CHAPTER TEN
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!"
