“Ewan,” Duncan began, his voice steady despite the turmoil within, “I must speak with you.”

Ewan paused, his eyes meeting Duncan’s. “What is it?”

“I know where Juliet is,” Duncan confessed, his words hanging in the air like a storm cloud, heavy with unspoken consequences. Ewan’s eyes widened with relief, his shoulders visibly relaxing for a brief moment.

“Where is she?” Ewan demanded, the edge of desperation in his voice.

Duncan’s face hardened with resolve. “I can’t tell you that.”

The relief drained from Ewan’s face, replaced by a fiery anger. He stepped closer, his fists clenching at his sides. “You can’t tell me? She’s my wife! I have a right to know where she is.”

“I swore an oath to her. I feared if I didn’t, she would leave, and we’d never find her,” Duncan replied, his voice steady but his eyes revealing his conflict. “She’s frightened, Ewan. Frightened for you.”

Relief washed over Ewan, knowing Juliet was safe, but it warred with a surge of betrayal. How could Duncan, his most trusted friend, have kept Juliet from him? The air crackled with tension, like a storm about to break, as they faced each man locked in a silent battle of wills.

“You knew all along,” Ewan’s voice was barely a whisper, yet it carried the devastation of a deep trust coming undone. “How could you?” The betrayal stung, not just because of the secret kept from him, but because it came from Duncan, his most trusted confidant.

Duncan stood his ground, his loyalty to Juliet clashing with his fealty to Ewan. “I found her today. I had to protect her, Ewan. You know I—”

“No!” Ewan’s shout cut through the tension. He advanced on Duncan, his hands clenched at his sides. “You had no right!”

The tension between Ewan and Duncan was clear and undeniable, a reflection of their long-standing camaraderie now strained by recent events. Ewan’s hand shot out, grabbing Duncan by the collar, pulling him close. “Best for who, Duncan? For Juliet? For you? What about me?”

The question hung between them, heavy with implications. Duncan’s eyes never left Ewan’s, his own conflict evident. “For all of us, Ewan. For all of us.”

Ewan’s grip tightened, his other hand raised, poised to strike. But as he looked into Duncan’s eyes, he saw not defiance but anunwavering commitment. With a ragged breath, Ewan released him, his arm dropping to his side.

“I trusted you.” The hurt in Ewan’s voice was more impactful than any physical blow could be.

Duncan straightened his collar, his voice soft. “And you can still trust me, Ewan. To protect her, to protect you, to protect the family you’re building.”

He paused, his gaze shifting to the floor for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. His jaw tightened, and he took a deep breath, clearly weighing his next words carefully.

He paused, his gaze flickering as if weighing the consequences. Then, with a firm nod, he decided. “There’s something else you need to know. It’s about the anonymous letters you and Juliet have been receiving.”

Ewan’s eyes narrowed, a mix of confusion and apprehension. “What about them?”

“I’ve discovered who has been sending them,” Duncan revealed. “It’s Sebastian.”

Ewan’s expression shifted to disbelief. “Sebastian? How can you be certain?”

A wry smile lit Duncan’s face. “Aside from his handwriting matching a letter he sent to Juliet’s family offering condolences for their son’s loss, the bastard can’t spell. He consistently misspells ‘unbearable’ as ‘unbareable’—in both the anonymous threats and his own letters.”

Ewan stared at him, the weight of the revelation sinking in. “He’s been behind this all along,” he muttered, anger and realization mingling in his eyes. he turned away, his anger spent, replaced by an aching sense of betrayal. “Just… make sure she’s safe, Duncan. That’s all I ask.”

A fragile truce hung between them, the understanding clear and yet fraught with unspoken fears. They were in unchartedwaters, but their course was set—to protect Juliet, no matter the cost.

As Ewan’s anger subsided, the memories of Paris crept into his mind—the assignment that had ended in tragedy, the life he couldn’t save. It was a failure that haunted him, a shadow that loomed over his every decision. Now, faced with the possible loss of Juliet, the fear of failing her as he had failed before was unbearable.

“I cannot fail her, Duncan. Not like I did in Paris,” Ewan confessed, his voice breaking with the admission.

Duncan’s hand found Ewan’s shoulder. “You won’t, Ewan. We won’t let that happen.”

*

The carriage wheelscrunched on the gravel as it rolled to a stop before Sir Giles’ grand estate. Juliet’s heart was a drumbeat in her chest, a mix of anticipation and nerves for the card game she expected to witness—and unravel. Aunt Geraldine patted her hand reassuringly as they stepped out into the cool evening air.

“Thank you ever so much for extending your hospitality at such short notice,” Aunt Geraldine nodded with a gracious smile. Her words struck the correct note of gratitude to Lady Giles, who greeted them with open arms. “My niece and I are most grateful.”