Sat, May 19 2012
Lord Westmoreland and Bethany’s fiancé had their lady returned to them before sunrise after her rescue. The Viscount was so overcome with joy and gratitude he had crushed her in his arms irrespective of the audience and mouthed a heartfelt thank you to his friend over her head.
The League officer that had given up his evidence to the Secret Service also forfeited his freedom. Between the kidnapping charges, his earlier League activities and his knowledge of Miss Westmoreland, it had been seen to that he would never set foot outside prison walls again.
Sir Bradberry was never caught. His yacht left the coast of England disappearing into the Atlantic Ocean. Due to his crimes, the crown confiscated his properties and assets. Most of the property went to one secret bidder at auction who later had all the estate homes destroyed and then parceled the lands out for farming. Sir Bradberry’s position and reputation in English society were also destroyed when word mysteriously leaked that he had been behind the two debutant kidnappings. All manner of rumors were later circulated about him until the man’s name had been completely ruined.
In September of that year, a huge wedding was thrown that rivaled a royal wedding. Invitations to it were the most sought after pieces of parchment in London. Miss Bethany Westmoreland made a beautiful bride and her special guests, a young friend from Paris, who sat close to the front on the bride’s side and Phileas and Rebecca Fogg were there to see it all.
In the year 2006, one year after the tragic death of the Duke of Claymore’s youngest daughter, a time capsule was brought to the recovering nobleman. It had had a note included with it requesting that the duke open it in private.
Inside he found an ornate little diary, and a large scrapbook full of keepsakes. Thumbing through the old pages, he found daguerreotypes, early photographic portraits, and news clippings from the London Times dating from 1865 to 1898. It all appeared to depict the life of the twelfth duke and his family. The Duchess of the time looked painfully like his lost daughter.
There had also been an autographed copy of Jules Verne’s first published novel tendered to the duchess. Lord Westmoreland had had no idea that the writer had been a friend of the family.
Under those things he found a tissue wrapped parcel containing clothing and a handbag that the shocked father recognized. The cloth and leather had become brittle with age adding to the assurity that this was no sick joke being played on him. Then with the clothing he found a letter envelope addressed to his name from…
Your Loving Daughter Bethany,
The End.
Chapter 11 | Chapter 12