Newcastle, United Kingdom
October 1851

The next morning, Jane awoke with two things on her mind. One, and perhaps most importantly, she knew that Harry loved her. Still enveloped by the comforting warmth of her bed, Jane found herself beaming like a child on Christmas morning as she thought of Harry and everything that had passed between them the night before. She thought of his endearing words that clung to her like sap to a maple tree. She thought of his embrace and how she could almost feel the ghost of his touch dancing across her skin. Above all, she thought of his sweet, full lips and how they so passionately worked against her own in a moment of all-consuming desire and need. All this made Jane feel as if her heart could burst from the mere pleasure of what Harry meant to her. He represented what it could be to love someone in every way, and Jane hungered for it. For him.

Aside from her delightful feelings towards Harry, Jane also had the matter of her grandfather racing through her mind. She knew what needed to be done, but she despairingly battled within herself over how she ought to do it. Should she say nothing and allow him to inquire after her bruises? Or should she go to him in tears like a fearful child in search of protection? Jane didn't know, but she did know one thing. If she were to earn her grandfather's sympathy, she would need to seem like a little girl again.

With this in mind, Jane arose as her handmaid Alice entered the room to help her dress for the day. Not allowing the girl to look upon her face, Jane went to the window and instructed Alice to retrieve the light blue dress she used to wear when she was younger. Alice eyed her mistress skeptically, wondering why she would want to wear a such an out-of-style dress, but she nonetheless moved to obey. When Alice returned with the dress in hand, Jane turned towards her, for the first time revealing to the girl the injuries which her grandmother had so violently bestowed.

Jane watched as Alice's youthful face paled to hold an expression of shock and confusion. Alice had known Jane to come into a bruise or two on the arm every now and then, but this was different. This was blatant and undeniable abuse, and Alice feared that her young mistress might be getting herself into trouble. The maid opened her mouth to speak, but she fell silent as Jane brushed quickly past her to begin undressing.

The time between them passed wordlessly, and by the end of the hour, Jane looked like she was sixteen again. The dress had long sleeves a high neck, but came just low enough to display the deep blue marks on her neck. This would come in handy. The light blue fabric against Jane's fair skin brought out the brightness in her eyes, so much so that she very closely resembled one of those expensive, hand-painted china dolls. But her image was tainted by violence committed against her, and the appearance of innocence and purity that her entire demeanor projected only served to show how wrong it looked. That was exactly what Jane was hoping for.

"Alice, do you know where grandfather is?" Jane stared into the looking glass as she put the finishing touches on her golden hair. Alice shook her head, once again nervously darting her eyes away from the cut on Jane's cheek. It had scabbed over, but it was red and enflamed. It was just as painful as it looked.

"No, ma'am, but I would think that he is in his study." Alice bowed her head as Jane turned around to face her. "He usually is at this hour."

Jane frowned at the girl's unwillingness to look at her, but she supposed that this was a good thing. If her appearance made her maid uncomfortable, then surely, her grandfather would find it to be much worse.

"Thank you, Alice. You may go." Jane sighed as the girl curtsied and moved towards the door, but Jane suddenly remembered something. "Wait! Alice, one more thing." The maid turned around to face her. "Do you know where gran- Regina is?"

Alice was confused by Jane's use of her grandmother's first name, but Jane ignored the girl's inquisitive expression. She hated both of her grandparents for lying to her about her father, but Jane felt that if she were allowed to see him again, then maybe the transgression could be forgiven. It would take time, and she knew that, but her mother's parents had raised her as their own. She had lived a life of privilege and generally received their love and affection, so it was hard for her to suddenly disown them for something that had potential to be remedied.

But the matter of Regina was different. The woman had hurt Jane before, but this was the first time Jane found herself doing something about it. Standing up against Regina was just something she had never had the courage to do, but now, things had changed. Jane had matured over the summer, and she truly found herself to be a woman of confidence and intelligence. She wasn't the little girl she used to be; no more would she blindly follow Regina's every command, especially when it had anything to do with her future life as it did in the matter of James Hale. Jane was free from the mental prison in which Regina had ensnared her, and so, she could no longer see the woman as someone she could depend on in any capacity.

