worked. The rain grew heavier and I could feel the pendant knocking against my thigh as I jogged up the street.

With water dripping off my body, I skirted towards the back entrance of the house so I wouldn't ruin any flooring in the main house. I hugged myself close to the door and knocked.

"You again," Mary-Ann said when she opened the door. "And you used the back entrance."

"Can I come in? It will only be for a moment. I have a few questions to ask Mrs Reed, and they cannot wait."

"Someone's eager. Come on then, and watch where you step. The last thing you seem to need is to slip over on the floor." She nodded her head towards the bruises, laughing a little.

When I didn't respond, she stepped to the side and allowed me to enter. I dripped water all over the floor as I stepped into the kitchen, watching Mary-Ann close the door behind me. She gestured me forward, but kept her distance so she didn't get wet.

"Mrs Reed, you have a visitor. It's the young man from a few days ago."

"Nathaniel Thorpe?" Mrs Reed stepped into the kitchen. She looked at me, her eyes widening. "Good heavens, what happened to you?"

"An unfortunate incident with a tennis ball a few days ago. I hardly notice it now."

"I expect it hurt when you did it. What can I help you with?"

"I just wanted to ask you a couple of questions. This won't take long."

"Ask away. I have an apple pie in the oven. It seemed like the perfect dessert for this horrendous weather."

"Have you ever seen this before?"

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the pendant. Mrs Reed frowned upon seeing it and accepted it by the chain, running her fingers over the pattern on the outside of the metal ovals. She turned it over in her hand and examined the pendant from almost every possible angle. After a few seconds, she looked at me with a slight furrow in her eyebrows.

"Where did you get this?"

"I'll explain that later. For now, I need to know if you recognise it."

"Yes. This pendant once belonged to Mrs Marlow and was passed to Lily after her death."

"And the photograph inside?"

Mrs Reed opened the pendant, a small trace of a smile appearing on her lips. "That's Mrs Marlow, Lily's mother."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely certain."

"Thank you, Mrs Reed. You have been a great help."

"What is this about, Mr Thorpe?" She handed me the pendant. "Why have you come out in this weather?"

"I cannot explain it right now, but I will later. I promise."

I stuffed the pendant back into my pocket, turned on my heels, and left the kitchen once again through the back door. Mrs Reed had just provided me with the information I needed to prove to Father that Rebecca was Lily Marlow. If it came to it, he could come out and talk to Mrs Reed herself and have her confirm it in person. For the time being, I needed to get back to the house as soon as possible.

I ran back to the stables and took cover under the wooden beams, looking for any sign of Joseph, but he was nowhere to be found. Lightning stood in the end stall, throwing his head around at the sounds of the approaching storm. With Joseph not around, I left a few coins on the stall and walked Lightning to the edge of the stables, swinging myself onto his back.

The rain continued to lash down on the stone pathway as I rode Lightning into the rain and across the village. I nudged him into a gallop, guiding him to the woods despite the roaring wind and falling branches. Lightning's ears reacted to every sound nearby, and the approaching thunder scared me. Dark clouds rolled by with the rain, and the wind and water stung my cheeks, but I pushed Lightning forward. I wasn't sure Alice would be able to keep Mrs Ramone and Rebecca in the house for very long.

We weaved through the trees at a gallop, dodging falling trees and leaves that fell from above us. Static tingled in the air. A loud clap of thunder echoed above us. Lightning stopped dead on the grass, throwing his head and whining in response to the sound.

"Everything's fine, buddy. We're almost home," I said, lightly patting his side.

Lightning threw his head as another clap of thunder echoed above us, louder than the last one. He whinnied again, rearing up on his back legs and kicking at the ground. I clung onto the reins as hard as I could, but Lightning bucked more violently and with the rain falling, the reins were slippery and hard to grip. My fingers fumbled on the reins as he bucked once more, throwing my body backwards.

I twisted in the air as I fell, landing on my left arm. Pain erupted up my arm and side the second they collided with the ground. I cried out, my voice lost to the rain that drummed down on the surrounding ground. With as much effort as I could muster, I pulled myself into a sitting position, brushing my hair out of my face. My fingertips tingled as waves of pain travelled up and down my arm.

Lightning, who I was sure would have run off out of fear, cautiously approached me. He nudged my right shoulder with his nose as I cradled my arm and tried to ignore the stabbing pain on my left side.

"Come on, Nate. You have a job to do," I muttered to myself.

I shuffled onto my knees and forced myself to stand up, energy flooding through my body. My arm could wait, I had to get home. Lightning stood still as I climbed onto his back with one good hand, gritting my teeth against the pain that seemed unstoppable. Once in the saddle, I kicked Lightning into a gallop and we continued through the trees.

By the time we emerged on our property, the pain had turned into a dull throb. My clothes were soaked through by the rain and my teeth knocked together, either from shock or the cold. I rode Lightning down to the stables and dismounted, knocking my arm and causing another wave of pain to spread through my body.

"See to it that Lightning is properly warmed up. He got scared by the thunder," I said, handing the reins to Oliver, who stood in the doorway to the stables.

"What happened?" He eyed my arm.

"I'm fine. Just make sure Lightning's alright."

Oliver nodded and led Lightning into the warmth of the stable. I cradled my arm, feeling the pendant press against my thigh as I trotted up to the house. Once inside, I shot down the hall and into the parlour, where I expected to find Mrs Ramone and Rebecca, but they weren't there.

"Nathaniel?" Father said when I stepped into the room. "Where on earth have you been, and what happened to your arm?"

"I'm fine." I waved my other hand dismissively, biting my cheek as another wave of pain spread through my body. "Where is Miss Edwards?"

"She's gone, Nathaniel. You missed her."

~~~

A/N - We have two chapters! This is it, the end is in sight, but will it be the happy ending Nate wants? 

Questions!

Predictions for the ending!

First Published - May 23rd, 2023