She bolted towards the street.
Grace knew that if the girl escaped, she would likely be recaptured. Without hesitation, she leapt from the carriage and dropped her hood. The girl saw her and froze, recognition flickering in her tear-streaked eyes.
Grace recognised her, too.
It was Melissa.
‘Miss Skye!’ The girl all but flung herself into Grace’s arms, clinging to her with a sob of disbelief. ‘Miss Skye, is it really you?’
Grace held her tightly. ‘Yes, Melissa. We have come to rescue you. You are safe now.’ She spoke soothingly, guiding her towards the carriage.
The Duke and his companion arrived, carrying the other girls, while the short man huffed breathlessly behind them.
Glancing nervously towards the street, the short man muttered, ‘Egad, I’m glad you caught her before she got away, Miss. What a disaster that would’ve been—there are guards near the front of the building!’
The Duke and the taller man beside him had their faces partially obscured. The taller man spoke with a cultured accent. ‘You must be the mythical Miss Skye,’ he said, eyeing her with a twinkle of masculine appreciation. ‘I can see why my friendholds you in such regard. That was quick thinking, stopping the girl before any real harm could be done.’
The Duke’s reply was clipped. ‘Yes, but we are not out of harm’s way yet. We need to move.’ He turned to his men. ‘I will take the girls to the safe house. Meet me at the usual place tomorrow.’
The other two men nodded before disappearing into the shadows.
Lord Armitage gave a few orders to the driver before stepping into the now rather crowded carriage, where all three girls and Grace sat.
The journey back was silent.
As the carriage jolted forward, Grace leaned against the seat, exhausted but relieved. The girls huddled close, their small hands clinging to her like lifelines. She murmured soothing reassurances, though their haunted expressions told her words would never be enough.
Across from her, the Duke sat in rigid silence. The dim light from the carriage lantern cast sharp shadows across his face, accentuating the tense line of his jaw. His hands, which had so recently held hers with such possessiveness, now rested in tight fists upon his lap. Every so often, his fingers flexed—an unconscious tic betraying his pent-up agitation. Grace had expected him to say something. To acknowledge their success. To show relief that they had managed to escape unscathed. But he did not speak.
Instead, his hazel eyes remained trained on the opposite window, his expression dark and unreadable. It was as though he were somewhere else entirely, lost in thoughts she could not begin to decipher. The Duke of Armitage—the composed, calculating man who had taken every measure to ensure this rescue mission’s success—wasbrooding.
Something was wrong.
Upon arrival at the safe house, a kindly housekeeper greeted them, along with a familiar face.
‘Taylor!’ Grace was pleasantly surprised.
He grinned. ‘Miss, you look well.’ There was a mischievous glint in his eyes as he took in her appearance without her usual disguise.
‘Abominable boy!’ she chided, though there was warmth in her tone.
Despite the late hour, refreshments were offered, which the girls eagerly accepted. After some time, Grace carefully broached the delicate subject of questioning.
‘My dears, do you know who kidnapped you?’
Leah and Millie both named Gibbs, which was no real surprise.
‘Him and his three creepy friends would stare at me whenever they came to collect the rent,’ Millie spoke first, shuddering. ‘I felt so uncomfortable that, after a while, I made sure to stay out of sight when they came. One day, they caught me outside on the pathway and just grabbed me. They tied me up so I couldn’t scream. They brought me to that building, and I’ve been there ever since.’
Leah’s story was similar.
The girls looked so forlorn—dark circles beneath their eyes, their faces thin and hollowed from what they had endured. Grace’s heart ached for them.
Turning to Melissa, she asked gently, ‘What happened the day you were taken?’
Melissa’s voice trembled. ‘I promised Papa I wouldn’t take the woodland path. I should have listened to him!’
She burst into sobs, and Grace immediately gathered her into her arms, stroking her hair. Though she had been captive for the shortest time, Melissa looked just as haunted as the others.
