“It went as expected,” Kingston replied, his voice low. “But this is far from finished.”
Easton met his gaze. “Indeed. But at least for now, we have time. We’ll deal with Oakley when we must.” He motioned toward Charlotte. “Come here, love. I need to hold you.” She went willingly into his awaiting arms. Georgina was still enveloped in Foxmoore’s embrace. Kingston’s arms felt empty in that moment, and he wished he had Jaclyn near so he could hold her.
Kingston couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was about to spiral out of control though. He only hoped he could hold it together long enough to keep everyone—especially Jaclyn—safe. He would go to her at the first opportunity. It would probably be best to wait until nightfall. It would be far easier to sneak over to the hunting lodge then. He could take her some supplies at that time.
He glanced at Foxmoore, who was still holding Georgina, his posture defensive, his jaw set. The way Foxmoore had reacted earlier—his fist meeting Oakley’s face—was both unexpected and gratifying. Kingston had to respect the way the man protected his wife. It was rare in their social circles to see such genuine care, but Foxmoore’s reaction had been born of instinct, not calculation. That was something Kingston could appreciate.
“What happens now?” Georgina’s voice was small, fragile.
Kingston looked at her with a soft but firm gaze. “Now we wait. Oakley’s bluster will only get him so far. Once he cools down, he’ll return again for his sister, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t cause any more trouble. But we need to keep our eyes open, especially for Jaclyn’s sake.”
Charlotte nodded, her eyes filled with concern, but there was something else there—a quiet determination. “You’re right, of course,” she said softly, “Jaclyn doesn’t want to return home with him. We all know that, and we will help her in any way we can.”
“We will do whatever is necessary,” he said, more to himself than anyone else. What he did not say was he would do everything he could for Jaclyn. Not just to keep her safe. But because his heart belonged to her and her alone. She had sneaked in and claimed it when he wasn’t paying attention. “Jaclyn deserves better than this mess.” Her reputation never should have been ruined by her brother’s careless actions. His own had not been any better.
“Then we’ll make sure she gets it,” Foxmoore spoke up, his voice calm but steady, like the assuredness of a man who had faced worse than what this situation might offer. “We’ll handle Oakley.”
Kingston met his friend’s gaze and gave a brief nod. He wasn’t one to lean on others, but there were times when even the strongest of men needed the comfort of their allies.
“We’re all in this together,” Easton said, breaking the brief silence. “And when Oakley returns, we’ll deal with him properly.” He sighed. “When should we take Jaclyn some supplies?”
“I’ll do it tonight,” Kingston said quietly, his jaw tightening. “It’s too dangerous to do so sooner. He might still be watching us.”
“Is it really wise to go to her in the dark?” Charlotte asked, concern knitting her brow. “Could it not raise suspicion?”
He shook his head. “The night sky will be our friend in this situation,” Kingston said, a fire burning behind his eyes. “I have no choice but to wait. If I go to the hunting lodge then, I’ll be able to make sure Jaclyn is safe without him noticing.”
Georgina hesitated for a moment before speaking. “You have a plan for when you find her, don’t you?”
He hesitated but nodded. “I do, but I think it is best I keep the details to myself. We’ll leave the hunting lodge before Oakley can return for her. She’ll be safer away from Easton Abbey.”
“I’ll come with you,” Easton said firmly, his gaze unwavering. “I’ll make sure nothing goes wrong.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I think this is something I need to do alone,” Kingston said. His voice softened just a bit, and his eyes lingered on Charlotte. “You have responsibilities here.”
“All right, that is true,” Easton said, offering a small smile then glanced at his wife. “Just make sure you’re not too reckless. We care about you both. Please send word when you are able to.”
“Thank you.” Kingston’s voice was thick with emotion. “I will.”
“Let’s make sure we don’t let Oakley’s threats keep us from doing what’s right,” Foxmoore added, his arms still wrapped protectively around Georgina. “Take care of Jaclyn. She will need you.”
“Tonight, then,” Kingston said, nodding. His heart was heavy with worry, but his resolve was clear.
With the matter decided, the group began to prepare for the next move. Kingston, however, couldn’t shake thoughts of Jaclyn from his mind. The hours leading up to the night were fraught with tense anticipation. And when the moon finally rose high in the sky, Kingston would make his way toward the hunting lodge, ready to face whatever was coming next.
That night he would finally claim Jaclyn and he intended on this being the start of their forever together…
Fifteen
The darkened hallways of Easton Abbey felt even more isolated in the dead of night. The firelight that had once crackled merrily in the hearth now cast only faint shadows on the walls, and the silence that hung in the air felt unnervingly heavy. Kingston, the Duke of Amberwood, stood at the foot of the stairs, adjusting his coat with precision, making sure not to make a sound. He had learned long ago how to move through places unnoticed, to be a shadow when necessary. Tonight, that skill was crucial.
His plan was simple. He would leave in the dead of night, using the cover of darkness to slip away without anyone noticing. Jaclyn’s brother, Oakley could not be allowed to take her home. Not if he had any hopes of keeping her with him... Kingston’s intention was to help Jaclyn escape—they had promised her that much. She was safe now at the hunting lodge, hidden away from any prying eyes of those who would think to aid Oakley, but he had no intention of letting her stay there long. Tonight, the plan was to take her away, somewhere far from this place—somewhere her brother would never think to look. Jaclyn had made it clear she did not want to go home—to her father— and Kingston intended to honor that wish.
He had arranged for a maid to gather Jaclyn’s few belongings—mostly gowns and some essential clothing that had been sent over from Havenwood Academy while she convalesced. She had been too ill to return to the academy, and she should not be dealing with any of this nonsense now. At the very least she should have been allowed to return to Havenwood. There was no reason to make her return home. It had been all Oakley’s doing that had led to that decision. Jaclyn was capable of making her own decisions. And tonight, Kingston would help her do just that. But first he had to gather everything and prepare to join her at the hunting lodge.
The maid had also prepared a small basket of food for their journey, something to sustain them on the road. Kingston knew that they could not waste any time. Every moment spent near Easton Abbey could be another moment for Oakley to discover their plan. It did not help that Charlotte’s brother, Finley, was still in residence. Finley was Oakley’s closest friend and if he discovered Jaclyn’s location he would not hesitate to share that with Oakley.
He could not tarry a moment longer. Kingston took everything and left the room. He could saddle his horse on his own. It would be better than waking up a stable hand to do it. The less that was known about his actions the better. Fewer people with any information would ensure Jaclyn remained safe. Remained with him…
