XI

Ten days had passed since Grace and Lesly had become forced residents in Marcus's house. Despite being prisoners, their treatment was surprisingly kind. Courtesy and respect were never lacking. The servants treated them with care, and Marcus kept his distance, though his presence was constant.

Grace sat on the window ledge in her room, gazing out at the dull gray sky that had been ever-present since her arrival in London. Lesly, sitting nearby, was talking about how the cook had taught her to make a new dessert, but Grace barely registered her words. Her mind was elsewhere, tangled in thoughts of the days that had passed in the house.

The role Marcus had assigned her as his personal maid didn't match what the title implied. Grace had been dressed in clothes fit for a lady, not a servant. Furthermore, the household practically ran under her command. The servants followed her instructions, and Marcus entrusted her with managing the residence as though she were its mistress. He even requested her company during his walks, and they shared meals as if they were married. "It's as if I'm playing the role of his wife..." she mused, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the soft fabric of her dress.

Yet, despite the comfort and luxury, the oppressive feeling of being trapped weighed heavily on her. Everything around her was elegant, yes, but the lack of freedom pressed down on her chest like a cage. The desire to escape grew stronger with each passing day. She needed her independence—the life she had known before being brought here.

" We have to leave, " Grace said suddenly, interrupting Lesly mid-sentence.

Lesly looked up, surprised by the sudden interruption. " Leave? " she asked, her voice trembling slightly. " How are we supposed to escape from this place? "

Grace stood and began pacing the room. Her mind was racing with a thousand ideas, but none seemed good enough to settle on. She glanced at her friend and noticed something that bothered her: resignation. Did Lesly not want to escape? Why?

" This is not our home. We can't stay here. We have to find a way to get out, " she reminded her, continuing to pace from one side of the room to the other.

Lesly remained silent for a few moments before speaking again. She had gathered enough information to come up with an escape plan, though she wasn't entirely comfortable with it. However, seeing that Grace was determined to leave and blind to the attention Marcus had been giving her, she knew she had to be honest.

" The only way to escape is to use his weakness, " Lesly finally said, her voice soft but steady.

Grace stopped immediately, her face a mix of surprise, hope, and confusion.

" Weakness? " she asked, moving closer to her friend and lowering her voice, realizing that this was something important, something to be spoken of in whispers. " What weakness are you talking about? "

Lesly looked at her with unease. Grace, in her youth and innocence, hadn't noticed what everyone else living under that roof had already seen.

" Milady, I don't think you've realized what has been happening these past few days, " Lesly began, her voice barely above a whisper. " It's a delicate matter, and I'm not sure if you're ready to face it. "

A shiver ran down Grace's spine, and she moved instinctively, as if she had been struck. She stood in front of her friend, her gaze piercing.

" What's happened? " she asked, her curiosity piqued.

" Something that could help us leave, but it depends on you, " Lesly explained cautiously.

" On me? " Grace replied, her eyes widening in shock. Lesly could only nod. " You mean we can escape because of me? " she added, disbelief in her voice.

" Yes, " Lesly said firmly.

" Well, if what you say is true, whatever it is, I'm willing to do it, " Grace declared with resolve.

" Even if it's... difficult, " Lesly responded, her voice hesitant.

" Tell me! " Grace insisted, grabbing Lesly's hands between her own. " I'll do whatever it takes. "

Lesly looked at her with sympathy. She knew Grace was serious, but what she was about to say wasn't something to be taken lightly.

" Because of your innocence, you haven't noticed the attraction the marquess feels for you. If you knew how to use that to your advantage, we'd be free in no time, " Lesly revealed, unable to hold back any longer.

Grace's face paled, and the words hit her like a bucket of cold water. Her expression shifted between disbelief and confusion.

" Attraction? " she asked incredulously. " He's only keeping me here to get the information he wants! "

Lesly shook her head slowly, knowing the truth would be difficult for Grace to accept.

" Think about how he's treated you these past few days. He's dressed you as a lady, not a servant. He trusts you to manage his home. He takes you on walks, shares meals with you... Don't you see what's happening? "

" And what does that have to do with attraction? " Grace replied, still skeptical. " He's just been slightly merciful because he knows he won't get all the answers about my past. "

Lesly remained calm.

" You're mistaken, milady. A merciful person wouldn't do even half of what the marquess has done for you. I'm not sure if it's love, but I do know that he sees you in a very different light. "

" That's absurd! " Grace exclaimed, resuming her pacing, her nerves on edge. " He only wants me here until he gets what he wants. That's it! "

" Do you really believe that? " Lesly asked gently. " His Lordship not only prevented you from marrying Lord Hantersey, but he also brought you here, to his own home—a place that holds great significance for any nobleman. He could have taken us anywhere less... grand. Think about it. As hard as it may be to believe, my observations are accurate. At first, I thought like you, but the longer we've stayed here, the more I've realized that his actions have nothing to do with compassion. "

Grace stopped in her tracks, her heart racing. Could Lesly be right? Could Marcus's actions be more than just a quest for answers? The weight of this new revelation settled heavily on her shoulders, and for the first time, she felt truly unsure of what to do next.

Lesly's words made Grace stop in her tracks. The idea that Marcus could be developing some sort of feeling toward her seemed unlikely at first, but as she thought back on everything that had happened since the day he captured her, doubts began to creep in. Could Lesly be right? Was she really his weakness?

"He sees you as more than just a prisoner," Lesly insisted. "And that is precisely what we could use to our advantage. You've become his vulnerable point."

"Are you suggesting I distract him?" Grace replied, her eyes wide as the air around her seemed to grow heavier. "That I use his interest to escape?"

"Exactly," Lesly said firmly. "If you can make him let his guard down, we might find a chance to get out of here. It could be our only option."

Grace sat down on the edge of the bed, feeling overwhelmed by the idea. The thought of manipulating Marcus to escape was daunting, not only because she lacked experience in such things, but because the very notion unsettled her.

"I don't know how to do it," she whispered, trembling at the thought. "I've never tried anything like this before."

"I know," Lesly said gently, her voice soft but steady, "but this might be our only opportunity."

Grace closed her eyes, trying to calm the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind. Lesly's reasoning was starting to make sense, but the moral dilemma gnawed at her. Could she really do something like this? Could she play with Marcus's trust just to get what she needed?

"I'll try," she finally whispered, her voice barely audible. "If it's the only thing we can do, I'll try."

Lesly squeezed her hand gently, offering her support and encouragement.

"We'll get out of here, milady. We will," she said with determination.