Chapter 5: A Dangerous Game
The days that followed Jack's unexpected encounters with Jane were filled with tension—tension Jane could not afford to entertain. She buried herself in her work, avoiding Jack whenever possible, keeping her head down even as she felt his presence in every corner of the estate.
But the staff noticed. The maids whispered. The footmen watched.
And Olivia seethed.
---
Morning Duties
In the grand dining room, the early morning sun streamed through the tall windows, casting golden rays across the polished wooden table and expensive china. Jane moved with practiced grace, her cloth gliding over the table's surface as she dusted away invisible specks.
The heavy door creaked open behind her.
Her heart clenched.
She knew who it was without turning.
Jack Lawrence.
Jane kept her eyes down, praying he would simply pass through.
But he didn't.
Instead, he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes fixed on her with that same unsettling intensity that made her stomach twist.
"You've been avoiding me," he said, breaking the silence.
Jane's hand faltered for a moment before she quickly recovered.
"I have been doing my duties, Mr. Lawrence."
Jack chuckled quietly. "Is that what you call it?"
Her pulse quickened. This was dangerous. Being seen with him, speaking to him—it would only fuel the rumors that already ran through the servants' quarters like wildfire.
She straightened, folding the cloth neatly in her hands. "You are the master's son. I am a maid. That is how it should be."
Jack's gaze softened, and he stepped closer. "And what if that's not enough for me?"
Jane's breath hitched.
Before she could respond, footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Panic surged through her as the door swung open.
"Jack."
Olivia's voice sliced through the air like a blade.
Jane stiffened but kept her head bowed as Olivia swept into the room, her elegant gown rustling against the marble floor.
"I was wondering where you'd disappeared to," Olivia said with thinly veiled suspicion.
Jack's jaw tightened. "Is there something you need, Olivia?"
"You, of course," Olivia replied smoothly. "Your mother is expecting you for breakfast."
As Olivia moved past Jack, she paused beside Jane, her voice dropping to a whisper only Jane could hear.
"You shouldn't overstep, maid."
Jane's hand clenched around the cloth, her cheeks burning with humiliation.
"Olivia," Jack's voice held a warning.
Olivia smiled sweetly. "Come, darling. We wouldn't want your mother to think you've been… distracted."
Jack hesitated, his eyes lingering on Jane for a moment longer before turning to follow Olivia out of the room.
The door closed behind them, and Jane let out a slow, unsteady breath.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
She had to stop this.
Whatever Jack Lawrence's fascination with her was, it would only bring ruin.
And ruin was the last thing she needed.
---
A Warning
Later that afternoon, Jane carried a tray of fresh linens through the dimly lit hallway when she nearly collided with Olivia.
Jane's breath caught as Olivia's cold, calculating eyes narrowed on her.
"Forgive me, Miss Olivia," Jane murmured, stepping aside.
But Olivia did not move.
Instead, she tilted her head, her expression unreadable.
"I've been meaning to speak with you," Olivia said, her tone dangerously soft.
Jane lowered her gaze. "Miss?"
Olivia took a slow step forward. "Jack has a habit of entertaining… lesser company. But you, my dear, are nothing more than a passing amusement."
Jane's stomach twisted.
"You understand what I'm saying, don't you?" Olivia pressed, her smile as sharp as glass.
"I do not—"
"You do." Olivia's voice hardened. "You are a clever girl. You know your place. And I trust you will stay in it."
Jane's hands trembled as she forced herself to nod. "Yes, Miss Olivia."
Satisfied, Olivia turned and glided down the hallway, leaving Jane standing there, cold and shaken.
---
The Confession
That evening, Jane returned to the small, dimly lit quarters she shared with her ailing father, Charles.
He sat in his worn wooden chair, wrapped in a threadbare blanket, his frail body weakened by years of labor and illness.
"You look troubled, my dear," he said softly as she entered.
Jane forced a smile as she set a bowl of warm broth beside him. "It's nothing, Papa."
Charles studied her with weary eyes. "I know my daughter. Something weighs on your heart."
Jane hesitated, her fingers twisting in her apron. Could she tell him? Could she admit the dangerous attention Jack Lawrence had turned upon her?
Finally, she whispered, "Someone has taken notice of me. Someone who should not."
Her father's smile faded.
"A Lawrence?" he asked quietly.
Jane nodded.
Charles sighed and reached for her hand. "You must be careful, Jane. Men like him… they live by different rules. They do not suffer the same consequences we do."
"I know," Jane murmured, her eyes burning with unshed tears.
Her father's grip tightened. "And yet, you seem conflicted."
Jane swallowed hard. "Because… despite everything… I don't know if I want him to stop."
Her father's expression turned pained.
"Oh, Jane," he whispered.
She lowered her head, shame and longing warring within her.
She was playing a dangerous game.
And she feared she was already losing.
---
A Silent Promise
The following day, Jane avoided Jack's gaze as she moved through the great hall, carrying silverware and setting the dining table.
Yet she felt his eyes on her.
Watching. Waiting.
Her heart ached with confusion and longing.
From across the room, Jack stood near the window, his hands in his pockets, tension etched in his jaw.
He wanted to reach her. To speak to her.
But Olivia's threat echoed in Jane's mind.
If she allowed herself to be drawn in, it would cost her everything.
So, she kept her head down, her heart aching as she walked past him without a word.
As she disappeared into the servant's corridor, Jack's eyes darkened with frustration.
But he would not give up.
No matter how much Jane tried to push him away, Jack Lawrence had already made up his mind.
She was the only woman he had ever wanted.
And he would fight for her—no matter the cost.