The night was a shamble, Emilia never showed up and all were growing worried with her disappearance. Morning had come and still no sign of her nor Sarah.

Weary eyes watched each other. Agony stricken eyes around the room nervously looked at the clock above the mantle.

The soft sobs of Gertrude together with the Duchess just made things more gloom. Dominic paced while her uncle sat with his face in his hands.

Irritated her uncle stood. "She has to be around here somewhere." He fumed.

"This is just like her to run off, I pray she returns before VanCamp does." He added.

Dominic's incredulous stare caught Dimitri but he was too late to stop Dominic.

"You heartless bastard is that all you are worried about?" Dominic yelled.

"I should have never brought her back here."

"How dare you speak to me that way" the Duke raged.

"All of this is your fault, you just had to force a marriage upon her for your own gain." Dominic croaked with pain in his voice.

Dimitri immediately pulled him back trying to calm his anger.

The duke immediately stood before him ready for a fight.

"What I do with my nieces' well being is of no concern to you, McAllister." The duke hissed.

Inching closer trembling with rage wracked with so much emotion and tears in his eyes.

"It concerns me because it pertains to the love of my life." His feral gaze turned dark.

At that moment, the duke paled and stepped back holding his chest in disbelief.

All stood in shock at his confession.

"You bastard, tell me you did not dishonor my niece?" Margave yelled.

Dominic stood his ground ready for the onslaught of his actions.

The duke lunged at him and the scuffle began. The Duchess nervously cried then fainted at what unfolded before her. Dimitri dodged flying fists and the blows trying to separate the men.

Finally, Dimitri pulled Dominic back and away from the heated glare of Margave

Fists still clenched and breathing heavily he faced Margave, "Know this old man; she is all that I hold dear to me, I love her. If anything happens to her it will only fall on your head"

Adamant on not leaving, he stayed waiting for some news of where Emilia was.

It was an agonizing wait and the still no sign of Emilia.

Dimitri stood and looked at Dominic.

"Do you think she could have returned to Grisham?"

Silently he thought, it could be possible.

"I will ready a carriage; will you stay in case she returns?" Dominic worried gaze eased as Dimitri agreed.

"Go with care brother, I will keep her safe if she returns"

Hours had passed when Dimitri sat with the Duke and they spoke. The tap on the door followed by Jeoffry stopped their conversation.

"Lord Evers has arrived, your grace."

With a brief nod, Jeoffry stepped aside for Adam to enter. The grim look on his face was evident that he knew what happened.

Dimitri stood and excused himself so they could talk.

"What happened?" Adam scowled.

Dimitri listened to the conversation and clearly saw from VanCamps demeanor, the worry was vague. His only interest was that the Duke honored his end of the bargain. Turning his back away from the door, VanCamp stormed off without a backward glance.

With a suspicious feeling, he had to find out more about the man.

*****

Days had passed and while all worried one person in particular decided to be careless and eventually he got caught. For some time Dimitri's speculations about Adam were right. Although just a rumor, he had to see it for himself.

He owed a very high gambling dept that needed payment. But such a payment he would never get it from the Duke.

He was sure the Duke would never give in to it. His suspicions were still inconclusive so he continued to watch him. He stood outside of his home needing a way to get in. He would sneak in to find some evidence and be out quickly.

His search was fruitless.

The noise coming from below alarmed him. He hid in a near dark corner as the voices came closer. He watched in shock as VanCamp entered tumbling into his bedroom with a woman struggling. Shoving her into the room, he slammed the door shut.

Hannah? Dimitri was horrified and perplexed.

She stood frightened looking at him, in two strides he was before her and slapped her to the bed.

Dimitri wanted to bust out and punch him to the ground but didn't dare.

"Please, Adam I didn't know she would leave," Hannah cried out.

"You provoked her, why the hell would you tell McAllister you're with his child if it is not true. Do you think he won't figure it out you fool." Adam shouted.

"I was trying to get her out of his way, to get married with him" she sniffed.

"The deal was to help you by marrying her and in exchange you pay off my dept."

"I will" she pleaded.

"I still want her" Adam fumed.

"Well she is pregnant," Hannah lashed out.

Dimitri listened in shock, their plan to take the child and pass it off as her own, Hannah paying for his gambling dept in exchange to marry Emilia and the most shocking was she was sleeping with Adam. He watched how Adam ruthlessly like a dog ravished Hannah like if she were nothing, ordered her to dress and leave.

Before she walked off, he grabbed her by the neck and ordered her to pay the dept immediately. Enraged by all of this as soon as Hannah left, Dimitri revealed himself.

******

Tired old eyes watched the troubled girl sleep. His one and only grandchild was suffering. He should have never let her live with his son. The dolt had not an inch of knowledge or care in his heart for raising a child. He felt it would be better for her. She needed to be amongst peers of her own age. He realizes now it was a very bad idea.

Ferguson, Emilia's Grandfather was shocked and surprised to see her at his door and in such a condition, it enraged him that her own flesh and blood could cause this. She arrived with Sarah practically carrying her. In tears and heartbroken she hasn't slept or eaten well in the past several days. Sarah explained what she could but had no idea what happened so that she chose to return to Scotland.

"Your grace she is eating very little" Sarah stood next to Ferguson

"We must tell Lord McAllister, she needs him" she cried.

"Are ye sure he would come for her Sarah?" his eyes sadly turned to look at his granddaughter in the distance.

Sarah lowered her head dashing away a tear.

"They love each other deeply your grace and I fear he is suffering just as much as she at this moment, we disappeared in the night. No one knows where we are."

Emilia's grandfather watched from the entrance door to the bedroom. Emilia was sleeping by the large window overlooking the vast lush lands on the estate.

