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“Get some rest, Edith,” Anna told her gently as she rose to her feet. “We will discuss this another time.”

Edith nodded and said nothing more, so with a heavy sigh, she left the room. Her steps were reluctant, and even as she stepped into the darkness of night, her heart remained with her dear friend who was dealing with matters she did not deserve to be saddled with.

She shivered as a slight breeze blew, somewhat anxious about the fact that she would have to walk at night. If Edith had sent her letter sooner, perhaps she would have departed before the sun set. She had often spent the night at Edith’s house, the other girl’s abode already feeling like an abode for Anna as well. Tonight, however, she believed they had much to think about and could use some space.

Anna could only imagine what she felt, yearning to be with someone she could see building a future alongside, only to be regarded as less than worthy by the person’s relative. It was unfair and unnecessary.

Then again, perhaps Anna felt as though Edith could get through to the duke somehow. If she and her beloved faced him as a united front, surely he would realize his efforts are pointless and⁠—

Anna stopped suddenly, frowning for a moment as a slight scratching sound was heard from behind her. She turned back to glance around, but there was no one there.

She could have sworn…

With a deep exhale, she continued forward, hoping to get home soon. She was growing nervous, especially because she was seemingly hearing things that sounded like – like she was being followed.

Anna kept walking for a few more seconds, then came to an abrupt stop, and she heard it again. That same sound from earlier. Only this time, she knew exactly what it was.

The sound of feet dragging against the dirt. As though someone was walking along with her, and when she stopped, they stopped as well to mask the sound of their footfalls.

She was being followed. The hairs at the back of her neck stood up, and she willed herself to keep moving, as quickly as she could. She’d hardly taken ten steps before she realized there was a dark figure ahead. She couldn’t see the face of the person, but she knew from the build that it was a man. He approached her leisurely, every step closer filling her more and more with dread.

When he was within hearing range, Anna heard a voice say,

“Good evening, miss. You’ll have to come with us. There is someone who wishes to have a word with you.”

Anna froze, her heart thundering within her chest. However, she recovered her wits and quickly tried to run off, screaming as arms wrapped around her, effectively pinning her arms by her side. As the other man drew nearer, she parted her lips to let out a scream, but he was quicker, stuffing a handkerchief between her lips.

“Fancy an evening stroll, Miss?” asked the man in front of her sarcastically as he pulled something out of his pockets.

Anna struggled, but it was too late. The last thing she heard was a menacing chuckle before something thick settled over her eyes and darkness enveloped her vision.

CHAPTER TWO

“She is surprisingly well-behaved.”

The voice sounded cold, and Anna couldn’t’t help but shrink in her seat in fright. She could not see anything, too afraid to even consider moving in the seat she had been placed into.

When the men had grabbed her, she’d fought against them but had quickly lost when a blindfold was slipped over her eyes while her hands were being held. She’d felt herself being moved, and the mere thought of never seeing her siblings again had caused her body to grow still.

Anna could imagine what her sister and brother would feel when the news of her disappearance reached them. After losing their parents, the siblings had all sworn to stay together no matter what, promising to look after one another for as long as they could.

She knew her brother would undoubtedly blame himself. He would think it was his fault because he had not offered to accompany her or dissuaded her from leaving.

And her sister... oh, her darling sister would be distraught and inconsolable.

“Please,” Anna tried to beg, her throat hoarse from the way she had screamed earlier. “Please let me go. My family will be so worried about me.”

“Your family? How strange. You have never given me the impression that you care about family, given how you have blatantly disregarded my concerns over my own,” the voice snapped.

Confusion settled like a cloud over her mind, but before she could question what he meant, the blindfold over her eyes was taken off.

Anna blinked rapidly, wincing as her vision tried to adjust to the sudden light. Moments later, she could see clearly enough to tell she was in a study of some sort, and there was a man who stood a few feet ahead facing away from her.

After clearing her throat uncertainly, Anna spoke up, with a small shake in her voice,

“Who are you? What do you want with me?”

The man was silent at first, then he slowly turned around to face her. His expression was menacing as he drew closer and closer, and Anna quietly prayed that the next breath she took would not be her last.