That was why Jane used her grandmother's first name. Regina wasn't a woman who cared for her granddaughter. She was a woman who sought to control those around her, no matter the effect her efforts might have one them. Jane could see her malicious cruelty now, and she would have no familial connections to her if she had anything to say about it.

Alice interrupted Jane's inner monologue with a feeble response to her inquiry, telling her that Regina was at the breakfast table, awaiting Jane's arrival. Jane thanked Alice and once again dismissed her. As she stood silently in front of the mirror, Jane took several deep breaths and tried to organize all that she intended to say in her thoughts. This was about her freedom, her rights as a human being, and most importantly, her safety. Jane felt that she wasn't asking for too much if these alone were her goals.

Jane had resolved the previous night to keep Harry and her father out of the conversation entirely, lest it go poorly and something terrible were to happen to either of them. Jane could endure Regina's cruelty herself, but she did not want to think of either of them having to endure it too, especially not Harry.

Taking one last glimpse of herself in the looking glass, Jane exited her bedroom and began her journey to her grandfather's study. He was her only hope in going about this peacefully, and she prayed with her entire being that he would indulge her. If not, well, Jane had several ideas that would most likely get her into a heap of trouble. She hoped to avoid that.

Jane's footsteps echoed through the lofty hallways of the great house, her heels clipping the gleaming wooden floors with each step. The sound proceeded in a rhythm that reminded Jane of those drums that the militia used when they marched into battle. It went on, pounding faster and faster along with the beat of her quickening heartbeat. Though it may seem to be a trivial matter, this was Jane's battle march. For the first time in her whole life, she was standing up for herself, and whatever faced her at the end of this march would determine her future.

The drumming continued in Jane's ears, steadily growing louder with every step, but then, all at once, Jane came to a sudden halt. The door to her grandfather's office was mere feet away now, and Jane knew that once she knocked on it, there would be no turning back. She would have to say her piece whether she changed her mind or not; the bruises on her neck and the cut on her cheek made it impossible.

As doubt began to creep over Jane like a looming storm cloud, she quickly shook her head and forced herself to stride forward regardless of her fears. She had to do this, if not for herself, then for Harry at least. Jane knew she could never face his loving gaze if she did not at least try; thus, Jane knocked confidently on the closed door of her grandfather's study, from which she heard his faint voice, granting her entry.

Grasping the door handle, Jane pushed the door open and with a remarkable confidence, stepped into the room before closing the door behind her. Her grandfather looked up at her, surprised that she had come to see him before breakfast, but was nonetheless pleased with her presence.

"Oh, Jane!" he exclaimed, glancing up from his paperwork for just a moment before shifting his focus back to the stack of papers of his desk. "Just one moment, my dear, I'm almost finished."

As Jane watched her grandfather finish up with whatever business matter he was so diligently attending to, she wandered towards the window that over looked the front grounds and stared out at the foggy morning in an attempt to calm herself. Her heart was still pounding in her ears, and her she could feel that her cheeks were hot with the stress of what was to come. It was then that Jane remembered she was supposed to be playing the child here with her grandfather. Taking a deep breath, Jane smoothed her skirts and adjusted the high neckline of her dress so that it would not cover the marks left there on her pale skin.

"Innocent," she thought. "I must be innocent."

"Alright, my dear," her grandfather spoke cheerfully. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company on this fine morning?"

Jane brushed her long, curled hair over her shoulder and sighed; at last, her time had come. With a pained smile on her face, Jane turned herself around sheepishly to face her grandfather at his desk. She walked towards him solemnly with her head up but not too high; if this were to work, Jane must appear to be timid like a wounded animal on which one might bestow his pity. As Jane approached her grandfather, she could see him taking in her appearance for the first time. With a sense of satisfaction in her heart, Jane watched him as his face distorted to hold an expression of genuine concern.

Henry Pelham promptly stood from his chair and rushed towards his granddaughter to investigate the meaning behind Jane's tainted appearance. The girl flinched when he approached her, which led him to believe that these marks on her fair skin were inflicted by means of some violence committed against her. Henry backed away just a bit and tried to catch Jane's eye, but she would not meet his gaze.

