December

"Let me go," he replied. "We heard that the Earl of Strathland was leading the way toward this house. We need to know where they came from and why they came here. "Her mind was numb with the news. Only last autumn, the Earl of Strathland had driven out the MacKinloch farmer out of his land to make room for the crowded lambs. The family gave them their residence before the Duke agreed to allow them to settle in his land, but the battle between the Countess and the farmer continued. The Count of Straland was a threat to the land. All of them. Every time he thought about this man she was afraid again, she secretly expected him to return to England. She does not understand why he is here, among thousands of grassland, while living in another estate. Then she remembered that he lived in this area like a king trying to conquer the surrounding lands. He tried to buy the land of her parents from time to time, but only received her father's refusal. That is also why he wants to marry her - in hopes of winning Ballaloch through marriage settlement. (1) 1 acre = 0.4 hectare. Juliette squeeze her hands to stop them from shaking. "Do not let Strathland ruin my sister's wedding!" Sinclair's blue eyes turned cold as ice. "None of us allow any harm to this place. No way, when we can stop them. "Without saying a word, he brushed her off and opened the door. Juliette followed him. She glimpsed Dr. Fraser and the duke as they climbed onto the horse. Seeing Paul riding on his horse, the anxiety flashed in her heart. Keep him safe, she prayed silently. She followed them until the three of them disappeared behind the hills and closed the door again. A cold sensation seeped into each vein even though she tried to restrain herself. From the window, she saw the sun sink below the horizon. Her sister Victoria is standing away from the crowd as if to run away. Juliet understands that feeling. She crossed the crowd and walked up to her sister. After apologizing to everyone, she brought Victoria back to the living room. "I think maybe you need to calm down a bit," Juliette suggested. "You look a bit pale." "I'm very worried," Victoria confessed. "We heard rumors from a young man, Count Strathland, coming here. Maybe that source is incorrect, but ... "" But they will not get a chance, "she concluded. Although very sure but her stomach still crouched with that news. "I heard from Sinclair," Juliette added. "He and Dr. Fraser went to stop them coming closer." And for God, they would succeed. They nodded but still scared. "My husband is with them too." Juliette squeezed her sister's hand, muttering comforting words that none of them believed. "Why do not you go to the room for a moment?" She suggested. She looked at her gratefulness, "Thank you!" Although she knew the bride should not have left at her wedding party, Victoria felt uncomfortable with too many people. Her sister hated being the focus of attention. "Do you want me to go?" Juliette suggested. She hesitated for a moment as if thinking. "No, no, no. You just have to calm down a bit before coming back. "Victoria blushed, adding," A lot of women tease you about the wedding night. Actually I do not feel scared at all. Well, maybe a little. " A glimmer of light suddenly appeared in her eyes, but Juliette could not imagine anything else in the wedding night except fear. If you are in the position of your sister, you must be very scared. Because she knows exactly what Victoria will face. And even if there were some jokes about making love, it was not something Juliette wanted to do. Not once again. She closed her eyes long enough to calm her down and go with her. Victorian girl upstairs, then back to her room. Juliette's hands still trembled despite her will, she returned to the living room, repeating the words as a mantra. It was not her fault. I was forced. The shame so high that it made her sick. Eyes blurred, she gripped the edge of the sofa to avoid falling. Not her fault. Even so, her scar is still there. Although she had once dreamed of having a husband and children, but now she can not imagine that. She could not undergo the pain of being under a man and facing the shame of the wedding night. She would wholeheartedly live a celibate life if that was the way to help her do not experience such a nightmare again. Suddenly a glass of voices loomed, causing her jerks. A few seconds later, Juliette realized the main reason was a brick wrapped in burning oiled cloth. When the brick touched the edge of the sofa, the fabric caught fire. Juliet panicked back and instinctively, she ran to find water or something to put out the fire. The fire quickly flared up in other places, she detected a