They had to leave this hunting lodge before the sun rose and the chances of their discovery became more of a possibility than he would like. Her brother was searching for her so he could take her home, and while he did not believe that Oakley would ever physically harm her, his callousness had done so in ways that could not be undone. She never would have borne the brunt of a ruined reputation if not for her brother’s impulsiveness. That bloody duel would forever haunt him. He could have died because Oakley had believed the worst in him. The fool had challenged him without a thought to what it would do his sister. The irony was that he now had more reason to shoot him than he did back then. Oakley’s actions had driven him to this point, and though he held no true malice toward the man, he could not forget how that duel had nearly cost him everything.
He needed to wake Jaclyn so they could prepare to leave. There was only one thing left they could do. They would have to ride for Scotland immediately. The problem of course was that was exactly where Oakley was likely to search first. He could not go to the nearest village as Easton had when he eloped with his wife. They would have to take a different route and head to a village where Jaclyn’s brother was less likely to find them. Of course he would have to convince Jaclyn that they should marry. She hadn’t demanded that of him. His lovely lady had only wanted him and had not insisted he make her any promises, though he had silently done so before he claimed her. He promised to himself that he would marry her and love her as she deserved for the rest of their lives. That she would always be protected and above all he would ensure she knew all the happiness he could give her. He knew that nothing was guaranteed but he fully intended to try his best to keep those promises.
He loathed to wake her, but there was no time to linger in the warmth of that moment. He had to wake her, to prepare them both for what was to come. They had a lengthy journey ahead of them. Kingston carefully slid from beneath Jaclyn, not wanting to disturb her yet. He could still feel the lingering heat of her body, the place where she had been nestled in his arms only moments ago. The thought of leaving her alone in this hunting lodge filled him with a strange sense of urgency.
He needed to move fast. They couldn’t risk staying any longer in the place that had been their refuge. The longer they stayed, the higher the risk of discovery. He dressed quickly before she could wake. He could not waste any of the precious darkness left for their escape. Luckily the horses were still saddled and ready for their departure. He glanced down at her one last time and considered stripping all of his clothes off again. He desperately wanted to bury himself inside of her again and forget about the world outside. Inside this hunting lodge it was just the two of them and nothing could come between them.
Jaclyn stirred on the settee, her soft breath faltering as she began to wake. Her eyes fluttered open slowly and her gaze met his with a confusion that quickly cleared. She smiled, her lips curving gently as she blinked against the early morning light. “Hello, Your Grace,” she whispered, her voice still thick with sleep, but filled with a warmth that made Kingston’s heart ache. “What time is it?”
“Time to leave,” he replied, his voice low but firm. “We cannot stay here, Jaclyn. Your brother is looking for you. If he finds us—” He hated reminding her of Oakley’s search for her. They had secreted her away to this hunting lodge so Oakley could not locate her. They should not have dawdled. Staring down at her though, he realized something. They had always been leading to this moment. From that first meeting, until they saw each other again at the pond, they were always meant to come together. Fate had a way of ensuring it.
“I know,” she said, sitting up on the settee and hugging her arms around her waist. She was so utterly beautiful it ached to look at her. She was calm, too calm for the situation, but Kingston could see the resolution in her eyes. Jaclyn had always been strong, far stronger than most would have thought for a woman in her position. And that was part of what made her so perfect for him. She didn’t flinch at adversity. She faced it head-on. “Then let’s go,” she said quietly, her voice filled with that same determination. “We’ll leave immediately. You have my word.”
Kingston could see it in her—an understanding that went beyond words. She had never asked him for promises, never demanded that he commit to something he wasn’t ready for. But she knew, as well as he did, that this was the only way. “Come here, love,” he said hoarsely. “Let me kiss you, and then I will help you dress.”
She stood and went straight into his arms. He immediately captured her lips beneath his own in a searing kiss that stole his soul. He tasted her and the desire that only flared between the two of them. No one had ever set him afire the way she did. He stepped back and then gazed down at her lovely features and blew out a breath. “All right,” he said reluctantly. “Let’s get that gown on you all proper like.”
Jaclyn grinned and then retrieved her shift from the discarded clothing on the floor. She pulled it on and then waited for him to help her with her gown. He would forever act the lady’s maid for her. He helped her secure her gown in place, and then took to securing all those buttons he meticulously undid only a couple hours earlier. Her hair was a mess. Some of the pins had fallen out and loose tendrils were falling around her face. He stroked one of those strawberry blonde locks and tucked it behind her ear.
