"There is only one thing you can do. You shall have to leave before your brother returns." Charlotte paused, her gaze shifting to the door as though she had made up her mind. "We’ll find a place for you to stay. Actually, I know where you can go…” She met Jaclyn’s gaze. “But you must leave now, while there is still time."
Jaclyn swallowed hard, but before she could speak the sound of footsteps outside the room echoed around them. The moment seemed to freeze as they exchanged glances, a silent question passing between the three of them. Charlotte hesitated for a moment as the footsteps neared. Jaclyn wanted to know where Charlotte believed she should go, but she held her tongue. What if it was Barrett coming to fetch her?
To their surprise, it was the Duke of Amberwood and the Marquess of Easton in the hallway. They grinned as they entered the room. Jaclyn’s heart sank at the sight of the duke. His intense gaze met hers, and for a moment, she felt her resolve waver.
"My lady," the Duke of Amberwood said, his voice smooth and respectful. "I trust you are well?"
Jaclyn nodded stiffly, though her mind was far from calm. "Yes, Your Grace," she replied, keeping her tone steady despite the turmoil roiling within her. "I am quite well, thank you." The politeness between them was almost stifling.
The Marquess of Easton, who had been silent, gave his wife a sharp look. He narrowed his gaze and asked pointedly, "What are you plotting, love?"
Charlotte’s lips twitched as she boldly met her husband’s gaze. "What makes you think I am doing anything of the sort?"
The marquess’s brows furrowed, and his gaze flicked between Charlotte, Georgina, and Jaclyn. "If there is something you are not telling me, now is the time to speak. I cannot help you unless I know the full extent of the situation."
Jaclyn hesitated. But then, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her, she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Barrett is coming to take me home. He believes that His Grace and I have had an affair, and he insists on protecting my honor. But the truth is that the duke has done nothing wrong. This whole thing is based on a misunderstanding."
The room fell silent for a moment as the duke processed her words. The Marquess of Easton shifted his weight, his expression darkening. “Is that so?” He glanced at the Duke of Amberwood. “You may be fighting another duel after all ol’ chap.”
The duke glowered at him. “It will not come to that,” he said. “And you are not leaving. Oakley is not taking you anywhere.”
“He has every right…”
“You’re not leaving,” he said in a firm tone.
"You heard Amberwood," the marquess said firmly. "You’re staying here."
Jaclyn felt a weight lift from her shoulders as she realized that, for the first time, someone was on her side—truly on her side.
"I am glad you agree," Charlotte said, her voice calm and resolute. "We cannot waste any more time. Jaclyn will stay at that lodge of yours. You know the one we took shelter in after I fell from Kallippos."
“You are brilliant, love,” Easton said. “He will not find her there.”
Charlotte grinned. “I will take her there while the two of you,” she said as she motioned between Kingston and Easton, “distract him.”
And in that moment Jaclyn finally allowed herself to believe that there was a chance for freedom. A chance to be rid of the chains that had bound her for so long. But as the Duke of Amberwood stared at her Jaclyn couldn’t help but wonder—what was it that he wasn’t saying? What was lurking behind that inscrutable expression of his? And why, despite everything, did her heart still race when he was near?
“Go now,” Amberwood said. “Before it is too late.”
“I will come too,” Georgina said. “That way when we return, we can claim we were out for a stroll. We can all declare we do not know where Jaclyn ran off to.”
“Perfect,” Charlotte said. “After Barrett goes off to search for you, I will bring supplies to the hunting lodge for you. I do not dare do it before we leave or we might not escape in time.”
“Then we should be off immediately,” Georgina said.
Jaclyn nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. The plan, though daring and fraught with risk, seemed to be her only hope. For the first time in days, she felt as though she might actually be free. It was a strange sensation, and one she wasn't sure she fully trusted just yet. But the warmth of Charlotte’s reassurance and the promise of Amberwood’s protection gave her a sliver of hope, a chance to escape the suffocating control that Barrett had over her.
Her gaze drifted to the Duke of Amberwood, his expression unreadable, though she caught the flicker of something—concern?—in his eyes. He was a man of power and influence, accustomed to being in control, and yet here he was, standing beside her as an ally. Jaclyn didn’t fully understand why he had chosen to help her, but in that moment, she was too grateful to question it. His presence was strangely comforting, even if his silence left much unsaid. He probably did care about her. He definitely desired her… That kiss had not been one-sided, and he had been the one to initiate it.
As Charlotte ushered her to the door, Jaclyn hesitated one last time, a flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She wanted to say something to Kingston, but the words would not come to her. Instead, she forced herself to look away from him and walk out of the room.
“Jaclyn,” the duke called out to her. “Stay safe. One of us will check on you at the lodge each day. We will not leave you alone to fret.”
“Thank you,” she said. But then turned away from him to leave. They did not have a moment to spare. The weight of his words settled heavily on her chest. But the duke’s words were encouraging and gave her a new sense of resolve. He would come to see her and would probably be alone. She would use that visit to her advantage. As to her brother… she would not let Barrett control her life any longer. Not after everything that had happened. Despite her determination, a flutter of fear lingered in the pit of her stomach. There was still much to do, and she had no idea what the future held. What if her brother discovered her location? This was a temporary solution as much as using the doctor to keep her at Easton Abbey. The only difference was that Barrett would not know where to find her. She could not stay hidden in the hunting lodge indefinitely.
“Come along, Jaclyn,” Charlotte urged, her voice warm and encouraging. “We’ll be away before your brother even knows we’ve left.”
With a final glance at the Duke of Amberwood, Jaclyn nodded and turned to follow Charlotte. As they made their way out of Easton Abbey, the weight of her decision pressed heavily on her, but with it came a strange sense of excitement. The unknown loomed ahead, but it seemed as if there were more possibilities now and every single one of them involved the Duke of Amberwood.
