Arabella had lost herself in rage as the girl ran from her presence and found herself giving chase. Yelling in her anger she slowly, too slowly began to understand what was about to happen. The girl's words were piercing and enough to give her pause.
“You’re a monster! No wonder you are barren! God hates you as much as we all do!”
God did hate Arabella, and she knew it with every fiber of her being. She had been cursed, there was no need for Hetty to impose anything additional. As she ran, her eyes widening, the anger subsiding and the heartbreak setting in she was immediately recalled to her past. Standing on the edge of the highest tower of their childhood home. The last time she had driven someone to their death. She could feel the wind from the heights slamming against her dress, sending the fabric flowing wildly, echoed only by the way striking her as she ran after the maid.
Arabella could picture it as clear as day, the girl raising her arms much as Hetty was doing, thinking she could fly and just falling. The Duchess had peered over the edge to stare at the mangled body of her friend. A friend who had jumped because she had the audacity to believe the future Duchess. Here Hetty was on the edge, standing and cursing her.
"For God's sake please don't!" Arabella cried as she ran to the same edge the balcony, arms out in front of her in an attempt to grab the girl but it had been too late. The Duchess now stood torso over the edge, hair falling terribly out of place as she looked down. Hetty had the same look on her face that Lucy had, a kind of tortured, contorted face. A face that was staring up at her as a small pool of blood began to form around the girls mangled and broken body. The Duchess was in a state of shock, silent tears beginning to stream down her face. She remained there for several moments in absolute silence, torso peering out over the railing just looking down as if staring into an abyss at the exact moment the abyss began to stare back at her.
The Duchess slowly righted her position and stepped backward, stumbling almost away from the edge, she turned to look at Alexandra and Alice, she ambled toward them as though in a daze, stopping before her sister. The Duchess turned and rested her hands on Alexandra's arms and pulled her close to her before finally letting go. "Go... send for the ambulance... and the Duke. Please." The Duchess' tone was soft, and somewhat scattered. She then made her way down the steps to come to the body where the Duchess knelt, knees in blood. By now word had spread and every servant had made their way, lining the gallery, or in the great hall itself.
Arabella pulled the body up to her and cradled it. She could feel that the girl while still had not yet been dead, but instead lay dying in her arms now, her breaths becoming slower and shallower. "You poor thing..." Arabella whispered as held Hetty. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Arabella had broken now twice wearing the mantle of murderer. She prayed now for Hetty's immortal soul, and her warm welcome to Heaven where surely should would be made to suffer no more. The Duchess kissed the top of the girl's head and held her close, gloved hand holding Hetty's as she drew her last breath and passed into eternal silence.
"You are right... I am nothing more than a monster cursed by God..." Arabella whispered, paying no mind to the eyes around her, watching her. It was too late.
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