lineWet along the perimeter of the room. That oil. Her head numb, so someone deliberately burned the house. A person attending her sister's wedding can only be one of the farmers. But why? Her family gave them shelter. And granted the Scottish people a place to live. Unless the Earl's disguise disappeared into the mix. A guest discovered the fire so shouted warnings. The cry of the frightened children mingled with the mothers trying to calm them down. Everyone rushed to the door, scurried to run out.He grabbed her hand, tugged and pulled her out with the others. The smell of spicy smoke, the flames flared rapidly. The men gathered all the pots around the well, standing in a row to put out the fire. Juliette searched in the crowd until she saw her mother. Beatrice held her tight while holding Amelia's hand. Her sister opened her eyes wide, scared to see the fire. "Where's Margaret?" Beatrice asked. "Victoria again?" She shuddered. "Last time I met, Victoria was in her room. I do not see Margaret anywhere. "Juliette glanced toward the house, the fire spreading rapidly, almost impossible to control. "Do you think the girls went out?" A chill squeezed her away from the thought of losing her two sisters. That can not happen ... she even refuses to think about it. Staring at the fire, she whispered a thousand pleas for them to be safe. "Stay here while you're looking for them!" Beatrice took Juliette's hand, handing Amelia over to her. "Keep an eye on me!" As soon as her mother left, Amelia began to cry. Although her sister was sixteen years old and easily agitated, in this situation, she had reason to be scared. "Toria is still in the house. I know that. I do not want her to die. "" She will not die. "Juliette hugged her sister, trying to comfort her, even though she was quietly worried that Amelia was right about Victoria. "They'll take her out if she's in there. But I do not think she stays in a burning house. "Despite that, she herself was not convinced. The fear of her sister has deep roots, and Juliette has never seen Victoria walk out during the five years they lived here. "They will find her," she promised. But she continued to look for her sister's silhouette. Someone is looking for her, please. There is a bizarre silence, in the air of the farmers still splashing water into the burning room. Although they fought very bravely, Juliette suspected he would not save the house. The stone slabs are still intact, but the inside has collapsed. The horse's horses approached, finally, the horseshoes came back. The duke, without delay, jumped from his horse and quickly ran into the burning house, knowing his wife was still there. Dr. Fraser wandered through the crowd, looking everywhere until he stopped on her. The rest of the crowd seemed to disappear, leaving him alone. His black hair was messy, his eyes were swallowing her image. Although he did not come closer, she still felt the silence of his voice.Em okay? Yes, I'm fine. Thank God.Juliette forced himself not to move forward, keeping the distance between Memory. But she was glad that he had returned peacefully, unharmed. It was a little consolation though she was still worried about her sisters. Dr. Fraser nodded and disappeared into the crowd until he appeared next to the farmers. He rolled up his sleeves, helped them put out the fire while Juliette stood still, hoping someone would find her sisters. The invisible weight dropped from her shoulders when she finally saw Margaret. Her sister appeared with a messy hair, a bright red face, holding a cloth cover in her hand. Juliette realized that it was the stuff Victoria used to sew - silk and satin worth hundreds of pounds. Her sister started her own business by sewing her bras (2) and her bib in

December, the profits were astounding. Although Margaret did not like the idea, at least she tried to save the material. (2) A bra or corset, which shaped the breasts and waist, "I'm glad you're safe." she whispered as Margaret hugged both sisters. Your sister did not explain where she was, pointing away. "Sinclair is preparing the chariot for us. He will take us somewhere safe for the night, because we can not, "her voice broke when she glanced at the burning house," sleep here. "" But Victoria and mom? "Amelia was horrified by the idea of ​​leaving them." She was fine, and the duke (3) would take Toria out, "Margaret said. "We will wait for two people in the carriage." (3) He was originally His Grace, the Duke of Worthingstone, who called the duke from the royal family. want to go until she knows she's okay. "Juliette held her sister's hand, pulled her away from the house while Margaret led them toward the waiting carriage. "IN