Page 39 of Legacy of Succession

“Nicholas, I can’t read this. It’s personal to you and William.”

“If it helps you in any way with what’s to come next, then it's more pertinent to you. William and I have read it. We’ve mourned our mother, and what she was forced to do.”

Victoria flicks through another few pages then gasps. I don’t know what has elicited such a reaction because the whole diary’s full of such moments.

She opens her mouth to speak and shuts it again.

“Read it.”

“Fire, sex, death. That’s what they called today. A death that’s what I had. I’ll never forget it, the pale face, the blood, the pain. Freedom, he was lucky. I wished for it. I pray for it nightly, but it never comes. I’m in hell and became one of them today. There’s no hope for me. I know he’ll choose me. I see it in the way he looks at me. I’ll have the last laugh, though. I’ll end this — I’ll conceive his son against my consent. The compassion that dies within me will be born into him. He’ll rule and rid the world of the society of Oakfield.”

When she finishes reading, Victoria closes the book and sits in her own chair.

“I don’t know if I can read anymore.”

“Take it with you. You need to prepare for tomorrow.”

“Death? Nicholas, please tell me it isn’t what I think it is?” she asks.

“I’m afraid toward the end my mother’s words get a little jumbled. She wasn't in her right frame of mind.”

“You’ve read this but still want me to go through with the trials?” I try to sense whether she’s angry at that fact or sad, but I can’t get a read on her.

“You should go.” I pull the key out of my pocket and throw it toward her.

“Talk to me.” She slides off the chair and picks the key up like it’s a security blanket, but she’s still hesitant and doesn’t make a run for the door.

“I have to go through with this, Victoria. It’s the only way. I can’t let my mother die in vain. I can’t risk William. I know I sound like I’m completely selfish, but please, read that and understand my point of view.”

She looks down at the diary again.

“Thank you.”

I shut my eyes and listen to her put the key into the lock, turn it, and leave the room. I’m no good at verbalizing what I’m feeling, but hopefully my mother can, in some way, show Victoria why I need to finish this properly. I need to take the title from my father and make everything right for William, for my mother, and for all the other girls who’ve been harmed over two hundred years of the Oakfield society. Even if it's to the detriment of the woman I'm falling in love with.

“You know — I can look after myself — I’m not that incapable. I could walk out of this place tomorrow if I wanted to.” The hidden doorway behind me creaks, and William’s voice comes through it.

“Your sense of direction’s awful. You’ll get lost before you get to the end of the driveway,” I retort with a weary laugh.

“I’m not that bad. Better than you are. You got lost going out for Chinese once.”

“They’d changed premises.”

“No excuse.”

He slaps me on the shoulder, and I sit up.

“What are you doing here?”

“Keeping hidden but seeing things again. You gave her mum’s diary?” He pulls up a chair and sits next to me.

“I thought it might help her understand why I need to do things this way.”

He snorts, and his tics appear. He strokes the side of his face, nose, and taps twice on the arm of the chair.

“William?”

“Listen. I meant what I said. If I chose to walk out of here, I would be alright. You should fight for Victoria over me. I know she frustrates the hell out of you, but I’m not a fool. I see the growing feelings between you both, despite the situation.”

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