Chapter 5

• Almost immediately the sound of a carriage disturbed the night. Amelia looked to the window and saw it pull up at the end of the lane. It was a gleaming maroon vehicle drawn by four greys, and its lamps shine brightly through the darkness of the poorly lit Street. The door was flung open, and two gentlemen stepped down.
• Both were in their mid-thirties, and dressed in formal evening clothes. One was tall, with brown hair and then walked swiftly toward the castle. Amelia saw him to be Doctor Henry Benard, the illegitimate son of the family and possessed an elegant townhouse facing the castle. He was a much respected man, and one of the few men Dane trusted.
• Her gaze moved to the other man who she supposed was Katherine's husband. He was tall and arrestingly handsome, with thick black hair and a penetrating glance she could perceive even from a distance. His lean, athletic physique was perfectly suited to fashion day. Amelia's heart tightened within her as she gazed at him, for the feelings that surged through her now were unlike anything she'd ever known before.
• He walked towards the courtyard, and the closer he came the clearer she could see his eyes. They were gray, and there was something in them that hinted at dark secrets, something immeasurably exciting. He was the perfect hero, with looks to melt the hardest female heart, and a commanding air she found both arousing and frightening. Each step he took brought desire closer to her. Why was she feeling like this?
• Everything about Sir or Duke Dane Barnard drew her like a pin to a magnet.
• He reached the courtyard and from nowhere a woman with black long hair and dressed in a white silk satin gown walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. He held her waist and smiled lovingly at her.
• Amelia didn't know why but she felt a pang of hurt in her chest.
• " That is Lady Caroline Baker. I'm sure you don't know her. " Abigail smiled, as if reading her thoughts.
• " I've heard about her. " Amelia blurted out unknowingly and her eyes widened after realising her mistake.
• " It's very simple, Amelia. Solve the puzzle. That is the woman His Grace is in love with. " Abigail said quietly.
• Amelia glanced swiftly around. " You know my name? "
• " Of course. I do. You're surprised? "
• " But this is a dream, isn't it? " Amelia asked, unsure of things. Something about the intensity of the woman's eyes suddenly conjured thoughts of sorcery or maybe ancient magic. Amelia shuddered.
• Abigail grinned. " You were brought back in time for a reason. Don't look for answers now, Your Grace. "
• Brought back in time? Is this a joke or something?
• " If I am Katherine now, I'm supposed to be dead. " Amelia pointed out swiftly.
• " Let me put it in a simple way. For a few hours or days, you're Amelia Smith in Duchess Katherine's body. Dane never loved Katherine, everyone has a different perspective of her, but they all don't know the truth for certain and that's when you come into the picture. "
• " What do you mean? " Amelia asked, turning around to look out the window.
• Dane and Caroline were still talking. Her gaze remained on Dane and he seemed to sense she was at the window, for he raised his and looked directly up at her. The hint of latent power surrounding him was like a beacon in the darkness, and when their eyes met, she couldn't look away. She was conscious of the electrifying spell of his gaze. It was as if he knew her thoughts, because his face immediately went expressionless.
• " Katherine left a bitter legacy. Her love was never returned and I think you both share almost the same faith. Just be yourself in Katherine's guise and solve the puzzle, that is all you need. Your life might even become a romance. "
• Amelia looked at her with disbelief. She was stunned? This is impossible! How could she possibly travel back in time into Katherine's body who was supposed to be dead right now? If this isn't a joke, then what is it?
• An irresistible eagerness bobbled through Amelia as she climbed down the staircase to the hallway. Caroline had her right hand linked with Dane's and Henry stood behind them with an expressionless face.
• Just as she elegantly climbed down the stairs, their gaze darted towards her direction and she could see the look of shock on their faces. Did they really expect Katherine to be dead?!
• They couldn't believe their eyes as they stared at her in astonishment. How could this be possible? She was confirmed dead a few hours ago, but how come she is…? So alive!
• A lot of questions ran through their heads as their expressions were beyond that of shock.
• Caroline stared at her, no less stunned than Henry. Dane, on the other hand, his expression was impossible to gauge. If he was glad or shocked to see her alive, he gave no sign, and if he was displeased, he gave no sign of that either. His face was a mask.
• Amelia's attention went to the lady in his arms and gasped. She was absolutely beautiful but there was something strange with the way she was looking at her as if she was disappointed, angry and shocked to see her alive. Why?
• But as she stared at the face of this woman, the information she so desperately sought came flooding into her head. Katherine had witnessed Dane and Caroline in the process of making love on the night of their wedding and she had run out of the garden in tears. She could remember confronting Caroline and that's when…
• " He would never love you. " Caroline had said this to her that night but she still couldn't get what the confrontation was.
• " I would never love you. " Katherine had also met Dane on the night she committed suicide and he had said this to her.
• Was that Katherine's memory?! The memory hit her heart like thousand stabs of knives, shattering it into pieces. It was obvious it wasn't physical pain but an emotional one. Katherine had loved Dane and his hurtful words and what she witnessed had hurt her. Dane's eyes. 'That's more than hatred.He despises her.'