"Don't come near me!" she screamed.

"McMichael is still alive!" he exclaimed.

Thomas ran up to Edith. Her hands were bloody and she was upset. She went to attack him and he grabbed her wrists.

"You lied to me!"

"I did." He acquiesced.

"You poisoned me!"

"I did."

"You told me you loved me!"

"I do!"

She stopped she could see it in his eyes. He let his grip go on her hands. She lowered her hands.

"Edith please, trust me one more time. I will get the papers back, I will finish this. You can leave if you want to, or wait for me." Thomas saw he had a chance to make this right. "I'm going to finish this." He smiled slightly and then ran off to find Lucile. He found the papers on the side table and quickly tossed them into the fire.

He stood watching them burn. He felt a weight lifted. He had broken the cycle. He needed to find her. He turned to hear her voice.

"You burnt them." Lucile uttered from the dark.

"And she will live. You are not to touch her."

"You're ordering me?" Lucile snarled.

"We can leave, think about it, start a new life."

"Where?" She slowly moved towards him and he took her hands in his.

"It doesn't matter, we can leave this place, let the Sharpe name die into the earth with this house. We can be free, we can all be together."

"All?" She did not want to share. He begged her with his eyes.

"You love her?"

"This day had to come. We have been dead for years."

"you promised." She cried.

"You and I in this rotting place. Look at what we have become!" He wanted them both. He knew if they were caught it would be bad for both of them. This was his dream, then she turned on him.

"You said.. You said you wouldn't fall in love with anyone else."

"Yes, but it happened." Thomas held her and went to embrace her. She was distraught. All her plans were unravelling.

"Ught!" Thomas stood in shock as she plunged the knife into his stomach. He glanced down then at her in disbelief. She then stabbed him again in the chest. He began to let the silent tears fall as his heart broke.

"Lucile?" he gripped his attacker in the hopes she would stop and see reason. Then she stabbed him in the face. He felt the knife go in. his vision blurred, he didn't know if it was from the tears. She stepped back and he slowly stumbled over to the chair where she earlier crafted her doom.

He gripped the knife in his face and groaned as he pulled it free. The blood mixed with his tears and trickled down his face. He looked to her in a mixer of disappointment and regret. The woman he loved had killed him. He then felt relief as he wouldn't want to be without her, nor die at the hands of another.

He slumped down in the chair and she realised what she had done. Killed her only alley. Her lover, her brother. She grabbed him and wailed as she dragged his body down to the floor.

Thomas did not move. He was not yet dead, but his unresponsiveness had sealed his fate. Lucile screamed and grabbed the knife and went off in pursuit of Edith.

The room fell silent. Then there was a gurgle and a cough as Thomas opened his eyes slightly. He looked up at the ceiling of the nursery. Such a familiar ceiling. He wanted to move. He needed to help Edith. But he was lost. He could feel the warmth of his blood as he held his hand on his side.

His blood moved slowly thankfully due to the cold. He cried as he couldn't believe she would ever hurt him. Was she that jealous? Thomas moaned as he felt himself become overwhelmed with pain. Both from his physical injuries and his emotional ones. He thought he should just give up. What hope was there for him? He was alone and scared. Someone had always cared for him. When he was hurt or sad, someone always comforted him.

Now they were all gone. He felt different warmth spread as he began to wet his pants. He rolled to his side and held himself in humiliation. He looked over and saw Lucile's scissors lying on the floor. He thought about cutting himself to bleed out quicker.

He managed to sit up slightly. He held her scissors with a shacking hand. He then heard a scream. It was Edith, she was still alive. He cut a part of the bed sheet. He pulled it slightly and tore it into a long strip.

He knew no one would want to save him now. He would have to help himself. He began to wrap the makeshift bandage around his waist tightly. It hurt and he winced in pain. He felt a bit better and tore another strip. He ran it diagonally over his chest to stop the other wound from bleeding too much.

He slumped down on the bed and wiped his tears. He knew he had to do something. He had to will himself to get up. He grabbed another rag and held it to his cheek. He slowly made his way out of the room to the lift. He gripped the railing as it rattled down. He saw the blood on the bars.

Thomas hoped he would get to Edith in time. He slowly walked from the scullery to the main hall. He was in pain but had to forget it. He held his side as he made his way out into the snow. He followed the footsteps in the red snow.

