Chapter 2

As Siena, her mother, and Eliza walked up the stairs to St. George's, the first notes from the organ wafted outside, although Siena's senses were so heightened that she couldn't concentrate on what song they were playing.

Eliza caught her gaze, giving her a nod that Siena was sure to instill confidence.

"Don't worry," she mouthed, and Siena's eyes widened as she tried not to allow her hands to shake.

Not worry. Eliza had no idea what it was like to be inside Siena's mind, for it was now a whirlwind of worry.

What if this plan didn't work? What if her mother suspected what she was going to do? What if she was caught? What if?—

"It is time. Your father is waiting for you within. We have already caused a delay and we must be sure the baron doesn't have to wait for his bride any longer than he already has," her mother said. "Come along."

"I know, Mother, truly I do, but I have a slight problem," Siena said, her eyes meeting Eliza's for a moment before quickly flicking away. Eliza had whispered to her what to say in the few moments they'd had alone after her mother had first descended from the carriage, but it had seemed so much easier at that time.

"A problem?" the viscountess said. "Now is most certainly not the time for problems."

"I must…" she swallowed hard before forcing herself to say the words. "Relieve myself."

Her mother's eyes narrowed, veins in her neck straining as she leaned toward her. "You cannot be serious."

"I am," Siena said, her words breathy, but she was proud of herself for continuing. "I believe it is the nerves. I would wait, truly I would, but I cannot any longer for fear of ruining my dress."

Her mother sniffed loudly to show her displeasure.

"We do not have time to return home."

"My family's home is but steps away in Hanover Square," Eliza said helpfully. "I will accompany Siena and we will return in minutes."

Siena began to bob up and down to show how desperate her situation had become, and her mother waved a hand at her. "Stop that at once. Go. Be quick about it."

Her mother called to the footman who was still with the carriage to accompany Eliza and Siena across the street to Eliza's home. As her parents were both inside the church, there was little chance they would see anyone within but for the servants.

Eliza linked her arm with Siena's as she hurried them to the house which was, fortunately, just out of sight from St. George's.

"Come, let's go," she said as she pulled Siena around to the back of the first house as fast as their skirts and kid slippers would allow them. They reached the mews and then continued down the street to find the stables and a stablehand who was not as surprised as Siena would have expected him to be.

"Here you are," he said, leading a horse out, and Siena looked at Eliza in shock.

"Did you prepare for this?"

"I have been preparing for this for a while," she said grimly. "I had everything ready on the chance that you would actually agree to escape. We don't have much time. The horse is yours for now. I have included a map within one of the saddlebags that will lead you to Streatham. From there, you can take a stagecoach and my cousin is prepared to meet you in Crawley. She will provide you with a place to live until you decide what you would like to do next. I have written to her with the particulars, and she has promised to be discreet. I would trust her with my life. In the saddlebags is all the money I had available for you. It is not nearly as much as I wish I could have given you, but it was the best I could do. There are also a few changes of clothes."

Siena stood still, blinking her tears away. "Eliza, I… I don't know what to say."

Eliza leaned in and wrapped her arms around her in a quick embrace. "Just write to me when you are settled so that I know you are safe. I wish I could go with you or be of more help. You will likely have to work, but you would be an excellent governess. Or perhaps you can marry a man who might not be noble but could take care of you. And if you do decide to return and choose to marry the viscount, then blame it all on me."

"Oh, Eliza, there will be such scandal," Siena said as she started to consider just what it would mean to actually take this option and leave. "How are you ever going to explain my disappearance? Perhaps I shouldn't?—"

"Siena," Eliza said, taking Siena's hands in hers. "Do not concern yourself for me. I have prepared your escape and I have also prepared an explanation. What do you want? Don't think. Just feel."

"I want to be in a happy marriage with children to love."

"You can still have all of that. But we both know there will be no happy marriage with Lord Mulberry."

"Very well," she said, trying to absorb some of Eliza's confidence in the future. "Thank you, Eliza. For everything."

"Thank me by looking after yourself," she said. "And don't forget me."

Siena stepped toward the horse, accepting the stablehand's offer to mount it.

"Goodbye, Eliza."

"Goodbye, Siena. And Godspeed."

Siena hated the dark.

She had left London early enough that she should have reached Steatham on Eliza's map in a very short time, but she must have become lost along the way for it had been hours now and the sun was beginning to lower beneath the horizon with no sign of civilization in sight.

Which she should have known was a risk. She had never had to read a map before, so why would it suddenly become a skill she could master?

Eliza would have been able to do so, Siena thought glumly as the weight of her current circumstance, her hunger, and her exhaustion from not sleeping the night before due to her worry over her impending marriage began to overcome her. A tear of despair leaked out of her eye, which she wiped away angrily, annoyed that it had even come to this.

