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G eorgina and Jaclyn strolled in the garden at Havenwood Academy.

Neither of them had managed much sleep the previous night.

Their worry over Charlotte had been too much for them.

Georgina suspected that she would be safe enough with Lord Easton, but that didn’t erase any concern she had.

She would not feel better until she saw Charlotte and knew for certain she was all right.

Jaclyn was closer with Charlotte, so her anxiety had to be far greater than Georgina’s.

“She’s all right,” Georgina said, more for herself than to comfort Jaclyn. Though she did hope the words eased her friend some as well. “You must know that.”

“I don’t know that,” Jaclyn said quietly. “But I have to believe it. Because the alternative is unacceptable.”

“I feel the same,” Georgina said.

Carriage wheels rolling over the road leading toward Havenwood Academy caught their attention and they both turned toward the sound.

The wheels bounced along the gravel path and caused the carriage to squeak as it made its way to the school.

Georgina glanced toward Jaclyn then they both rushed toward the entrance of the school with haste.

Georgina suspected that Jaclyn had similar thoughts as she had as they kept their steady pace.

Surely it was Charlotte finally returning to the school. It had to be. Didn’t it?

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Charlotte. For several reasons this was a terrible development. They needed their friend to return, but the person who had arrived would only serve to make the dilemma Charlotte faced inherently worse.

“Oh dear,” Jaclyn said. She twisted her fingers together and bit her bottom lip. “This is not good.”

“It’s her father, isn’t it?” Georgina asked. The ducal crest on the carriage had been her only clue. She wasn’t familiar enough with Charlotte’s family to know with certainty, but she could guess.

“I’m afraid so,” Jaclyn said in a grave tone. “He cannot be here because Charlotte is missing. There is no possible way for him to have known this soon. He’s here for another reason, and it cannot be a good one.”

Georgina frowned. “Why do you think he has arrived then?”

“If she’s lucky,” Jaclyn began, “he just wants to take her home.” She met Georgina’s gaze.

“And that isn’t necessarily a good thing either.

She’s told me much about her father, and he’s not a kind man.

” She blew out a breath. “I suspect he has other reasons for being here.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “He’s found her a husband.”

“Maybe he chose a good man for her,” Georgina offered.

“Doubtful,” Jaclyn said and then grimaced. “He doesn’t care. Not in the way a father should. He will choose a man for only one reason. It will benefit him in some fashion for Charlotte to marry the man, and it won’t matter if she has any objections.”

“That’s awful.” Georgina couldn’t imagine having to marry someone for her family’s benefit. She hoped she would never have to face such a prospect. “I hate to say it…”

“But perhaps it is fortunate that Charlotte has gone missing?” Jaclyn stared at the carriage, concern evident on her face.

“I already had that thought. I will take it one step further and pray that the marquess has married her. It is the only thing that is going to save her from the fate her father has planned for her.”

“You may be correct,” Georgina agreed. “Should we attempt to ascertain her father’s intentions?”

Jaclyn raised a brow. “Are you suggesting we eavesdrop?”

“I would never suggest any such endeavor.” Georgina grinned. “But if we happen to overhear something in passing…”

Jaclyn grinned. “I like you more and more each day, Miss Georgina. Indeed, I do.” Jaclyn gestured toward the school. “After you.”

Georgina still had much on her mind. Not all of her thoughts centered around Charlotte and her escapades.

She had her own personal dilemma to which she needed answers.

Her thoughts centered around a certain earl and that kiss in the maze.

She should ask him outright what his intentions were, but her normally shy nature did not make such an endeavor so easy to accomplish.

Added to that was her inability to visit with him at the moment.

The students were not allowed to go over to Easton Abbey for the house party while Charlotte remained missing.

At her first opportunity she would attempt to speak frankly with Lord Foxmoore.

Though she doubted herself greatly. She did not think she would be able to get the words out that would allow for such a discourse.

She shook those concerns away. There was nothing she could do regarding them anyway.

She could attempt to discover Charlotte’s father’s intentions though.

If she could help in some fashion to protect her friend, she would.

They walked at an even, unhurried pace toward the school.

The duke had yet to disembark from his carriage.

