Chapter XIX

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the small inn where Alexandra and her brother, Wesley, were staying. It was well past midnight, and the inn was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards and the distant hoot of an owl. Alexandra had been restless, unable to sleep, and decided to take a walk to clear her mind. As she made her way down the dimly lit corridor, she noticed a shadowy figure struggling with a heavy black bag near the back entrance of the inn.

She squinted, trying to make out the figure's identity. Her heart skipped a beat when she recognized her brother, Wesley, dragging the bag with obvious difficulty. Curiosity and concern gripped her as she approached him quietly.

"Wesley," she whispered, startling him. He jumped slightly, his grip on the bag tightening.

"Alexandra, what are you doing up at this hour?" he asked, his voice strained.

"I could ask you the same thing," she retorted, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at the bag. "What's in there?"

"It's nothing, just some old clothes," Wesley replied too quickly, avoiding her gaze.

Alexandra wasn't convinced. "Wesley, you're lying. What's really in the bag?"

He sighed, knowing he couldn't hide the truth any longer. "Alright, alright. It's Jenna."

"Jenna? What do you mean it's Jenna?" Alexandra's voice rose in panic.

Wesley looked around nervously, urging her to keep her voice down. "I mean, Jenna is in the bag. She's dead."

Alexandra's eyes widened in shock and horror. "What happened? How did she die?"

"It was an accident," Wesley said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We got into a fight, and I didn't mean to, but...she fell and hit her head. I panicked and didn't know what to do."

Alexandra's shock quickly turned to anger. "You idiot! Jenna was the one keeping tabs on the Duke and Duchess. Who's going to do that now if she's dead?"

Wesley's face turned pale. "I...I didn't think of that."

"And what about Adelaide?" Alexandra continued, tears welling up in her eyes. "She'll want to know why Jenna is no longer at the manor. What are we supposed to tell her?"

Wesley looked down, guilt and regret etched on his face. "I'm so sorry, Alexandra. I didn't mean for this to happen."

Alexandra wiped away her tears, trying to compose herself. "We need to think of a plan. We can't let anyone find out about this."

Wesley nodded, his expression grim. "You're right. Let's take her somewhere no one will find her, and then we'll figure out what to tell Adelaide."

The next Morning,

Adelaide woke up beside her husband, the Duke of Ashbourne, feeling the warmth of his body next to hers. She stretched lazily, enjoying the rare moment of peace and comfort. After a few minutes, she rang the bell for a maid. A young maid named Clara appeared at the door.

"Clara, could you please send for Jenna?" Adelaide asked, sitting up in bed.

Clara hesitated, wringing her hands nervously. "I'm afraid Jenna hasn't been seen since last night, Your Grace."

Adelaide's brow furrowed in concern. "What do you mean she hasn't been seen? Did she leave the manor?"

"We're not sure, Your Grace. She was here yesterday evening, but no one has seen her since. We thought she might be with you," Clara explained.

Adelaide exchanged a worried glance with Luca. "No, she wasn't with us. Have you checked her room?"

"Yes, Your Grace, but there's no sign of her," Clara replied.

Adelaide's mind raced, trying to make sense of Jenna's sudden disappearance. "Send some of the staff to search the grounds and nearby areas. She must be around here somewhere."

Clara curtsied and hurried off to carry out her orders. Adelaide turned to Luca, her worry deepening. "Something's not right, Luca. Jenna wouldn't just disappear without telling anyone."

Luca took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "We'll find her, Adelaide. Don't worry."

But Adelaide couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible had happened. She only hoped they would find Jenna soon, and that her fears would prove unfounded.

The inn room was dimly lit by a single flickering candle on the small wooden table near the window. Alexandra lay in bed, her mind racing, unable to find rest. The weight of their predicament pressed heavily on her, her thoughts spiraling into a mix of anxiety and determination. She tossed and turned, her pillow damp with the sweat of sleeplessness.

Just as the clock struck the hour of two, a soft knock echoed on the door. Alexandra tensed, her eyes wide in the gloom. "Come in," she called softly.

Wesley entered cautiously, his face etched with guilt and concern. Seeing his sister's troubled state, he moved to sit beside her on the bed, his expression one of deep regret.

"Alexandra," Wesley began, his voice low, "I'm really sorry for everything. I know things have gotten out of hand, and I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

Alexandra turned to face him, her eyes red and weary. "I understand, Wesley, but it doesn't change the fact that we're in a terrible situation. Jenna was crucial to our plans, and now she's gone. We need to find a way to fix this."

Wesley nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I've been thinking about what we can do, but I'm at a loss. We need to be careful. We can't afford to make any mistakes."

Alexandra sat up, her resolve hardening. "We need a plan. A way to get inside the manor and gather the information we need. The sooner we act, the better."

Wesley's eyes brightened as he considered the possibilities. "What if we hired someone to pose as a servant or a tradesperson? They could get inside and report back to us."

Alexandra shook her head. "It's risky. We don't know if the staff or tradespeople would be reliable or if they'd arouse suspicion. We need something more foolproof."

Wesley furrowed his brow. "What if we tried to create a diversion? Something to draw their attention away from what's happening inside?"

Alexandra's face remained thoughtful. "That could work, but it would still be a gamble. We'd need something elaborate, and there's no guarantee it would succeed."

A long silence followed as both siblings pondered their options. The weight of Jenna's loss and the urgency of their situation pressed heavily on them. Finally, Alexandra spoke up, her voice steady with a newfound clarity.

"I think I have an idea," she said slowly. "I'll dress up as a poor lady—someone who's lost her way and is in desperate need of work. I'll change my appearance so I'm not recognized. I can use this disguise to gain entry into the manor and get close to Adelaide. She's kind-hearted and will likely take pity on me and offer me a place to stay."

Wesley's eyes widened with realization. "That's a brilliant plan. Adelaide will be more likely to trust you if you present yourself as someone in need."

"Yes," Alexandra agreed. "Once I'm inside, I'll be able to keep tabs on the Duke and Duchess and find out what they're up to. I'll be able to observe their behavior and gather the information we need."

Wesley's expression shifted from concern to admiration. "It's risky, but it's the best plan we have. You'll need to prepare thoroughly to make sure you blend in and don't raise any suspicion."

He hesitated before adding, "But you should remember, the Duke might recognize you. It's been five years, but—"

Alexandra cut him off with a smirk. "He probably thinks I'm dead by now. It's not like I'm etched in his memory. People change over time, Wesley. And besides, it's been long enough that he won't remember me."

Wesley opened his mouth to argue but was silenced by Alexandra's determined gaze. "Let's not waste time. We need to get everything ready. I'll handle the disguise and the story. You focus on supporting me and making sure everything else goes smoothly."

With that, Wesley nodded, a mixture of concern and admiration in his eyes. As Alexandra brushed off his further comments and immersed herself in planning her revenge, a cold smile played on her lips. Her mind was set on executing the plan and achieving her goals, no matter the risks involved.

The siblings worked together, their resolve strengthened by the clarity of their strategy. The stakes were high, but their renewed sense of purpose gave them hope amidst the uncertainty.