Chapter 10

As the last morsel of breakfast vanished, Jane sprang up from her seat, a spark of mischief dancing in her eyes.

With a subtle gesture, she motioned for the girls to stay put, her steps light as she approached the door, peeking cautiously to ensure Colin's absence. Satisfied, she turned back to Margaret and Louisa, a wide grin playing on her lips.

In a hushed yet excited tone, she asked, "Are you both ready for this daring escapade?"

The girls, their eyes gleaming with excitement, rushed to the door and crouched down beside her then nodded eagerly in response.

"All right, let us-"

"But, are you sure it will be all right, Lady Jane? What do we do if Uncle Colin finds us?" Louisa's brows raised in concern, worry etched all over her little face.

"It will be fine, little Louisa. Lady Jane would make sure we're not caught, is that not so?" Margaret's eyes gleamed with excitement and a clear welcome to the danger in contrast to her sister.

"How do we know Uncle Colin won't find us?" She bit her lip in worry.

Margaret pouted and shook her head. "He is usually in his study by this time, you know this. And, because of Lady Jane, we will finally be allowed outside. This is what we've always wanted!"

Margaret was practically bouncing with joy as she peeked outside the door, desperate to make a run for it. However, Louisa still looked skeptical.

"I know this, but-"

"Come on, do you not trust Lady Jane, sister?" Margaret pouted again, staring at her with accusation.

Jane frowned at the scene before her, contemplating if perhaps it would be best to cancel the whole ordeal entirely. Yet she knew that this on its own could cause a rift between the young girls, and blame would be cast.

She racked her brain as quickly as she could for a solution, but nothing was coming up. At last, she crouched lower to Louisa's position and gave the little ball of nerves a smile.

"We do not have to go now, you know. We can take a few hours and make sure your uncle would be far from catching us."

Louisa's brows raised in question and Margaret's pout grew even bigger.

"But, Lady Jane-"

"We could wait for him to fall asleep, girls," Jane cut her short before the situation could get worse. "I'm quite certain he would take a nap eventually! We can sneak out then."

"Uncle Colin doesn't take siestas today. He has a strict schedule for every week, today is not his rest day." Louisa shook her head immediately.

Jane's brows rose. She wondered and marveled at just how much the girls knew about her husband, and how they managed to acquire such information at all.

"Okay… So, we shall try on a day he rests by noon then," Her tone was questioning.

"No!" Both sisters echoed. They turned to each other and burst into giggles.

"Today is fine, duchess. I really wish to play with you." Louisa took a deep breath and when she opened her eyes again, excitement filled them. "Let us go, now!"

Jane grinned and her eyes moved between both of them for confirmation. "Are we sure?"

After the girls nodded, her grin widened and she nodded as well, a silent agreement passing between them. She waited a couple seconds for effect before she declared.

"Alright, then. Let's… go!"

With her signal, the trio snuck out through the servant's door, a chorus of giggles trailing in their wake.

The servants, caught off guard by the sudden commotion, gasped in surprise as the girls whizzed past them with their hearts pounding with exhilaration and the thrill of the unexpected.

"We did it!"

Louisa's voice rang out in a victorious squeal as they finally reached the gardens. "I can't believe it, we did it!"

Her excitement bubbled over, causing her to bounce up and down with unrestrained joy, a sight Jane could not help but find enchanting.

"Yes, we did! You see that?" She could barely contain her laughter and excitement herself.

Amidst Louisa's exuberance, Margaret did not restrain her own delight, joining in the chorus of squeals that filled the air.

Caught up in the infectious energy of the moment, Jane added her voice to the symphony of jubilation, grabbing both girls' hands and bouncing around in a circle of shared triumph.

In the secluded beauty the three of them reveled in the freedom of the moment, their laughter mingling with the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.

Jane began a playful dance with both little girls, the sun casting a golden glow upon their laughter-filled faces. The girls' eyes sparkled with mischief as they twirled and spun.

