Chapter 10 – The Last Night

The candlelight flickered against the heavy drapes of Eleanor's chamber, casting shadows that seemed to echo her tumultuous thoughts. The weight of her decision pressed upon her as she fastened the clasps of a modest traveling gown, far removed from the elegant silks and satins she had grown accustomed to. The air in the room felt thick, stifling, as if the very walls knew of the betrayal she was about to commit against the life that had been so carefully laid out for her.

Tomorrow morning, she would no longer be Eleanor Sinclair, daughter of the esteemed Sinclair family. She would be simply Eleanor—a woman leaving behind a life of luxury for a future of uncertainty, bound only by love and the promise of freedom. It was a notion both terrifying and exhilarating. The thought of starting over, of forging her own destiny alongside Sebastian, sent a thrill through her veins. But the risks loomed, dark and unrelenting. If they were caught, the consequences would be dire.

A soft knock at her door shattered the silence.

"Come in," she whispered, her voice barely carrying over the crackling hearth.

Sebastian entered, his dark eyes scanning the room before settling on her. His presence was a balm to her frayed nerves, and yet, the intensity in his gaze told her that the reality of their situation weighed just as heavily on him. He had abandoned his own security for this, for her. The depth of his sacrifice left her breathless.

"We don't have much time," he murmured, stepping closer. "Everything is ready. The carriage will be waiting beyond the west gardens."

She nodded, clutching the edge of the vanity table for balance. "Have you spoken to my maid?"

"Yes. She'll cover your absence until morning. By then, we'll be long gone."

The thought of running—of fleeing into the unknown—was both thrilling and terrifying. Eleanor swallowed the lump in her throat. "Nathaniel will know."

Sebastian's expression darkened. "He already suspects. But by the time he acts, it will be too late."

A shiver coursed through her, not from fear, but from the realization that there was no turning back. She had made her choice, and come dawn, she would be a fugitive from her own life. It was strange how easily the decision had come to her, despite the weight of it. A lifetime of lessons in duty and decorum unraveled in a single moment of clarity.

Sebastian reached for her hand, his warmth grounding her. "Are you certain?"

She searched his face—the man who had risked everything for her, who had shown her a world beyond gilded cages and suffocating expectations.

"Yes," she whispered. "I am."

His grip tightened. "Then let's go."

A sudden noise in the hallway made them both freeze. Footsteps. Slow, deliberate. Eleanor's breath hitched, and Sebastian's fingers found the hilt of the dagger concealed at his waist. The sound lingered outside her door for a moment, an eternity stretched between heartbeats, before fading into the distance.

Eleanor exhaled, her pulse racing. "We have to move."

Sebastian nodded, pulling her toward the window. He pushed it open, revealing the trellis that stretched down the length of the manor's exterior. Moonlight bathed the gardens below in a soft glow, casting an eerie beauty over the night that would change everything.

She hesitated for only a second before swinging her leg over the ledge, the cool night air rushing against her skin. Sebastian followed, his movements fluid and sure, as if he had been trained for this very moment.

As they descended, the scent of damp earth and blooming jasmine filled her lungs. The night seemed to hold its breath, the stillness thick with anticipation. Each step brought her closer to the life she had chosen, to freedom. But it also brought her closer to the unknown.

The moment her feet touched the grass, Sebastian was beside her, taking her hand once more. "The carriage is just beyond the grove," he whispered.

She nodded, gripping his hand tighter as they moved through the gardens, weaving between sculpted hedges and stone fountains. Every sound—every rustle of leaves, every distant hoot of an owl—felt amplified, a reminder that danger lurked just beyond the safety of the shadows.

Finally, the carriage came into view, the horses stamping their hooves impatiently. Sebastian helped her inside, closing the door softly behind them. The driver, a trusted ally, gave a curt nod before snapping the reins, sending them into the night.

Eleanor leaned against Sebastian, exhaling a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She had done it. She had walked away from the life she had always known. The reality of it settled deep within her bones, the weight of her decision pressing into her chest.

Sebastian pressed a kiss to her temple. "We're free now," he murmured.

But as the manor faded into the distance, a lone figure stood on the balcony, watching.

Nathaniel knew.

And he would not let her go so easily.