"Jane, what happened to you?" Henry's voice was soft and gentle, but still, Jane refrained from making a response or even raising her eyes to meet his. She crossed her arms over her body and shivered, keeping her countenance towards the floor. When Henry asked again, that was when Jane finally dared to look up at him. With her clear blue eyes glistening with tears, Henry watched as Jane tried to blink them away, but to no avail. Her acting was wonderful.

"Jane, you must tell me who harmed you. Whoever it is will be answering to me." He was angry; Jane could hear it in his voice, and she welcomed it. But he hadn't reached the height of his anger yet, and Jane intended to take him there so that the full weight of it could come crashing down upon the one person whom he least suspected.

"I don't want- I'm okay. I just wanted to ask you what you wanted for your birthday," she lied and forced an innocent smile that only prompted the gathering tears in her eyes to fall upon her rosy cheeks. Jane looked down to her hands and continued to expound on the lie she was telling; it would prompt him to pity her even further because even in her distressed state, she still seemed selfless enough to inquire after his birthday.

Jane was right in assuming this, for Jane's words to her grandfather only brought him more anger. How could someone be wicked enough to harm the sweet, innocent child who stood before him?

"Jane, don't be silly. Someone hurt you; who was it?"

Looking up at him through tear-soaked lashes, Jane opened her mouth to speak, but the moment she finally convinced herself to say her grandmother's name, she was interrupted by none other that the woman herself. The heavy, oaken door to Henry's study swung open, and in walked Regina Pelham, intimidating as ever.

"Henry, have you seen Jane? That daft maid of hers–" Regina fell silent as her eyes fell upon Jane standing there, and suddenly, panic arose in both women. Regina was concerned for her own innocence in her husband's eyes while Jane was stricken with fear at the idea of condemning her grandmother while in her presence. If her grandfather ever learned that his wife was behind the abuse committed against his dearest grandchild, then Jane knew hell would rain down on her for telling him who was responsible. Jane had thought of Regina's response before, but she had convinced herself that unless Regina actually heard her making the confession, she could not be blamed as an informant. How silly this rationalization seemed to her now.

"Oh, darling," Henry addressed his wife with some degree of earnestly in his voice. "I'm glad you're here. Someone has harmed Jane, and she refuses to tell me who is behind it."

Regina, ever so quick to put on a wonderfully executed show, promptly cast away her surprise and immediately began to feign concern that Jane knew had never been genuine.

"You poor thing!" Regina exclaimed, rushing forward to inspect the girl's cheek. Jane retreated back as her grandmother neared her, and for a moment, she almost thought she could see regret flashing in the woman's golden eyes. But this momentary remorse was short-lived as Regina made her attempt to clear up this mess by blaming it on someone else.

"Was it on of those boys?" Without waiting for an answer, Regina turned to Henry and pointed to Jane's face. "I knew having a stranger in my House was a mistake. Look what he has done to her."

"Oh, no," Jane thought. "She's going to try to blame it on Harry."

Henry looked to Jane in disbelief, his eyes landing on the scratch on her face. "Is this true? Did Mr. Sinclair hurt you?"

"No!" Jane replied a little too quickly. "No, it's wasn't him. Harry– I mean, Mr. Sinclair– would never hurt anyone."

Both Regina and Henry took notice of how the girl adamantly defended this acquaintance of theirs, but they said nothing in reference to it. Henry dismissed the oddity and pressed Jane further, asking her once more to reveal the truth of her injuries.

Jane was at a loss for words. She had meant to expose her grandmother's less than civil behavior, but now, she didn't think she could, not with the woman's golden eyes glaring at her. But she couldn't blame it on someone else and have them be wrongly punished for something her grandmother did. That would be wrong.

"Who was it, Jane?" Regina asked her, eyeing her with a taunting gleam in her eyes. Jane could see that the woman delighted in how terribly her plan had crumbled to pieces in front of her.

Jane's racing heart began to beat even more rapidly now that she was being forced to lie. Overdramatizing her distress to get a rise out of her grandfather was one thing, but blaming assault on an innocent was entirely something else. Jane was trapped in a cage of her own making, and there was no hope of escape, except by means of the most unpleasant course of action.

