28. Chapter 28

She'd wrapped a shawl around her shoulders to cut the chill that had set into the air with the rain, and the brim of her hat kept the drizzle off her face, so her body wasn't as miserable as her mind currently was.

Nemity had come out into the silence of the woods so that she could think, but with every step she took, her mind just grew more muddled.

No way out.

She had to marry Callum to keep Georgette and Jacob. That was, if she could even convince Callum to marry her when he came back.

Ifhe came back.

But if she married him, Charley was right—scandal would ensue and she would ruin Georgette and Jacob's futures. Charley had spoken the cold truth on that accord.

Either way, Georgette and Jacob were at risk.

But still, she couldn't let the children go with Lady Agnes. Her heart ached even considering the thought of those two beautiful souls being ground to dust under Lady Agnes's watch.

She puffed out a big sigh, looking up at the dark wet leaves above her, droplets cascading from them, and let the mist cover her face. She'd been out for a half hour, on the path to the hot spring, and she was no closer to reconciling anything in her mind than she had been in the library.

Answers.

She needed answers, a direction forward. Any little crumb that she had missed that would lead her down the right path.

Searching so hard for that little crumb, she didn't hear the twigs snapping behind her. Not until it was too late.

Not until a hand wrapped over her mouth, stuffing a wretched rag between her teeth and deep into her throat, making her gag.

Cutting her air.

Arms locked around her torso, clamping her elbows to her body.

Someone grabbing her feet. Picking her up. Two people.

She struggled against them, twisting and wiggling with all her might.

A burlap sack yanked down around her head, cutting off her sight.

Hell.

Not again.