Amelia sat at her writing desk, the morning light filtering through the lace curtains, casting intricate patterns on the polished wood. She was sorting through the day's correspondence, a daily ritual she usually found quite soothing. But today, a sense of unease lingered in the back of her mind, a residual anxiety from the recent events with Lady Constance.
As she opened the letters, one envelope caught her attention. It was made of thick, expensive paper, and the handwriting on the front was elegant, yet unfamiliar. With a slight frown, she broke the seal and unfolded the letter inside.
As her eyes scanned the words, her blood ran cold.
"Dearest Amelia,
Your beauty captivates me like no other. I watch you every day, longing to be near you, to possess you. Your husband does not deserve you. You are mine, and soon, you will realize this.
Yours eternally,
A"
Amelia's hands trembled as she read and re-read the chilling words. Her heart pounded in her chest, and a wave of nausea washed over her. She looked around the room, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable.
She needed to talk to Alister. Rising from her chair, she clutched the letter in her hand and hurried down the hallway to Alister's study. She knocked once and then entered without waiting for a response.
"Alister, I need to show you something," she said, her voice shaky.
Alister looked up from his desk, immediately sensing her distress. "Amelia, what's wrong?" he asked, concern etching lines on his face.
She handed him the letter without a word. As he read it, his expression darkened, and a muscle in his jaw twitched.
"This is unacceptable," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Who could have sent this?"
"I don't know," Amelia whispered. "But it frightens me. Someone is watching me, Alister."
Alister stood and moved to her side, wrapping his arms around her. "We'll find out who did this, Amelia. I promise you. You'll be safe."
Amelia leaned into him, drawing strength from his presence. "What if it's someone we know? Someone close?"
Alister's eyes narrowed. "We'll start by questioning everyone in the household. No stone will be left unturned."
As the day progressed, Alister and Amelia called for an immediate meeting with their most trusted servants. They gathered in the great hall, each one looking anxious and curious.
Alister began, holding up the letter. "This was found among Lady Amelia's correspondence this morning. It's a disturbing and unwelcome intrusion. We need to find out who sent it."
A murmur ran through the assembled staff. Amelia watched their faces closely, looking for any sign of guilt or recognition.
One of the older maids, Martha, stepped forward. "My lord, my lady, we'll do everything we can to help. This is terrible."
"Thank you, Martha," Amelia said, offering a tight smile. "Please, if anyone has seen or heard anything unusual, come forward."
There was a moment of silence before one of the younger footmen, James, spoke up. "I saw a man lurking near the back gate a few nights ago. He was dressed in dark clothes and seemed to be watching the house. I thought he was just a vagrant."
Alister's eyes sharpened. "Why didn't you report this immediately?"
James swallowed nervously. "I didn't think much of it at the time, sir. I'm sorry."
Amelia placed a hand on Alister's arm, calming him. "It's alright, James. Thank you for telling us now. Can you describe the man?"
James nodded. "He was tall, with a hood covering most of his face. I couldn't see much else in the dark."
Alister nodded. "Thank you, James. Keep an eye out for anything else unusual. We'll be increasing security around the estate."
As the staff dispersed, Alister turned to Amelia. "We need to be vigilant. I'll hire extra guards, and we'll install locks on all the doors and windows."
Amelia nodded, still feeling a cold knot of fear in her stomach. "What if it's someone inside the house, Alister? Someone we trust?"
"We'll investigate everyone," Alister assured her. "No one is above suspicion."
Later that evening, Amelia sat by the fireplace, trying to read a book, but her mind kept wandering back to the letter. The words were burned into her memory, a constant source of dread.
Alister entered the room, a grim look on his face. "I've sent messages to a few trusted friends in the city. They'll help us look into this. We'll find out who's behind it."
Amelia closed her book and looked up at him. "What if it's someone from our past, Alister? Someone with a grudge?"
Alister's eyes softened. "Then we'll deal with them, Amelia. Together. You're not alone in this."
She sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I just want to feel safe again."
Alister sat beside her, taking her hand. "You will. We'll get through this."
As the days passed, Alister's contacts in the city began to gather information. One evening, a messenger arrived with a sealed envelope. Alister opened it, his eyes scanning the contents quickly before looking up at Amelia.
"They've found something," he said. "It's connected to Lady Constance. One of her associates is a known stalker. He's been seen near our estate."
Amelia's heart skipped a beat. "Lady Constance? But she's in custody. How could she still be orchestrating this?"
"Even from behind bars, she has influence," Alister said, his expression grim. "We need to confront her. Find out exactly what she knows."
The next morning, Alister and Amelia set out for the royal dungeons where Lady Constance was being held. The journey was tense, each bump in the road a reminder of the peril they faced. As they approached the imposing stone building, Amelia steeled herself for the confrontation ahead.
Inside, they were led to a dimly lit cell where Lady Constance sat on a narrow cot. She looked up as they entered, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Ah, the happy couple," she drawled. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Alister wasted no time. "We know you're behind the letter sent to my wife. Who is this associate of yours?"
Lady Constance feigned innocence. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Amelia stepped forward, her voice steady. "We have evidence linking you to a known stalker. He's been seen near our estate."
Constance's eyes glittered with malice. "So what if I had a little fun? You took everything from me. It's only fair I return the favor."
"You'll pay for this," Alister said, his voice cold. "You're already in here for kidnapping. Now we'll make sure you face additional charges."
Lady Constance laughed. "Do your worst. I have nothing left to lose."
Amelia met her gaze, unflinching. "You may think you've won, but you've only made us stronger. We won't be intimidated by your games."