The tension in the room continued to build until at last Jane could bear it no longer. She had to say a name.

"It was James," she said breathlessly with her eyes fixed on her grandmother. The woman looked frustrated, but she revealed none of it; at least Jane hadn't named her as the aggressor.

Jane felt terrible saying James' name, but once she did, she began to think that maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. If her grandfather thought that James was abusive towards her, then surely, he wouldn't force her to marry him. She knew her grandfather could be cruel, but surely, he wasn't so cruel as to force her into a marriage in which violence were routine, even if it was lie.

Henry's jaw tightened and something flashed in his steel gray eyes that made Jane feel afraid. Perhaps she had gone too far.

"Jane, are you sure it was him?"

Jane scoffed. Even though she was lying, she could not help but be slightly offended that her grandfather would question her word on something like this. How could she not be sure of the identity of the person who wrung her neck and slapped her across the face?

"Yes," Jane said heatedly. "He came to my room last night and hit me when I tried to get him to leave."

Suddenly, it occurred to Jane that maybe this claim was not so wise to make. Surely, her grandfather would ask James about the truth of it. She needed something to help save her from being caught in a lie. James' drinking might work as a viable explanation of why he wouldn't remember it. She had seen him wandering the hallways last night with a drink in his hand as she left the mansion to meet Harry. He had to have been drunk out of his mind to be doing something so strange as that, so Jane concluded that this was her way out.

"I doubt he will remember it if you confront him about it, though," Jane added hurriedly, glancing over at Regina to see that the woman looked smug and almost... proud? Shaking off the odd observation, Jane continued her cover-up. "I've never seen a man so drunk in my entire life. That was why I was able to fight him off; he hadn't much strength left in him."

"It's true," Regina confirmed Jane's story. "I saw him last night as well, and I can confirm that he was beyond intoxicated." She turned towards Jane and put on the fakest sympathetic expression Jane had ever seen. "Had I known he was going to hurt you, I swear I would have done everything in my power to prevent it."

Henry sighed, bringing his hand up to his face and rubbing his temples. "My God," he mumbled to himself, the weight of the situation crashing down upon him.

Jane was likewise furious, but for an entirely different reason. How could Regina act so innocent as she did just then? How could she lie to her husband and elaborate on a crime to further condemn another when she was guilty of it herself? Quite frankly, Jane was having a difficult time in restraining her anger towards this woman, and she didn't know how much longer she could keep up the lie she had told. Only now, she knew it was essential that she stick with it, for she knew that if her grandfather were ever to find out the truth of what had happened, then she would never accomplish her goal of dissolving her engagement.

Thus, Jane decided that she had had enough of Regina's manipulation. She would use the situation she had so unwillingly created to her own benefit, and so for the first time, Jane voiced her desires to her grandparents in a moment of spontaneous aggravation.

"Then use your power now," Jane said flatly, locking eyes with the woman in front of her and not wavering in her stance when Regina scowled at her. "Don't make me marry him."

The silence that followed between them was chilling. Not one of them moved a muscle for several moments as Jane's words hung in the air. That thing for which she asked was by no means an easily granted request, and each one of them was painfully aware of it. But there was something else too that lingered between the two elder Pelhams, for they knew that no matter Jane's protestations nor James' actions towards her could influence them to sever the connection. However foolish that boy was, the Pelhams needed his loyalty and the continued flow of funds from his family for their business to survive, and they knew that the only way to secure it was by means of Jane. Whether she was up for the task or not, Jane would be the glue that held their great shipping empire together as the the English economy neared the edge of collapse. It was essential for them to establish this match, and though it was unfortunate, it could not be undone.

But Jane didn't know any of this. All she knew was that she was engaged to a drunk while the man who loved her was forced to watch. It was unfair, and Jane hoped to change it.

Regina glanced at her husband and sighed as she realized that she would be the one to handle this. She was the one who handled everything, it seemed.