After that, they engaged in a series of lively games, the little girl's youthful spirits egging Jane to find more entertainment with the passing moment.

As they frolicked amidst the blooms and verdant pathways, she encouraged their competitive spirits as well, igniting a fire of determination in both of them as they played.

"Faster, Louisa, you can do it! That's right!" She urged, her voice a blend of encouragement and playful challenge.

Louisa, her cheeks flushed with exertion, pushed herself harder, determined to outpace her sister in the race they were partaking in.

Margaret, not one to be left behind, reveled in the fray with gusto, her laughter ringing through the air as she raced ahead of her little sister without restraint.

"I'm coming for you, Margaret!" Louisa exclaimed, her eyes alight with the thrill of the chase.

"Hurry up then, will you?" Margaret called back, laughing as she raced towards the finish line.

Jane, her heart brimming with affection for the girls, cheered them on, reveling in the bond of the moment, and the good memories that was blossoming between them.

The sun was finally set high in the sky, casting long shadows across the garden. Thus the trio paused, breathless and exhilarated, their hearts remaining intertwined in the moment of pure, unbridled joy.

Jane knew that this day would be etched in their memories forever. She felt as though she was reliving her days with Sarah, and each second felt precious.

With a wide grin, she huddled the girls close again. "All right, this would be our last game today. We're going to-"

"What's going on here?"

The tranquility of the gardens shattered as the abrupt arrival of the too familiar stern voice bounced around the area, sending the trio into a startled frenzy immediately.

Colin's tone was laced with unmistakable fury, his eyes ablaze with a mixture of annoyance and disbelief as he looked upon them.

Caught red-handed, Jane and the girls stood frozen, their faces a canvas of shock and apprehension.

"I asked a question, what is going on here?" Colin bellowed again, sending shivers down their spines.

Jane, her voice tinged with sheepishness, attempted to offer an excuse, "We... we were just enjoying the fresh air, Your Grace." She let out a forced laugh. "It is my fault. The air inside was a bit humid, so I simply thought…"

But before she could finish her sentence, his thunderous voice cut through the air, drowning out any attempts at justification.

"Why would you disobey me?" His words reverberated with authority; his frustration evident in every syllable.

He stepped closer, shrinking their figures as he towered over them. In the moment, he was a formidable figure of authority and discipline, his gaze piercing through their guilt-ridden expressions.

As Jane and the girls stood under him, the weight of his reprimanding aura hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the consequences of their defiance.

Colin's fury blazed like a wildfire, his voice thundering through the garden as he demanded again, "Tell me, why are you out here? I explicitly forbade it!"

His eyes bore into them, a mix of disappointment and anger spread across his features. Jane, shrunk in his gaze, tried to defend them again.

"The girls and I only needed a break. A lot has happened, as you know, Your Grace. This is healthy and-"

His patience worn thin, Colin's tone grew even more commanding, "No excuses, Jane! When I give an order, it is to be followed without question!"

The force of his words resonated with authority, and from the corner of her eye, Jane caught the girls exchanging uneasy glances, their hearts clearly heavy with regret for their transgression.

"This is not the battlefield. What use is giving orders here?"

Colin was immediately dumbfounded by her reply and he was probably thinking why she was such a defiant woman, always having something to say in every situation.

"The girls aren't to blame…I take full responsibility for this," she said to him. "However, we were bored inside, surely having a little fun outside wasn't such a terrible idea."

His words lashed out like a whip. "You appear as though you belong in a pigsty rather than a refined estate," he replied, gazing at her, anger evident in his glare.

"They only wanted to play outside, Your Grace," she said to him. "Do not punish them for being children and doing what regular children do."

With a deep, ragged breath, he attempted to rein in his anger at last, though the fire in his eyes still burned bright. Pointing towards the grand house in the distance, he growled, "Go back and change! You are not to be seen in such a state!"

The gravity of his command hung heavy in the air. The little girls, caught in the crossfire of the frustrations, exchanged guilty glances, their youthful innocence overshadowed by the intensity of the moment.

