You are not going to defeat us!
Anne woke up with her head buzzing and felt she had been run over by a herd of horses. She touched her face and when she removed her fingers found dried blood. She suddenly remembered they had been kidnapped. As her vision returned she found Isabella's face very close to her.
"You are going to have a larger bruise this time!" drily commented Isabella attempting to lighten the mood.
"I don't think Angus, or my father are going to think it is amusing" gasped Anne as she hoisted herself up. She looked at her oldest friends and could see they also had their own bruises.
Food was delivered by an older woman who stared at Joy Babbington, returning with warm water, cream and bandages. Evangeline appearing again and the housekeeper told her she had removed the bindings. Isabella and Joy had been successful in removing their own bindings but now knew they had a friend in the housekeeper.
"Do you know where we are Anne?" Isabella asked while looking out the window. Joy helping Anne up and she looked carefully to see if she could recognise their location. Anne was relieved they were still in Sanditon and near the fishing Wharf. If they could make it to the beach Anne was confident, she could easily guide them along the coastline towards the Babbington Estate.
They heard scratching and grunting under the bed. A small head popped out which made the three women jump. Anne realising it was too large to be a rat but a small fox terrier. Anne had a dog when she was a child, but it had been taken away by her mother as it was too noisy. She broke off some bread holding it out for the little dog to eat. It slowly made its way from under the bed and Anne could see it had been kicked. The little dog recognising Anne was a friend allowed her to stroke its head and then the rest of its body. Since Steward had captured Irene, he no longer needed the dog and had started miss treating it. It had escaped and by luck had hidden in the room where the girls had been taken.
"Your attendance is required!" Evangeline had suddenly appeared. The little dog going up to her but received a kick. Anne picking up the frightened dog walked out of the room followed by Joy and Isabella. As they walked down the stairs Isabella heard Evangeline promise her to the guards when Mr Montrose was finished with them. Isabella giving each guard a warning stare before entering the room Steward Montrose occupied.
It was a large study, and they were forced to sit on lower chairs as a way of making him even more menacing. The little dog who once sat on his lap was now being held in Anne's protective arms.
"I will let you go if you tell me Sidney Montrose is the son of Sidney Parker" Steward coming straight to the point. No written evidence had been found and his needed to apply more pressure.
"That is ridicules! Sidney M is the son of Hector Montrose" Isabella spoke instantly and found herself being slapped by Evangeline. After recovering from the shock Isabella gave the woman a deadly stare and was going to say something further but was stopped by Joy. Steward turning his attention to Joy Babbington and Anne Parker.
"Sidney Montrose is the son of Hector Montrose" Joy spoke proudly
"He is the Earl of Montrose" added Anne. She was proud of her brother
Steward grabbed Anne and looked closely at her and she guessed he was trying to compare her to Sidney M. Anne was now glad for the large hideous bruise and his close inspection was interrupted by the little dog bitting him on the hand. He growled in pain and knew it would bite him again if he tried to strike it. He stalked back to the desk and returned with pieces of paper.
"I am giving you one last chance… you are to write a letter stating Sidney Montrose is the true son of Sidney Parker." he snarled and left the room with Evangeline close behind him.
Without hesitation and nerves of steel the three writing the same words …
'Sidney Montrose is the son of Hector Montrose. He is the Earl of Montrose' signing their names and sat back waiting for him to return.
The door opened and instead they saw Irene who gasped in relief. She was covered in cuts and bruises. Irene had been helped by the housekeeper who had witnessed Steward Montrose torture her. The woman had worked for Lady Denham and remembered Joy's mother. She had been appalled when Joy Babbington was kept prisoner in the house. Over the course of her employment the older woman had developed an intense dislike for Georgina Lamb and had finally reached her limit.
"Thank goodness! We have to leave now!" urgently spoke Irene. She opened a concealed door that led them to the servants' quarters, and they were hidden in the housekeeper's office. The housekeeper giving clothes to change into. Anne making a sling to hold 'Abbey'… her dog. They all worked quickly as they knew Steward and Evangeline would be finding them missing soon.
"Find them!" they heard a screaming 'Evangeline' and rapid movement above their heads.
"Go, I will try and hold them off" the older woman directed. Anne using the backstreets to guide them successfully to the trail that would lead them down to the beach . They were stopped by a familiar voice.
"Come! I will take you home…. trust me" Georgina Lamb holding out her hand
"No! She is with Steward! Run!" Screamed Irene and the women sprinted towards the cliff path instead and prayed they could find a place to hide as they were losing light.
They were thankful for the shoes they were given as they were able to cover more ground. Anne knew there was a good hiding place and increased her speed. It was a spot she visited when she wanted to get away from the world. It looked like a cliff edge but below was a cut out in the rocks that could be reached by climbing over the edge.
"Follow me…" Anne climbing down and disappeared over the edge. Irene shaking her head but with help from the others they all made it down. They huddled together and waited in silence. They could hear horses, shouting, a gunshot and finally the body of Steward Montrose fall towards the ocean.
They held each other as they didn't know who was above them and they waited…..
"Joy! Anne! Isabella!" the women crying out in relief as they recognised the voices of their father and beloved.
"We are here!" and they finally saw their father's faces leaning over with lantern's.
"You are safe!" Sidney, Henry and Charles spoke with tears in their eyes. Within moments Sidney M, Angus and Filipe had assisted the women up. Joy, Anne, Isabella and Irene were held by their father, brother, beloved or kin.
"You are safe!" the sweetest words they had ever heard.