Chapter 13 #2
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.
The wind was sharp against her face as they walked swiftly toward the hunting lodge, and as Jaclyn stole a glance back at the estate, she could not help but feel a pang of sadness.
Barrett had ruined the happiness she had found at Havenwood.
It was unlikely she would ever see the school again.
It had been more of a home to her than the manor she had grown up in.
She had no way of knowing what her future held, but she felt at peace with this decision.
But, despite the sadness, hope bloomed inside of her.
Now she could explore the lingering feelings she held for Kingston.
She could not know when he would visit her, but she would be prepared for the moment he did.
The path ahead for her was uncertain, but for the first time she was stepping into it with the knowledge that she could choose her own way.
And that, more than anything else, felt like freedom.
As they approached the hunting lodge, Charlotte glanced at her with a mischievous smile. “We’re almost there, Jaclyn. You’ll be safe. I promise.”
But Jaclyn couldn’t help but feel the stirring of dread as they neared the hunting lodge.
The next phase of their plan would soon unfold, and despite the assurances from her friends, a part of her could not shake the feeling that their escape was only the beginning.
What would happen once Barrett realized she was gone?
Would she truly be able to escape the life he had tried to trap her in?
She took a deep breath, steadying herself.
The future was uncertain, but there was one thing she knew for certain now—she would never let Barrett’s temper ruin her life again.
He had already done far too much damage to her reputation.
She loved her brother, but she also hated him, or rather she hated how he acted.
He thought he knew what was best and never listened to her.
Jaclyn wished that her brother was reasonable. That she was not forced to take such drastic actions, but he had not left her any choice. Much like Kingston, but with different reasons.
“Here we are,” Charlotte said. “We can’t stay long. We have to return so your brother doesn’t suspect anything…”
“Go,” Jaclyn said. “I will be all right. I promise.”
Charlotte nodded and then turned to Georgina. They walked back in the direction they had come from—back to Easton Abbey. Jaclyn was truly alone now.
Jaclyn smiled as she stepped inside the hunting lodge.
It wasn’t much, but it would do for now.
She liked the secluded location. It gave her ideas…
The duke didn’t know it yet, but she was going to seduce him, and what fun that would be…
She nibbled on her bottom lip as she plotted and schemed.
Yes, the lodge was, indeed, perfect for seduction.
Her lips curved into a mischievous smile.
Kingston, she thought, so rigid, so proper…
how easily I might loosen his resolve, if only for a moment.
The very idea sent a thrill coursing through her.
Here, in the quiet of this hunting lodge, far from the any prying eyes, she could test the boundaries.
She could play a dangerous game—and she intended to win.
Every gesture, every word would be calculated.
Every glance, carefully measured... The thought of his dark gaze upon her send a thrill through her.
She imagined the heat of his presence in such close quarters, and it made her pulse quicken.
Oh, she would have her fun when she set her wiles upon him.
Kingston would not know what had bewitched him until it was far too late.
For the first time in many weeks, Jaclyn felt a fierce, exhilarating sense of control.
She was alone, she was free, and she had a scheme that thrilled her to the core.
The lodge, humble as it was, had become her playground—and Kingston, the unsuspecting and irresistibly gorgeous man, was about to become her most delightful conquest.