The silence that greeted her plea only added to the sinister atmosphere, pushing her to the brink of panic. Summoning courage, she continued her approach, the tension thick in the air as she drew closer.
As the features of the person slowly emerged from the shadows, her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in disbelief at the revelation before her.
"Greetings, my dear Lady Jane."
In the eerie glow of the moonlight, the Marquess’ countenance twisted into a menacing visage as he greeted her with a chilling single phrase. The familiarity of his address sent a shiver down her spine, disbelief and fear warring within her.
Jane stammered in shock, her voice barely above a whisper as she questioned him, "I don’t… Wha-What is going on?"
"Be quiet," Graham's command to silence her with a raised hand struck Jane nearly like a physical blow, dropping a rock in her stomach. His eyes gleamed with a manic intensity that sent a new wave of terror crashing over her.
"Here is how it shall go. You will either get an annulment or I will harm Louisa and Margaret, it is that simple.”
As he laid out the ultimatum with such cold determination in his tone, Jane felt the ground shift beneath her feet.
“But, I do not understand, this makes no sense, you’re threatening… children? Why… How…?”
She could not accept this was happening, her mind raced as she stared at the man before her, his once esteemed facade now a mask of malevolence.
The discrepancy between the public image of the beloved Marquess and the sinister figure before her left her reeling, questioning how he had managed to deceive society for so long.
Desperate to voice her protest, her words died on her lips as his menacing presence loomed over her, cutting her off before she could speak any more.
“Yes, I am. Must I repeat myself?” His eyes were soulless as they stared back at her, seeming to dare her to utter another word.
“You’re handling this well. I'm so excited to finally be able to say this,” Pleased at her silence, Graham's voice quivered with excitement as he confessed, “I've been in love with you for a long time, my Lady Jane."
Her heart pounded in her chest, disbelief mingling with dread at his revelation.
"It was crystal clear, everyone, and I mean,” He cackled again, making a round gesture with his hands, “Everyone, knew you were to be my wife. But of course…That bastard dukestoleyou from me!"
His sudden outburst, reverberated through the night, a sharp accusation that pierced the air and made Jane take a small step backwards. As she quivered in fear, his demeanor shifted, his voice lowering as he attempted to reassure her with a smile that sent a shiver down her spine, "I'm here to make things right, you do not need worry or fear."
The false sense of security in his words only heightened her unease, the darkness of the night seeming to close in around her like a suffocating cloak.
Taking a menacing step forward, Graham extended a hand towards her, his intentions clear, but Jane's instinct for self-preservation kicked in, propelling her to jump back in terror.
With a quivering voice, she mustered the courage to warn him, "I have one of my husband's valets waiting for me in the distance. If I scream, he will hear it."
The threat of exposure hung heavy in the air, a fragile lifeline in the face of Graham's menacing advances.
In a chilling turn of events, his anger simmered beneath the surface. "Get the annulment before I lose my patience. I can be a very angry man!" His tone turned sharper as he taunted, "Or is it that you do not believe me?"
His gaze darted around before he leaned in with a sinister whisper, "Your sister would be proof enough for you to believe. Would you like me to leave a bruise for you to find on her?"
Jane's breath caught in her throat, a gasp escaping her lips as she recoiled in horror. "You would not dare."
, "Oh yes, I will. Your sister is a doormat, she will not say anything."
His callous disregard for her sister's well-being sent a shiver down Jane's spine.
“Even if she did, your father shall not care to do anything about it anyway, would he? Nobody likes damaged goods.”
The weight of his words crushed Jane's spirit, her heart sinking with despair as she realized the depth of her helplessness in the face of his cruelty.
Her world spun out of control. Her heart raced with fear, a primal instinct urging her to fight or flee, yet she was paralyzed by the sheer horror of the situation.
“You wouldn’t dare…”