He moved towards his machine. He had to let her know he was here. He pushed the leaved and activated the controls. The engine chugged and began to move. The steam hissed and Thomas walked around the other side to see the two women in his life in a standoff.

He reached out and moved up behind Lucile. He dropped his hand and stood and stared at her. He had nothing to say. He had so much to say. She looked like she was going to apologies, but he began to feel it was now too late. Lucile turned and Edith struck her with the shovel.

She dropped it and slowly made her way over to him. She extended her arm and touched his injured cheek. He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. She lowered her hand and he looked down at his sister and slowly knelt down beside her.

He hovered his hand over her, not wanting to touch her, but wanting to. He eventually stroked her hair and cried. He looked up at Edith and then slowly stood. He took Lucile's arm and began to drag her body back towards the house.

Edith stood shocked. He was badly injured. He struggled as he dragged her body through the red snow. Edith walked a few paces behind him. Alan appeared in the doorway of the mine. He watched as he saw Thomas drag her body. He looked behind him and saw Edith.

She was alive. Thomas sobbed as he couldn't move her anymore and he fell down in the snow. He sobbed as Edith moved towards him. She had not seen Alan yet. She crouched down near Thomas.

"I'm sorry Edith. I tried to get her to stop." He looked up at her and she saw the wound to his body and knew she had attacked him. "I just can't believe it." He looked back down at Lucile's disfigured body. "I thought she loved me." he sobbed then put his hand on her stomach then his head to her breast, hoping for life.

Edith was disgusted as she knew when he said loved, he meant what she caught them doing. But for some reason she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. he leaned over her face and held her cheeks.

"Lucile? Please wake up." He sobbed. His blood stained tears landed on her face and he shook his head. "I told her to stop, but she didn't listen. She stabbed me and tried to kill me."

"Edith?" Alan moved over to see her standing over Thomas. She looked up and limped towards Alan with her arms outstretched.

"Alan!" she fell into his arms.

"Come, Let's get away from here. First I will get you a coat." He began to lead her back to the house. She turned to see Thomas crying loudly as he knew he was now abandoned. "Come one Edith." He tugged her arm so she looked away. He draped the coat over her and they began to make their way in the snow.

"Alan, we can't leave him." She pulled away and turned to her illegitimate husband. Thomas looked up and felt he didn't deserve her pity.

"Edith, he is a monster and killed his own wives. Let the authorities deal with him."

"No." She snapped her arm from him. "You saw he was under her spell. He had no choice. He never killed those women, Lucile did." Edith tried to justify his actions. She looked over and Thomas had collapsed in the snow beside his sister's body.

"He is just as much a part of their murders as she was! He poisoned you!" Alan tried to explain.

"He changed, he didn't want to, he stood up to her and look what happened. She turned on him too." Edith rolled over Thomas and checked to see if he was still alive.

"It's too late. He may have tried to be good, but he still has to be punished. His sentence may be less as he tried to help in the end." Alan went over to her.

"Please, help him, you are a doctor. Didn't you take an oath?"

"I did." He sighed. She was right. If anything he should help him recover to face justice. Alan squatted down and checked his injuries. "He's lost a lot of blood. But the cold will help him till we get to hospital."

Alan looked around and found a low cart use for the coal. He wheeled it over and they propped Thomas up on it. Alan fastened a rope over his chest and tied him to the cart. They tipped it up and Edith held it steady while Alan moved Thomas' body up further. The then both began to drag the cart through the snow to the gates.

As they approached they saw the town's people coming to help. Edith turned to Alan.

"Please, don't tell them of what he did." She looked down at his body. "he has suffered enough."

"They may not agree." Alan cautioned her.

"Please Alan. He is a good person inside. I have seen it. He just had no one to ever show him." she placed her hand on Thomas' and squeezed. He softly squeezed back. Edith felt her chest tighten as she knew he was still there. "He has suffered for so long by her hands. He didn't know what true love was. Nor what was normal."

"Ok. But there will be a limit to my help."

The people got closer. Hey there! Are you ok!?" they shouted.

"We need help!" Alan called back. They got closer and the people saw the injuries.

The man from the trading post looked down at Thomas. "Sir Thomas! What happened? Where is Lady Sharpe?" Edith and Alan looked at each other then down at Thomas. Alan sighed.

"She is dead."

"What murderous person did this to her, to you?" the local police man asked.

