Chapter 29
He moved away from the window the moment he saw her turn toward it. A surge of alarm shot through him. Without hesitation, he vaulted over the estate walls and disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
His plans were unravelling, and the thought filled him with simmering rage. Months of careful manipulation were beginning to crack apart because of that meddlesome young duchess. Still, not everything was lost.
He had been thorough.
The witnesses were dead. Every one of them.
And he had taken the book—the very book that foolish Head Maid had hidden away. Inside were the dates, amounts, and records of everything they had stolen from the duchy. It was the only piece of evidence capable of revealing the true scale of the theft. Now it was safely in his possession.
His jaw tightened as anger burned through him.
The young duchess is becoming a problem.
She was asking too many questions, digging too deeply into matters that should have remained buried. If she continued her investigation, she would eventually stumble upon truths that could destroy everything he had built.
That could not be allowed.
A cold, merciless smile spread across his face.
He would have to deal with her before she uncovered anything further. Permanently, if necessary.
For now, he needed to meet with the lord and determine their next move. The situation was becoming dangerous, but at least one comforting thought remained.
No one had discovered his involvement.
No one suspected that he was the monster lurking in the shadows.
And if they ever came close to the truth, they would learn the same lesson as the witnesses:
Some secrets were protected with blood.
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