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G eorgina stared out of the window of the carriage mournfully.

She still could not believe that Thaddeus had come to take her home.

Everything had been going so well at Havenwood.

She may have dreaded it when her father had first told her she would be leaving home for school.

But that had been because she did not think she would thrive amongst strangers.

Her innate shyness made it difficult for her to make friends.

She never would have imagined that she would become close to Jaclyn and Charlotte or that she would fall in love with Adrian.

None of that had seemed possible. Havenwood had been a blessing she never dared hope to find.

“We are going to stop at an inn in the next town for the night,” Thaddeus informed her. “We will finish the journey in the morning.”

They had been traveling for several hours.

She had been so lost in her own thoughts she had not considered if they would drive all the way home or if they might stop, though she should have known what they would do.

Thaddeus had always hated traveling and being confined to a carriage for too long.

Of course he had planned for them to make a stop.

Though perhaps she could use that to her advantage.

She had not been able to see Adrian before they left.

He might not know what to expect now that she was no longer at Havenwood.

Would he doubt her affection for him? She hoped he still intended to ask permission to marry her.

What would she do if he changed his mind?

What would she have left then? “I would have rather remained at Havenwood,” she said in a bitter tone.

“But no one ever considers what I might desire. I do not warrant any true consideration.” Sometimes she hated that women had no say in their lives.

Everything about her very existence was decided for her as if she did not have the intelligence to decide on anything for herself. It could be so demeaning.

“We have already discussed this,” Thaddeus said in an exasperated tone. “It will do no good to continue to argue about something that cannot be changed.”

“Oh,” she began. “It can be changed. However, you will not take me back to school—not because you do not agree with me, but because you are too afraid to go against Father’s wishes.

” She blew out a frustrated breath. Why was she bothering with any of this?

He was right. Nothing she said would change her destination.

She would not be returning to Havenwood.

It was far more likely that she would never step inside the doors of the school ever again.

Perhaps what she should do is run away. As soon as she had her own room at the inn she could start to plan.

She could find her way back to the Easton estate.

She could not return to Havenwood. That would likely be the first place that her brother looked for her.

But the abbey? He would not know her ties there and that Charlotte was one of her dearest friends.

She could go there and find Adrian. He would know what to do.

Thaddeus sighed, rubbing a weary hand over his face. “Georgina, do you truly believe I do not wish for your happiness? You are my sister. I only want what is best for you.”

She turned her gaze from the window to look at him directly.

“Then why not allow me to decide what that is?” she asked, her voice laced with quiet desperation.

Perhaps she could make him understand. If she could get through to him then she might be able to convince him to take her back to Havenwood.

Thaddeus hesitated, his expression softening.

“Because, little sister, there are things you do not yet understand about the world. Father—” he paused and sighed again, clearly choosing his words carefully.

“Father is not a patient man. If I returned without you, it would only be worse for both of us.”

Georgina swallowed the lump in her throat.

She knew he was right. Their father was not a man who accepted defiance lightly.

Still, it did not lessen her misery. “You may believe that you are saving me, Thaddeus, but you are taking me away from the only place where I have ever felt truly free.” There was no changing his mind.

He would not return her to Havenwood. She either had to willingly comply or make an escape at dark.

Both held risks, albeit different ones. If she did not leave on her own, she might never see Adrian again, but traveling alone always held dangers.

Especially to a lone woman without any way of protecting herself.

She had to make a decision and ensure it was one she could live with.

Her brother said nothing, merely watching her with a conflicted expression before finally turning to look out the opposite window.

That silence was enough. They would carry on and travel to the inn.

Georgina resumed staring out at the rolling countryside, her mind whirring with plans.

The moment they reached the inn, she would have to act quickly.

It would be risky, but she had no other choice.

She would find her way back to Adrian. It was the only decision she could make.

Her brother was not someone she could rely upon to aid her.

He had already proven that their father’s wishes far outweighed her own.

By the time they arrived at the small coaching inn nestled on the outskirts of the next town, evening had fallen, and a soft mist curled along the cobbled streets.

The warm glow of lanterns flickered against the fog, illuminating the entrance of the coaching inn—the Rose and Stag.

It was a charming little inn, but it held no appeal to her.

It probably had decent rooms to let and maybe even a passable meal for their evening fare.

But Georgina had no interest in either, though she would have to go along with her brother’s wishes.

At least until she lulled him into believing she would comply fully with his plan to take her back home.

Once the carriage came to a full stop, her brother exited it. Then Thaddeus helped her from the carriage, his grip firm but gentle. “Come along, Georgina. You must be exhausted.”

She forced a smile, playing the part of an obedient sister. “Yes, I should like to retire soon.” She wondered how long she would have to wait until she made her departure from the inn. It would have to be after her brother believed she was fully settled in her room.

They entered the Rose and Stag quietly. There was nothing else she wished to say to her brother at any rate.

Inside, the inn was modest but well-kept, with a roaring fire in the hearth and the scent of roasted meat wafting from the kitchens.

Thaddeus arranged for their rooms while Georgina stood near the staircase, glancing about discreetly.

She had to take note of everything if she hoped to leave unnoticed, and that meant ensuring she understood where everything lay within the small inn’s walls.

When the innkeeper handed Thaddeus the keys, he turned to her with a pointed look.

“Let’s go,” he said. They walked up the staircase and down a short hallway.

There were two rooms at the far end. He held out one of the keys to her.

“This one is for your room.” He gestured toward another room.

“I will be just down the hall should you need anything. I will have food delivered to your room for your meal. There is no reason for you to endure the company of the other guests at the inn in the common room.”

Georgina nodded demurely. “Of course.” She would not be in her room for long, but not because she would search for him. She had plans of her own.

Once inside her chamber, she pressed her back against the closed door, her heart hammering wildly.

She had to leave. If she waited until morning, she would be trapped.

Her father would ensure that she never saw Adrian again.

She now believed that he would never agree to their marriage.

Her father never approved of anything that she truly wanted.

She crossed the room swiftly, opening the small window.

The drop was not far—perhaps five or six feet—but enough to make her hesitate.

Leaving by way of the window would not do.

She would have to be brave enough to boldly walk out the front door.

Thaddeus would be in his own room and would not notice she had left for some time, at least not until they were supposed to leave in the morning.

There was a brisk knock at her door. She went over and cracked the door to see who was there. A maid stood in the hallway with a small tray in her hand. “Your meal, miss,” she said.

Georgina opened the door and gestured for her to come inside. “Thank you,” she told the maid.

After the maid set the tray down on a nearby table, she departed the room.

Georgina secured the door behind her and then went to investigate the meal.

Her stomach rumbled at the enticing scents wafting toward her.

It was a stew of some sort and a chunk of bread.

She ate quickly, not wanting to worry over food later.

After she finished eating, she grabbed her woolen shawl and wrapped it around her.

It would be chilly, and she had to ensure she kept herself warm.

Slowly she left the room. Gathering her skirts, she made her way down the stairs. She kept her gaze focused on the exit and did not overthink her escape. No one said anything to her and for that she was grateful. Perhaps she could rent a horse from the stables? It would be better than walking…

She entered the stables and glanced around. She grinned when she noticed a stable boy at the far end. The boy glanced up at her approach, his brow furrowing. “Miss, can I help you?”