As they neared the front of the school, a footman opened the carriage door, and the duke slid out with relative ease.

He was a foreboding man. Not tall, exactly, but his presence was stark against the beauty of Havenwood’s grounds.

His countenance was that of a man with a purpose, and no one would prevent him from seeing his will being met.

The firm set of his jaw and glacial expression in his eyes made Georgina shiver with dread.

“He is definitely not here out of the kindness of his heart.”

“I doubt he has one to insert kindness into,” Jaclyn said in a somber tone.

“From all that Charlotte has explained to me, her father is austere and demanding. I doubt he even knows the meaning of the word kind.” She inhaled deeply.

“It was truly a blessing that he sent her to Havenwood. He thought to punish her by banishing her to this school, but he did her a great service—though unwillingly. Here she was able to truly blossom.”

Georgina nodded. “It has been such a place for me as well.”

Jaclyn smiled. “Yes. You were so quiet and unassuming when you first arrived. Now you are vibrant and while not boisterous, you’re not recoiling either. It’s a good balance.”

She liked to think so… “I credit this school and my new friends for assisting me out of my accursedly shy nature.” It also helped, a little anyway, to have the attentions of a handsome gentleman to help ease her toward a better version of herself.

He was not the cause or the solution to anything, but he did make her feel wonderful.

Georgina liked the person she was when she was with Lord Foxmoore.

As they neared the entrance the headmistress walked out to greet the duke. “Your Grace,” she said and curtsied. “It’s a pleasure to have you visit. I hope your travels were not too tedious.”

“I am here to see my daughter,” the duke barked out the order. “My travels are no concern of yours.”

Georgina had to give Mrs. Havenwood her due—she didn’t even blanch at the duke’s harsh tone. She remained serene with a soft smile firmly in place before she nodded at him. “Of course,” she replied with ease. “You must miss her dearly.”

The duke narrowed his gaze. “What I feel for my daughter is also no concern of yours. Send for the girl. I am taking her home today. She’s to be wed.”

Jaclyn inhaled sharply. “It’s as I feared…” Her voice was so quiet Georgina had almost missed the words. “He is selling her to one of his old cronies. I’d wager all I am on that.”

“I believe you are correct,” Georgina agreed. “He does not appear to be a pleasant man.”

She had believed her own father a little harsh, but the duke was far superior in that regard. Georgina did not envy Charlotte such a relation. He may be a duke, but that did not make him a good man. Did he believe his station made him so? She wished she could disabuse him of that notion.

Jaclyn snorted. “That is an understatement if I ever heard one.”

“I was so hoping Charlotte would return soon, but now…” She shook her head as dismay filled her. “I am hoping for the opposite. I want her to never return so she doesn’t have to face that man.”

“I find myself agreeing with you.” Jaclyn glanced at the duke. “And if she does, I pray that she’s already married. It is the only thing that will save her from what her father has planned.” She turned toward Georgina. “I’ve heard enough. Let’s go for another walk in the garden. I need to think.”

Georgina nodded and followed Jaclyn back to the garden.

She had a lot to think about as well. Perhaps she should consider sneaking over to Easton Abbey to visit with Lord Foxmoore.

Was that even possible? She had to believe it was because she was growing increasingly desperate to lay her gaze upon him again.

She would ask Jaclyn, but she didn’t wish to cause her friend any trouble or give her another reason to be concerned.

This was her dilemma, and she would solve it on her own.

Either way, she would see the earl, and soon.

*

Jaclyn stared out the window of their bedchamber apparently lost in thought.

Georgina didn’t wish to disturb her. They were both worried about Charlotte and the ramifications of the duke’s arrival.

Charlotte would not want to marry any man her father chose for her.

They both feared that if she had to face her father and the possibility of marrying whatever man he had picked for her, she’d run away again.

That is, if she happened to ever return to Havenwood at all.

“It’s her,” Jaclyn exclaimed and gestured toward the window. “At least I think it is.”

Georgina strolled over to the window and squinted. In the distance there were two individuals on horses riding toward the school. One had a skirt that billowed out around her horse, and the other was clearly a man, or at least dressed as one. “Do you think it is Charlotte and her marquess?”