From the Ashes

Chapter Forty-Nine

Benjamin wondered at the concerned and long faces that emerged from Lily's house. Now that they had Lily, they had what they needed and were making good time. He gave the young girl a hand up on to his saddle and rode off with her. Once they were in the clear of the village, Richard rode up next to them.

"I am sorry, Lily. I had hoped your Mother could be moved to our Manor but keep in mind, my promise to take care of you and your family still stands, no matter whose land you are living on."

Lily sniffed and nodded but did not seem very much consoled. Richard looked to Juliana and shrugged. He felt inept in handling the situation.

Juliana slowed her horse and asked if she and Lily could have a moment. McAllister looked bristled by this delay but as they needed to have the young woman's cooperation he did as requested and stopped the horse, helping her down.

"Walk with me, Lily," Juliana said, and she complied.

"Why was your mother so vehement about not leaving? What is she so afraid of, Lily?"

Lily shook her head. She felt cornered and did not believe she could say. Juliana could sense her reservation. "I let Lady Bentley control my life for years. I felt I had no say, no other choice but you do, Lily."

Lily looked up at her with a lost expression. "My mother will always be subject to them."

"Them?"

Lily nodded. "A group that has taken many actions into their own hands. Have destroyed factories, broken machines caused physical harm. My father was a guard at the Bentley Textile Mill. When Lord Bentley had tried to install new machinery. This group had broken the machines."

Juliana had remembered this, as it was a huge financial blow to Lord Bentley to replace the looms. Her Father had been talking him into going completely mechanized but Lord Bentley just wanted to upgrade his Mill to be more efficient, so he could use the funds to promote his farming tenants.

"What happened to your father?"

"He guarded the factory at night. They came, and they killed him to get into the factory to damage the machinery. He was found by the workers in the morning," Lily said looking away, feeling the heat of her tears travel down her face.

Juliana grabbed the girl in her embrace, knowing the pain of losing a parent and wanting to comfort her in some way.

"My apologies, Mistress," Lily said breaking away and swiping at her tears. "My mother has been left at the mercy of the Chase family to care for us all. She has done her best but once she fell ill, things had gone from bad to worse. She is very loyal to them but I fear her loyalty is misplaced."

This grabbed Juliana's attention immediately. "Why?"

"I worked in the Chase home before I came to Bentley Manor. I have seen strange comings and goings. I feared for my Mother's involvement, as Mr. Chase would manipulate her the same way he had me. The day I was sent to your household, I was told that I needed to report all that I had seen and heard back to Mr. Chase. I believe Lady Bentley had caught on to this, which is why she left me behind when she went to Bath."

"Lily, Clara may be in that house. Do you think you could find out or help us get in, so we may find her?"

Lily lifted her chin, "I will do whatever you ask of me. I know who the enemy is, even if my Mother refuses to see."

Juliana hugged the girl again. So brave for someone so young. "Thank you, Lily. We could never succeed without you." Lily smiled for the first time since leaving her home.

Upon seeing two smiling faces emerge from the woods, both Benjamin and Richard sighed in relief. Juliana had done it. She had gotten Lily to agree.