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She thought of the locations of her sisters’ bedrooms. How much could she do?

Could she take a risk? Wilhelmina’s room was so close, just down the hall, but Elizabeth’s was even closer.

What if Linpool made good on his threat?

The fire would blaze quickly and envelop the bedchambers before her sleeping sisters could wake up.

She almost wished that she had let them stay with her, but that would leave the twins alone upstairs.

“Where are we going?” she demanded, clenching her hands into fists.

“Oh, but we are going home to Oakmere,” Linpool said conversationally, as if they were two friends about to go on a trip.

“You’re going to help me find all the good things your husband has been hiding.

I know he has money and gold lying about, and perhaps vital information that would prove to be useful one day. ”

Anger surged through her. She and Dominic might not be on speaking terms right now, but she wouldn’t let this snake rob him.

“You are positively mad if you truly believe I’d help you with that,” she gritted out.

“Mad? Perhaps I am. However, I have half a brain to bring insurance,” he said easily, gesturing lazily at the staircase again.

His finger ended up pointing at her, and she knew what he meant. She was part of the insurance. He would be holding her against Dominic. She, the weakness.

“Now, be a good duchess and save your family by walking. Quietly. No attempts to call out for anyone.”

Marianne’s mind raced as she tried to think of a plan to escape her present situation. It was difficult, with her heart pounding so hard she could feel it in her ears. She knew that if she tried to make a sound or flee, the house would light up like a tinderbox.

She believed it. The men looked just as insane as Linpool. They’d risk their lives for him and would run through the flames to escape while her family burned. Her eyes darted to the bell pull longingly.

“Try it and you know that I can get them to do what I want in no time,” Linpool said calmly but dangerously.

Marianne exhaled shakily. It didn’t look like she could get away from this. So, she nodded even as her eyes burned. She willed herself not to cry. At least, she would not give Linpool the satisfaction of seeing her become reduced to tears.

No. That will not happen.

With Linpool following her closely, Marianne walked down the hallway. She walked stiffly but held her back straight. The door creaked open, making her heart lurch at the sound. Then, they stepped into the cold night.

There were no running footsteps. No shouts. Linpool was about to leave Grisham townhouse with her, without much of a problem. A black carriage waited at the curb, with the coachman dressed all in black and wearing a hood to hide his face.

“Get inside, Duchess,” Linpool commanded.

She obeyed, not given much of a choice.

He followed her inside and then looked out and nodded at his men. They had left the house, much to her relief. With their master’s permission, they melted back into the shadows. It reminded her of the time Dominic paused to look into the trees, suspecting that someone was lurking behind them.

It was like this, then. Her husband had suspected someone was watching them, and he had been right.

“Time to go,” Linpool ordered, rapping on the ceiling.

It was all that was needed to get the coachman going—for the horses to move. Marianne felt so lost.

Inside the carriage, it felt like a different world, with her trapped within it.

The world was all swaying darkness as the curtains were drawn.

Across from her, Linpool sat with his legs spread and his arms relaxed at his sides.

He was humming. It was merely another night for him, and that revealed so much about him.

Marianne could not admit to the fear coursing through her. It did not stop her from saying anything, though.

“You won’t get away with this, Linpool,” she spat.

“Do you see where we are, Duchess? I dare say I already have,” he said in that patronizing, calm tone.

“When your husband finds out that his lovely wife is missing and left without a trace, do you know what he will do? He will panic, Duchess. Men who panic become careless. I have been waiting for this for years . He didn’t have anything to lose before, but now, there’s you. ”

A weakness.

Marianne vowed that she’d do her best to be less of a weakness to Dominic. Her heart could not accept it coming from his mouth, but seeing Linpool use her to get to her husband’s wealth made her feel awful.

“You’ll never get what you want at Oakmere,” she murmured.

“Oh, do you think so? I think you’re wrong, but even if you were right,” Linpool interjected mildly, “I can find other uses for you. After all, I have the best pawn right in my hands. A beautiful duchess. How many men could honestly say they had their cards right like I have?”

Chess. Cards. The man was a gambler, and she would be part of his next attempt at winning.

A wave of nausea assaulted her. This man was getting worse and worse before her eyes.

Linpool still looked relaxed, but she felt a slight change in him. He pulled out a silver flask and gulped down whatever was in it. The smell of alcohol wafted toward her.

It was never good when your captor decided to get drunk when they were frightening enough while sober.

Then, he leaned toward her.“Forgive me, Duchess. I am going to make sure you won’t give me any trouble for the rest of the trip.”

Marianne tensed up. Had she pushed him over the edge?

“What are you?—?”

She didn’t get to finish her question. Linpool’s hand was quick. It went into his coat pocket and pulled out a white cloth.

“You wouldn’t dare! Linpool!”

Her hands flew to the door handle, struggling to open it. She’d rather get bruised again from a fall than have him do what he was planning.

But it was too late. He grabbed her wrist and shoved the cloth into her mouth. The scent was strong, sharp, and sweet.

Marianne did not plan to give in without a fight. She thrashed wildly as she tried to claw and kick at Linpool, and she managed to slap his face. One slap. She wished she could enjoy it better.

The cloth held firm, and she felt its effects quickly.

Weakening limbs.

Swimming head.

Everything was spinning.

The shadows felt longer, as if they were closing in on her.

For a moment, Dominic’s face flashed through her mind. His arms reached out to her, comforting her. Promises of protection were whispered in her ears.

Dominic.

Then, everything went black.