“Is This Seat Taken?” — Disabled Woman Sat Near a Widowed Father, Then One Detail Made Her Freeze in Shock
Chapter 8
Samuel and Eleanor reached Bell’s estate before sunset.
They did not approach the front gate.
Eleanor knew another entrance.
A servants’ path ran behind the stables.
They entered through a side door and moved quietly through the house.
“Where would he keep her?”
“Below the west wing.”
They found the stairs.
Samuel heard a child’s voice.
“Papa!”
He started forward.
Eleanor caught him.
“Wait.”
Bell’s voice came from the room.
“Bring me the ledger, Samuel Carter.”
Samuel stepped into view.
Bell stood beside Clara.
A pistol rested on the table.
Samuel’s eyes never left his daughter.
“Let her go.”
Bell smiled.
“Do you have the ledger?”
Samuel held it up.
“Yes.”
Bell extended his hand.
“Give it to me.”
Samuel took one step.
Then stopped.
“You killed my wife’s father.”
Bell’s smile vanished.
“You know very little.”
“I know he survived.”
Bell’s face changed.
For the first time, fear appeared.
Eleanor stepped beside Samuel.
“And Margaret survived too.”
Bell stared at her.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“You should have died.”
“I almost did.”
Samuel looked at Clara.
“Come here.”
Bell grabbed the girl’s shoulder.
Samuel’s voice remained calm.
“You don’t want her.”
Bell’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t I?”
“No.”
Samuel held up the ledger.
“You want this.”
Bell looked at it.
“You think this book proves everything?”
“It proves enough.”
Bell laughed.
“You have no idea how many magistrates, merchants, and officials owe me.”
Eleanor spoke.
“And you have no idea how many copies Margaret made.”
Bell’s face hardened.
Samuel realized something.
Margaret had not simply hidden one ledger.
She had copied it.
The original was bait.
Bell looked toward the doorway.
Two guards entered.
Samuel slowly placed the ledger on the table.
“Let Clara go.”
Bell reached for it.
At that moment, a gunshot sounded outside.
Then another.
Voices shouted.
Bell turned.
Eleanor smiled.
“You should have searched the road.”
A magistrate entered with armed officers.
Samuel had sent a messenger from the mill.
The officers seized Bell.
Clara ran into Samuel’s arms.
But Bell shouted as he was dragged away:
“You think this ends with me?”
Samuel held Clara tighter.
Bell stared directly at Eleanor.
“You still don’t know where Edmund is.”
Eleanor went pale.