"Lady Sharpe." Alan replied. "She pushed Edith down the stairs and broke her leg. I came to help her and she stabbed me when my back was turned." He then pursed his lips and shook his head in regret, but he did it for Edith. "And then she stabbed her brother for stepping in. We thought him dead."

"But how did she die?" The constable continued.

"I killed her." Edith stepped forward and they saw her white dress stained with blood. "She was forcing me to sign over my estate and I stabbed her with a pen then fled. She pursued me and came at me with the knife she killed her mother with, so I hit her with a shovel."

"She killed her mother?" one of the other towns people asked.

"Yes." Alan responded. "She was sent off to a sanatorium when she was 14, but no one knew of her crime nor convicted her of it." Alan handed the newspaper clipping to the police man.

The town's people helped the injured people into the carriage and rode fast towards town.

Alan lay still on the clean sheets of the hospital bed. He rolled over to see a heavily bandaged man beside him. his face was obscured by the bandages. Thomas' long dark curls hung over the bandages. He did not move. Alan sat up and held his side. He then remembered how Thomas stabbed him. he asked for a place to stab him so he could survive.

He held his side and kept looking down. "Alan, you're up." Edith rolled in with her foot in a cast. She was washed and in a thick gown.

"Edith." He climbed off the bed and went to her. he leaned in to kiss her and she shied away. "Edith?"

"I think I should refrain from any affection for the moment." She then gestured to the unconscious man. "Has he said anything?"

"He hasn't woken since I have been here. I don't think him to be conscious." Alan walked slowly over to his side and Edith sat beside the bed.

"Have the nurses come in?"

"No, but I have only been awake for a few hours." They looked at him intently. Thomas lay quietly. Edith stood, pushing down on the side of the bed. She moved closer to him.

"Thomas? Please wake up." She whispered. She squeezed his hand and his eyes opened slowly. He could only see her well through one eye. The other was partially obscured by the bandage on his face.

"Edith?" Thomas stared up at her and silent tears rolled down his face. "I think you should have left me to die."

"No. You deserve a chance." She smiled and then brushed his hair from his face.

"at what? I have lost my home, my family, my title, no. I should have died. It will be better than what awaits me in prison." He turned his head away and pulled his hand free of hers.

Alan placed his hands on Edith and directed her to leave him be. He helped her sit back down and he wheeled her out.

"Alan, we must tell him he is not going to go to prison."

"No. Let him think he is, and he may try to atone for his crimes. Not that it will ever be enough for the lives he took." Alan said coldly. "As soon as we are well enough to travel, we are heading back to Buffalo."

"Alan stop." She grabbed the wheels of her chair to brake. "not without him."

"He can stay here, I don't want him anywhere near you." Alan knelt down and looked her in the eyes. "Please, put him far from your mind." He took up her hand then kissed the back of it. "Make me your husband and share your life with me."

"I already have a husband." She pulled her hand away. "He is far from perfect, but I will honour my vows."

"What vows? He was already married, you are not his! You were never legally married!" Alan became determined to convince her he was the better choice.

"They mattered to me." Edith looked down at her finger where Lucile had tore the ring off.

"He had been married before, three times." Alan reminded her.

"And where are they? However you look at it, he is a widow." She corrected Alan. "Thus was not married at the time of my marriage."

Alan knew there wasn't much convincing in her. he wheeled her to her room. She stopped and wheeled back out.

"Edith?"

"Take me back to him. he needs help." She began to roll back the way she came. Alan stood in the hall unmoved. "Either roll me back or I will just roll myself." He groaned and decided not to help her.

Edith made her way back to his room. Thomas was crying softly. She moved over and took his hand. "Thomas please don't cry." Edith did not know if it was cause of the pain or he was in mourning, either way, she didn't want him feeling sad.

"Please leave me." he softly spoke.

"No, you are my husband." She squeezed his hand and then held it to her cheek. He turned his head towards her.

"I am nobody's." He winced in pain and tried to move. She sat up on the side of the bed and he got more anxious. "Please leave, I don't want you here. I don't want you to see me like this."

"I will not abandon you. I told you, you are all that I have." She leaned in to kiss him and he pulled away. He sat up in pain and she hopped off the bed. She then decided, whether it was a good more of not, to be dominate to him. "Thomas Sharpe, stop being a child. You will do what I say. Now you are going to get out of that bed and I will get you to lunch."

"I can't." He refused to move.

