Page 55 of Take My Place

The sun is setting, providing me with plenty of shadows to hide in as I scurry towards the house. I remembered the layout from when I’d rescued the boys, so I went around the back, staying low as I try each of the windows, trying to find a way in.

“Bingo!” I find a small window which has been left open. Carefully, I push it open, trying not to make a sound, tumbling through it into a study. Picking myself up, I dust myself off, trying to get my bearings. If I’m right, my father’s study is a couple of doors down. If he is in there, I am planning on listening at the door to see if I can hear anything useful. And if he isn’t, then I am going to rifle through as many drawers as I could. Somewhere in this house lay the secret to what my father is up to with Lucas.

I tiptoe over to the door and put my ear up to it. I can’t hear anything, so I slowly pull it open…

…walking straight into the arms of two guards.

I reach into my pocket for my phone to press the button that would call Romy, but one of the guards grabs my hand. Pulling out my phone, he yanks it out of my hand, throws it to the floor, and stomps on it.

So much for the cavalry.

“Hey!”

They hold tightly to my arms and roughly drag me down the hall to my father’s study. I did my best to fight them, kicking and struggling, but they are way too strong for me.

They go into the study without knocking. My father is clearly waiting for me, leaning against his desk, Lucas by his side like the good little lap dog he is.

“Ah, my dear Ivy. How good to see you again. I’ve been expecting you. I must admit it is quite amusing watching you ninja your way across the lawn, thinking you were being discrete. Surely you must have realised I’d have stepped up my security since you helped my prisoners to escape? You didn’t honestly think you’d be able to get anywhere near my house without my seeing you, did you?”

Yeah. I did.

“What are you up to?” I don’t let any of my fear show, instead letting my hostility towards my father shine through. “Why ishehere?”

“I’m so glad you asked.” My father smiles smugly. “Meet your new fiancé.”

“Fiancé?” I do a double take as Lucas grins.

“Although not for long,” my father continues. “Now that you’re here, we can step up plans for your wedding. How does tomorrow sound?”

“Tomorrow? Woah, woah, woah. Hold on. I’m not marryinghim. Not tomorrow, not ever.”

“I had a feeling you might say that.” My father leans across and presses a button on his desk. “That’s why I arranged for a little insurance.”

“Let go of me, Carl!”

My blood runs cold as an attractive young man drags Milly into the room.

“Ivy! What are you doing here? Have you come to save me?”

“I suppose in a manner of speaking, she has,” my father says. “You see, Ivy is going to marry young Lucas here.”

“Lucas?” Milly frowns. “But she’s marrying Romy.”

“Not anymore. Ivy will marry Lucas tomorrow, otherwise we’ll all be gathering to witness your execution.”

“What?”

“No!”

Milly screams and I gasp.

“So, you see, it’s all Ivy’s choice. Marry Lucas or your best friend dies. Which is it to be?”

Epilogue

Ilook at my reflection in the mirror. My father’s assistant Isabella certainly has good taste in wedding dresses. The ivory gown is figure hugging, just the right side of understated with delicate embroidery running around the hem with a high front and low back. My hair is caught up in a chignon, a long veil covering my face and hair.

Milly stands next to me, wringing her hands. “I’m so sorry, Ivy.” She is on the verge of tears. Again. “I had no idea Carl was working for your father. I should have guessed. No one that attractive would want someone like me. I owe you my life for this, Ivy. I’m going to change, I’m not going to be the pushover any longer. I will figure out a way to make your father and Lucas pay for this.”

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