It was impossible not to notice someone like Baxter Read for he stood out painfully. However, he didn’t solely wish to be seen, he wanted to be loved.

“No, Your Grace that’s not… I simply… I see you more as a… Potential confidant,” I finally admitted out loud.

His face fell before he gave me a solemn nod. “Of c-course, My L-Lady. I u-understand.”

Sometimes Baxter Read appeared like a misbehaving juvenile – slouched and mournful - waiting to be reprimanded. I stifled a moan while searching his never-waning hopeful eyes. The man will most definitely be the cause of my demise and yet again I was too feeble to deny him. “But I would still like to see your rose garden,” I smiled warmly.

“T-Truly?” The Duke’s face lit up like a promised land, bathing in the early warmth of the sunrise.

“Yes. But now it’s time to go inside. Just imagine all the rumors they’ve already started,” I grimaced at all the horrid possibilities that crossed my mind.

“T-thank you, My Lady. For s-staying with m-me. You w-were the o-only one w-who never l-looked at me a-as if I w-were s-some kind of o-oddity.”

“Well, that’s because you are not, Your Grace,” I encouragingly patted his shoulder. “Come now, we’d better get going.”

I went in first, leaving His Grace to wait for another ten minutes before he re-joined Lord Stanley and his newly-acquired fiancé.

“Where were you?” Edith hissed at me when I finally found her standing next to His Grace Andrew.

It was only God I had to thank, for my dress miraculously remained unscathed and unwrinkled.

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“I just witnessed something terrible, Edith,” I gulped nervously. “I needed some time to calm myself after that.” I explained, leaving out the important fact of meeting Baxter read in the gardens. They didn’t need to hear that part. Looking around I spotted what I’ve feared the most - Jared and Bonnie dancing, with him courting her as if the secret affair with Lady Wyatt never happened.

“I need to talk to you and Alison, urgently.” I announced, licking my suddenly dry lips.

Edith signified Alison to come over and join us.

“Dear God, where were you, Lady Ashlyn? We were worried that something might’ve happened to you!” Alison hissed with outrage.

“Well... Something did happen,” I stated with pained expression on my face. “And you won’t like it.”

Edith gripped my wrist. “Just tell us! You are making me nervous!” She urged me with anxiety glimmering in her hazel eyes.

“We cannot let Bonnie marry Jared,” I blurted out.

“What? Why in God’s name not?” Alison shared a confused look with Edith.

“I stumbled on Jared when you were unable to find him. He was with Lady Wyatt in the drawing room. They were…” I was unable to finish my sentence.

“They were, what?” Edith inquired, but then I saw recognition dawning on her face as she grimaced with horror. “Oh, dear God! No!”

“I am sorry Edith, I know he is your brother, but…” I turned back to Alison. “We must stop this nonsense at once. Bonnie deserves better.”

“Sometimes I hate him so much,” Edith spat. “I agree, there will most definitely be no marriage.”

Alison’s posture considerably stiffened. She took a few deep breaths before she was able to unclench her fists. “I cannot believe him!”

“Please, under no circumstances must you say it was me who caught them!” I could only imagine the horrible consequences.

“Of course not!” They both assured me.

“Thank you for saving my sister from a horrible fate, Lady Ashlyn,” Alison’s expression was grateful, however underneath the picture of serenity there was a turbulent storm brewing inside.

“She is not saved quite yet. You have to be the one to talk to her, Lady Alison. She will only listen to you,” I said sternly.

“I realize,” she lowered her head. “She will be devastated, but this is for the better.”

We all turned to look at Bonnie’s bright face. She clutched Jared’s hand, giggling at something he whispered into her ear. The man was an irremediable womanizer – from the way he talked to the way he smiled, as if weaving a silky spider web to entrap his prey.

I realized she won’t be just saddened; she will be devastated.

But better devastated than living a life in Jared’s web of lies.