No one prepared her for this cruel game of love and heartache. He doesn't know how it came to this but it did and slowly it was slipping away with her life.

"I will go and find him, my granddaughter and great-grandchild will not die on me, he will not lose them," He shook his head.

*****

The days had passed and still no sign of Emilia or Sarah the worry was deep. Dominic could not sleep or think straight his heart worried, his nerves were on edge thinking of the worst.

Bufford tried his best to find out what he could but to no avail it was useless.

He paced back and forth, frantic thoughts roamed in his mind.

Where could she be?

Was she well?

All questions went unanswered and it unnerved him. He searched everywhere he could think of and he had nothing.

Dominic threw himself on a nearby chair furious.

Bufford entered looking at the hellish state of Dominic; it just made his heart sad. He drank himself to sleep, he went out all day in search but would return in such a foul mood.

"M'lord would you like anything?" Bufford looked at him.

The bothered look on Dominic's face unnerved him a bit.

"What I want Bufford is to find her, she is out there and we know nothing of her whereabouts," he croaked.

Bufford had the urge to tell him everything but he couldn't risk her being exposed, it would be detrimental.

Before he could speak, shouts and scuffles were heard in the foyer and coming nearer to his library. As Dominic stood exchanging a puzzled look at Bufford he neared the door but quickly stepped back as Dimitri busted thru holding another man by the collar of his jacket.

Dimitri shoved him to a nearby chair, his attire ripped and dirty. His face bloody and swollen.

Dominic gasped at who it was.

Adam VanCamp!

"

Dimitri what is the meaning of this?" Dominic shocked looked at him.

Breathing heavily he looked at Dominic straightening out his jacket, wiping his jaw and dusting off the little filth from his coat.

"This bastard has something to tell you," he pointed breathing heavily.

Tossed in the chair, he gave Dimitri a dirty look.

"Speak, or I will make you speak you bloody bastard." Dimitri inched closer with fist closed ready for another round of blows with Adam.

Holding up his hands, he caved sitting up straight. he spoke.

Dominic stood and listened in shock to the heartless plot between him and Hannah. His rage was at its peak. All just poured out so fast he barely got a grip of the last words. It wasn't Hannah that was pregnant.

It was Emilia.

With a murderous glare in his eyes, he lunged for Adam grabbing him by his coat and connected a blow to his face toppling him to the ground. Before he could continue, Dimitri grabbed him.

"You better pray that nothing happens to Emilia, because as God is my witness when I'm done with you, your bloody bloating body will have to be picked out of the Thames." his rage had him breathless and in tears.

Another tap at the door had Bufford walking quickly to the foyer. After a short while, he appeared at the doorframe with a burly tall man.

Bufford entered after and stood beside him.

Dominic quickly turned his back to control his rage and wipe his eyes. He turned to looked at the man with a questioning gaze, then looked at Adam still on the floor.

"M'lord, I present to you Laird Ferguson" Bufford looked forward, then continued.

"Lady Emilia's grandfather"

Immediately Dominic's face changed.

Dimitri quickly excused himself dragging Adam out into the foyer with him.

For a while, they stood looking at each other.

Dominic spoke quickly.

"Please, do sit" Dominic gestured to the only chair not toppled over in his scuffle with Adam.

Sitting down, Ferguson looked at Dominic and scoffed.

"From the looks of ye laddie, I see ma granddaughter has done a number on your heart,"

"My Emilia carries that same look," he said.

Something in Dominic's eyes came to life when he mentioned her name.

A wash of emotion and relief came over him. Letting out a deep breath he did not know he held for so long, he closed his eyes giving thanks to God she was alive and well.

Ferguson let out a laughter watching Dominic let out his breath running his hands thru his head.

"How is she? I must see her." Dominic pleaded anxiously.

Ferguson smiled faintly holding his hand up to calm Dominic's worried look.

"She is not well lad, she weeps, barely eats and is frail," Ferguson croaked.

Dominic looked away in shame because in part he was to blame for all what happened..

"She must eat it is not good for the....." Dominic stopped.

Looking into Ferguson's face, he swallowed hard and he sat straight. He had to tell him how much he loved his granddaughter, their child and his desire to marry her regardless of what anyone says.

"M'lord, Emilia and I are very much in love. She.." Ferguson stopped him before he could finish.

"I know lad about the bairn, and how much you love her is very clear. My question to you lad is how far are ye willing to go to fight for that love." Ferguson's stern look met Dominic's eyes.

"To the depths of hell if that's what it takes," Dominic returned that glare.

"Very good then, I believe ye have a long journey. Go bring my granddaughter home," Ferguson stood.

Before Dominic could say another word, Ferguson walked closer to him.

"Donna worry about my son I will handle him."

"I am not worried about the Duke, M'lord, I am worried about your granddaughter. She will not come willingly. She is head strong and very willful." Dominic looked at Ferguson.

With an amused look at Dominic, he stood before him.

"I've never known a McAllister to give up on what he wanted. Where is that McAllister blood in ye lad? Ian McAllister's blood if I'm not mistaken."

Dominic smiled and looked away. His great-grandfather always got what he wanted. Not too surprised that Ferguson knew, he was well known. But, the fact that it was pointed out that he was just like his great-grandfather a word repeated so much by his mother he sort of forgot it when she passed. Ferguson was right. He must fight for what he wanted.

Dominic stood and listened to Ferguson and together they devised a plan.

*****

Victory was on her side she mused. Shocked she opened the letter Dominic sent to her. He was off to London to get their marriage contract done and pertain to other business. He will be back in 5 days time. She was to organize an engagement party all was to be invited. Ecstatic with excitement she twirled in glee. This day could not get any better. After hearing that Emilia had left with Adam it was the best news yet. Quickly she went into the preparations for the affair. According to Dominic it had to be the affair of the season none could miss.