"You can sit up, so you can." She grabbed the sheet and he tried to stop her.

"No!" he cried out. she then saw it wasn't that he was unable to leave his bed, but he didn't want to. She looked down at the soiled sheets. It was futile him covering himself now. She looked up and saw how ashamed he was. "I'm sorry."

"Oh darling. It's not your fault." She put the sheet back over him and he lay back down on his side, away from her. "I will get someone to help you." she sat back down in her chair and began to roll herself out.

"Edith." He didn't face her. He heard her chair stop moving. "Edith. Please forgive me." he rolled over and she saw his eyes. They looked right through her soul.

"I don't know if I can. It will take time." She broke off the connection and rolled out of the room.

It had been a week since they came to the hospital. Edith was now moving around on crutches. Alan began helping out in the wards. They were thankful to having another doctor in the ward. Edith had been spending her time by Thomas' bed side. Trying to cheer him up. She found a small library and began to read to him.

He lay quiet. He was thankful of the attention. But still felt he didn't deserve it. Alan never visited, nor treated him. Edith had become quite involved and would change his bandages every day. She would help him up and get him out of bed, even though he didn't want to.

He sat on the side of the bed and she put her arms round his waist. "Now come on get up. Your legs work fine." He slowly stepped onto the cold floor. "Off you go." she pushed him from behind. He turned to her and didn't move forward.

"Edith, are you leaving?" it was the first time he had engaged her in ages. She could tell he was hurt and the answer would greatly affect his mood.

"I am going to go to go home soon, yes." Edith kept pushing him to walk around.

"So what I to become of me?" he began to cry. He inhaled uneasy. She held him close.

"I'm not leaving without you." she admitted.

"What?" he was surprised. He was happy to hear that. "But what about Alan?"

"He will head back if he wants to." She dismissed it. "I will help you. I said I would." She walked him towards the bathroom. "Now, hurry up and sort yourself out and we will go for a walk to get some lunch." He nodded and walked into the bathroom. He slipped down his pants and then lifted up his shirt. He looked down at his bandaged side. It didn't hurt as much.

He walked over to the sink and washed his face. He stared up at the face in the mirror. He ran his fingers over the scar on his cheek. It was healing. He wondered if it would leave a scar and if he wanted it to.

He finished getting undressed and began to unwrap his bandages. His feet pattered along the cold floor. He leaned in and turned on the shower and put his hand under it.

The water was cold and didn't seem to warm up at all. He sighed. Another cold shower. It was probably a good idea as he felt it was appropriate he was constantly punished. He stepped in and shuddered at the cold. He slowly began to wash himself. He rubbed down over his tender side. He then reached down and held his soft penis. His cries were hidden by the shower water raining down over him.

He couldn't help but think about how all he had done was wrong. Everything that Lucile did to him, he knew he liked it but couldn't stop her. Even when he met Edith, even when he had finally had sex with her, his first, he still ran back to Lucile.

He began to touch himself. He started to softly tug himself as he thought about her. They way she would touch him. When he was scared or upset he could always go to her room in the nursery. Even when Edith moved into the manor house, he only spent one night with her.

Thomas had spent so long avoiding sex, he felt like he didn't want it unless it was from Lucile. Even touches of affection he hated from others. He would always have to check himself when he hugged or kissed Lucile in public. He was so used to being openly affectionate with her at home.

It was hard for him to hid his feelings. He remembered many occasions sitting near her at some formal dinner and he would become aroused. She would strategy escort him away so no one would see. Then she would find a quiet place to finish him off.

Thomas looked down at himself in the shower. He was hard, despite the cold water. He began to pull himself harder as he thought more of what she would do to him. He then came hard against the door of the shower. Thomas stopped and braced himself against the wall. He looked down at his mess. He then burst into tears and slumped down in the shower.

He punched the wall with the base of his fist. Edith could hear his sobbing echo out. She pushed open the door and hesitantly walked in. she had always given him his privacy. Even though she had been intimate with him that night at the trading post, she had never seen him naked.

She sighed with relief that the door was closed on the shower. "Thomas?"

"Please go away."

"Thomas why are you crying." She then feared the worst. "Please, don't hurt yourself." She looked around and saw the razor was still on the sink.

"I don't deserve you. I am defective." He sobbed. She exhaled hard and pushed open the door to the shower. He was sitting on the floor crunched up with his arms wrapped around his knees.