She was even vexed with Eliza for suggesting this – which was a rarity, for she was never upset with Eliza, especially when she knew that her closest friend in the world was only looking out for her.

It was just that, Eliza would have been able to do this, which caused her to believe that Siena was equally as competent. Siena just wished that Eliza would realize that they were not the same person, and that she was not nearly as capable.

Soon enough, the only light she would have to see by would be the stars above her and the crescent moon that had already made an appearance. She knew that anyone with experience would stop and set up camp, but what was she supposed to do? She had no way to start a fire, nothing to eat, and nothing but her cloak to sleep in. She would likely freeze. She should have just married the creepy viscount. It would have been better than freezing to death in the middle of the forest, would it not?

Then she pictured him again, remembering his lecherous gaze and comments about what to expect on their wedding night.

Maybe not.

She knew she would be best to keep moving, but her horse was growing weary. She had heard the trickle of a nearby stream for a while now and knew she had no choice but to stop. Her legs trembled beneath her as she dismounted after so long in the same position, and she had to pause for a moment and hold onto the horse until she could recapture her balance. Giving him a pat in thanks, she began to lead him toward what she thought would be the source of the sound, which must be around the copse of the trees to her right.

She had just rounded the largest one when she came to a sudden, abrupt stop.

For there, just a few yards ahead of her, was a group of three men in dark clothing, sitting in a circle, tricorn hats perched upon their heads and pistols prominently worn around their waists. They didn't notice her at first, so intent were they on items sitting on the ground before them.

Siena was already backing away, her heart in her throat, when she belatedly realized that what she had seen glinting from the ground was jewels.

These men were thieves, perhaps highwaymen.

Would they care about her and that she had seen them?

And as quietly as she thought she was walking backwards, her left foot, now clad in boots that Eliza had provided, snapped on a twig, which caused one of the men to look up swiftly.

He caught her gaze, and she scrambled up on the horse as fast as she could, pure fear fueling her actions, backing him up and then urging him to run.

But she had a feeling that she just might be too late.

She pushed her horse on, but he was tired and neither he nor Siena knew the ground nor their direction. As though sensing her hesitation, he paused, just long enough for Siena to hear a shout from behind her.

It was enough for her to regain her senses and urge the horse on, finally finding the road once more. Where it led to, she had no idea, but she could only pray that it was frequented enough that she had a chance to come across another person, one who might help her.

She hadn't made it far when she heard the hoofbeats closing in on her, and she hated the whimper that emerged from her lips. She had thought her situation dire before, but that was nothing compared to her current predicament.

The men pulled even with her before her first tear could fall, and she willed herself to hold it within, to remain strong on the outside no matter how much she was falling apart within.

This had all been a mistake. She never should have gone against who she was. She should have done what she had always done, been the good girl and not questioned what her parents thought best for her. Look at the consequences of her disobedience.

What would Eliza do in this situation? Before Siena could come to a conclusion, however, one of the men blocked her way forward with his horse, while the others closed in behind her and she had no choice but to come to a stop.

Her entire body shook as she fought to find a way out of her predicament, dread growing when she could see no escape.

"Well, well, well," one man said, eyeing her from her feet up to the riding hat that still perched on her head, although rather vicariously at the moment, "what do we have here?"

"I am no one," she said, swallowing a sob. "Please, let me continue on my way and I will forget I ever saw you."

"That is a very fine dress you are wearing," said the next one, ignoring her words. "A lady, alone in the middle of the road at this hour?"

"I am not alone," she said, trying to keep her lip from trembling as she grasped for the words that would convince them to leave her be. "My husband is around the corner. He is a very powerful man, and I would suggest that you leave before he finds you."

One of the men started laughing. "Do you truly think we are concerned about one man?"

"You should be. He can make life very difficult for you. Go, before he arrives."

She hoped that they wouldn't realize just how desperate her tone had become as she willed them to believe her.

"We shall take our chances," said the third, the bearded one, who the others seemed to look to as their leader. "Now, pretty lady, why don't you come with us?"

The grin that spread across his face as he looked her up and down reminded her of Lord Mulberry, and a shiver overtook her.

"I think I will be going instead."

But they had her surrounded, and when she tried to move her horse a step forward, they blocked her in further.

"We asked nicely but you actually don't have a choice," said the oldest of the three. "We could use some company tonight."

Overwhelmed by panic, she looked one way and the next, finding a newfound strength within her as she searched for any way out of this. She had run away from one lecherous man today; she would not do so only to fall into the hands of others.

Then she jumped, along with the startled horses, when a shot rang out through the air.

All of them paused for one shocked moment before two of the men began to panic, circling their horses as they searched for the source of the shot.

The third man fell off his horse, his surprised expression frozen forever on his face.

Siena opened her mouth and screamed.