Kingston swallowed hard. “If you want to fix your hair or anything now is the time to do it.” He stepped back and began to gather his things. “I’ll have the horses prepared. We’ll need to leave quickly, but we’ll be safe.” He paused for a moment, turning back to her. “There’s no turning back once we leave.”
Jaclyn’s gaze softened, and she crossed the room, her steps measured. “I never wanted anything else,” she said, her voice quiet but filled with sincerity. “I’ve always known what I wanted, Kingston. I’ve wanted you. Whatever you can give me…”
That simple statement hit him harder than any words ever could. He planned on giving her everything, but they would discuss it once they made some distance from Easton Abbey. But it made the knot in his chest loosen and the weight of his worries dissipate, even if just for a moment. At least she would not make it any more difficult to leave than it needed to be. He had feared that she might demand more of him than he could give her in this moment. Not that he didn’t want to lay his heart at her feet, but they had an immediate urgency that must come first. “Darling,” he began. “Now isn’t the time…”
“I know,” she told him. “Go see to the horses. The rest can wait a little longer.”
He stole one last glance at her and blew out a breath. He had never imagined he could love a woman the way he did her. But now, he could see it—he could see the future, if only for a brief moment. A future with Jaclyn, by his side. A future that was no longer clouded by fear and uncertainty, but by the possibility of a life built together, away from the expectations of society, away from the chaos that had plagued them both. Away from her family…
“We will discuss this,” he whispered, walking over to her, reaching for her hand, “and soon...” Jaclyn’s smile was all the answer he needed as she placed her hand in his. Together, they would face whatever came next—together, as they should have done all along. “Meet me outside in a few moments and we will depart.”
“I will not be long,” she promised.
And with that, he left her alone in the hunting lodge. He stepped outside to prepare the horses and to ensure that the saddle bags were properly secure. Soon they would be heading toward their future, where nothing, not even the consequences of their actions, would stand in their way. He would marry her and keep her by his side forever.
With steady hands, he adjusted the saddlebags on the horses, his mind drifting back to the events that had led him here—back to Easton Abbey, back to her. He could feel the pressure of the decisions that had to be made weighing on him again. There were still questions he had yet to answer, truths left unspoken between them, and unfinished business with Oakley. But those concerns could wait just a little longer. For once, he wanted to escape from the labyrinth of duty and expectations. He needed this brief moment of clarity before they had to return to the complications of their world.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Jaclyn’s soft footsteps approaching, and he looked up, catching the brief flicker of uncertainty in her gaze as she walked toward him. Despite the urgency of the moment, she was as poised and graceful as ever, the calm assurance in her stride reminding him of why he loved her.
"I’m ready," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of determination that matched his own.
Kingston nodded, walking over to her, his heart thundering in his chest. As he took her hand in his once more, a shiver ran through him—a mixture of anticipation and relief. "Then let us leave," he said, his voice low, though there was no mistaking the resolve in it. "Let’s leave all of this behind, if only for a while. It will all be all right," he told her. “Just trust me.”
“With my life.” She nodded in agreement, her eyes softening. There was a deep knowing between them, a quiet promise that their journey together would not be without its challenges, but they would face them united.
He helped her mount her horse and then quickly did the same with his own. Then they began their ride away from the lodge. Kingston couldn’t help but feel a fleeting sense of hope for the future. This was not an easy road they were on, but he did not detour from his goal. She was his everything and for her he would endure anything. They rode in silence for a while, the only sound the rhythmic clip-clop of the horses’ hooves and the occasional rustling of the wind through the trees. It was a peaceful kind of silence. It wasn’t long before they reached the edge of the estate, and Kingston glanced at Jaclyn, noting the serene expression on her face as she looked ahead. It was bathed in the shadows of darkness. Shadows he would use to their advantage.
"We are not far from the road," he said, breaking the silence. "And once we are on it, we can go anywhere."
Jaclyn smiled, though there was a trace of sadness in her eyes. "Anywhere, indeed. But I somehow believe you have a destination in mind."
He nodded, understanding her meaning. "Indeed, I do. Do you still trust me?"
“Always,” she told him.
He grinned. Lord, did he love this woman… “Then stay with me, love, and when we get there…” He flashed her a wicked grin. “We can start all over again while I love you even more scandalously than the time before.”
Her cheeks flushed a bit pink in the moonlight, and he ached to pull her into his arms again. He did not give into that urge. Now was not the time. This was just the beginning, but for the first time in a long time, Kingston felt that they were heading toward something better—toward a future he had once feared to hope for. With Jaclyn, he could have everything. And for the first time, it felt as though everything was finally within his grasp.