With a heavy heart, Louisa and Margaret turned on their heels, their footsteps heavy with the weight of their disobedience, as they made their way back to the house.

However, as Margaret and Louisa obediently retreated towards the house, Jane's face filled with a frown.

In a burst of thought, her fury was written upon her face. Her legs strode purposefully towards Colin, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Taken aback by her sudden approach, Colin found himself at a loss for words, his usual composure shaken by her sudden action.

With each step she took closer, a sly smile playing on her lips, his confusion deepened, his pulse quickening with apprehension and intrigue.

"What is the meaning of this, duchess?"

His voice wavered slightly, betraying his inner turmoil as he attempted to make sense of her unusual behavior. His demand hung in the air, unanswered by the plotting woman, who continued her advance with a tantalizing air of mystery.

"Stay back!"

He commanded her, emotions in disarray. However, Jane remained silent, her silence a taunting challenge that only fueled his bewilderment further.

"I demand an explanation! Why do you approach me in this manner?" His voice rose with a blend of command and vulnerability, his eyes searching for any hint of her intention in the depths of her gaze.

Yet, with her enigmatic smile unyielding, she persisted in her silent advance, each step bringing her closer to him.

Her fast approach caused his heart to race faster than a galloping horse as he knew that there was no way he would stop her. She did not seem like she was ready to halt or heed to his words.

"What are you doing? I said stay back! Why won't you listen? You-You!"

A sudden flurry of action disrupted him as she, with a daring move, lunged towards him, catching him off guard.

Colin's startled gasp echoed through the air as he instinctively tried to break their fall, landing amidst the greenery with a thud, much to the shock of the young onlookers.

Gasps of surprise and whispers erupted from the watching girls as they beheld the unexpected spectacle unfolding before them, their jaws frozen in shock.

Colin, still reeling from the abrupt turn of events, struggled to comprehend the situation, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he attempted to make sense of his wife's audacious actions.

With a devious smile playing on her lips, Jane found herself in a rather compromising position, yet brazenly continuing to straddle him as he lay beneath her.

"What on earth is the meaning of this?!" Colin managed to sputter at last, his bellow echoing the garden.

However, Jane's grin only widened, a devious glint in her eyes as she pointed out the spots of leaves and dirt now adorning his attire.

"What in heaven's name are you playing at?" His voice carried a blend of shock and exasperation, his eyes searching hers for some semblance of reason behind her antics.

Jane's response, delivered with a gleeful and wicked smile, painted a picture of playful defiance as she declared.

"You're just as dirty as I am now, Your Grace. It seems you've become an accomplice to our little escapade."

Colin's astonishment at this behavior was beyond words, yet he seemed to be suddenly captivated by her beauty in this unexpected moment. He looked like his heart was racing within his chest as she hovered above him, a vision of insanity and allure.

Despite the shock, he couldn't help but be drawn to her enchanting presence. As she cackled triumphantly, her eyes sparkling with mirth, his gaze lingered on her, taking in every delicate detail.

She smiled and caught him staring as he attempted to reach for her cheek.

Jane's laughter faded into a small gasp, the atmosphere shifting into a charged silence. Their eyes met, filled with silent feelings, and the edginess in the air was almost palpable.

As the realization of the position he was in dawned on him, Colin cleared his throat and swiftly shifted his new wife off him, his actions driven by a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

Standing tall, he regained his composure, the air thick with unspoken words hanging between them.

Desperate to break the charged atmosphere, he struggled to fix a steely gaze upon her, his words cutting through the tension like a sharp blade.

"Never have I encountered a lady with such appalling manners as yours, Jane."

The immediate hurt that flashed across her face was undeniable, her eyes betraying confusion at the obvious change in his eyes as he looked at her.

Before she could form a response, still reeling from the unexpected turn of events, he took charge, his voice laced with authority.

"Come, nieces, it is time we depart from this unsettling scene."

With a firm yet gentle grip, he led the young girls away, his heart pounding in his chest, the echoes of their intense encounter lingering in the air.