by Curlywurly68
You don't build up a villain and have them easily defeated by time, between the first strike and the twelve of midnight, Edmund had enough time to slice Aaron's throat. A better ending would have been the death of Aaron with the curse unbroken. Perhaps a miscalculation on Lady Deville's part? Such that Aaron could be adopted and not of the family line. Or he is the bastard offspring of his mother and some other man.
I appreciate the alternative ending comment as it is a great suggestion. However I wanted Edmund and Adeline to be beaten by their passion for each other and to spend eternity together.