"Jane, I've told you before, this is not up to you." Regina's voice was gentler than it usually was; Jane suspected it was because she felt at least some sense of gratitude towards her for not revealing who was really behind the bruises on her throat. But however soft Regina's tone may have seemed, her attitude did little to distract Jane from the harsh reality of her words. She had expected this much, but she was nonetheless gutted by the realization that her expectations had been proven true. Before, Jane had had hope, but now it was slipping away from her like smoke in the wind.

Jane turned to her grandfather, hoping to summon some of his pity on her. "Please, grandfather, I don't–"

"Listen to me, young lady," Regina interrupted her harshly, taking steps towards her and taking the girl's arm into her firm grip. Jane did her best to retreat from the woman's advances, but to no avail. Regina's hold was strong and unwavering, and until she said all that she intended to say, Jane knew that Regina would not even think of letting go of her.

"It's unfortunate that he has a drinking problem, but that can be fixed. We all must make sacrifices for the sake of our family, and this is yours." Regina laughed bitterly. "I don't understand why you choose to see this as such a devastating blow to your future; James is handsome and wealthy. He will provide well for you, and with your delicate beauty and his strong build, your children will be simply divine. How could you complain about this life we have given you?"

Listening to Regina speak had pushed Jane to her breaking point, and she found that now more than ever before, she could not keep the irritated words from slipping through her lips.

Raising her voice and brushing away the angry tears that had begun to gather in her eyes, Jane shouted in her grandmother's face. "I don't love him!"

It was Regina's turn to scoff in Jane's face. "You ignorant child. Marriage isn't about love; it's about getting ahead. Even your grandfather knows that; he married me for my money and you will do the same for James. It's essential that you do so, or we'll be ruined."

So that's why they were so insistent upon this connection. The ordeal made a little more sense to Jane now, but she still didn't understand how her marriage could secure them anything in terms of wealth. Even if she did marry James, nothing of his would ever go to them in the event of his death. It was go to his children, not his wife.

"I don't understand," Jane mumbled quietly. "I'm not entitled to any inheritance even if I am married to him."

Regina released Jane's arm and sighed. "It's not inheritance we're concerned with; it's his loyalty to the company we need most, and you are the key to ensure it."

"Can't he just sign a contract?" Jane inquired confusedly, still trying to find a way out of this.

"Contracts can be broken," her grandfather stated dryly, for the first time weighing in on the conversation. "His marriage to you would obligate him to stay with us, and if there's anything I do know about the Hales, it's that they observe with strict adherence, the social expectations set upon them. Once James is joined with you in matrimony, he would forever feel bound to keep peace with us by staying on our side."

Henry softened his expression as he looked into Jane's eyes. "I will speak to James about his drinking, but I'm afraid I cannot sever your union with him. I truly am sorry to have to put you through this, but we need the security, Jane, and you are the only way to get there."

Tears began to well up in Jane's eyes again as she began to see that there was nothing she could do to alter her situation. They didn't care what happened to her, so long as they got what they wanted. She would receive no pity from them, and she should have known it.

With wet cheeks, Jane watched as the two adults looked down at her, both holding expressions with varying degrees of sympathy. Her grandfather looked entirely apologetic, and for a moment, even Regina seemed to feel bad for the girl despite her harsh speech from moments before. It was Regina's softness that told her this conversation was over; nothing could move that woman to sympathy, so for her to merely show pity was enough for Jane to know that she had lost. Her future was set, and it did not involve Harry in the least.

But Jane didn't want to admit it just yet. With the remaining determination she still had, Jane thought of the one argument she hadn't used yet, and she determined to give it her best shot regardless of the consequences. If she didn't, she would wonder forever what could have been had she merely had the courage to speak her mind.

"Please." Jane's voice cracked as she tried to speak through her tears. "Please, don't make me. I– I know I'm a bastard. I'll tell him that my parents never married. He won't want me then. No one will want me then."

There was a visible shift in her grandfather's countenance when Jane said this; his jaw was clenched so tightly that Jane could see the veins bulging in his neck. His steel gray eyes narrowed and there was a harshness to them that Jane had never seen before. Clearly, Henry was not pleased with her for bringing his daughter into this. Regina likewise appeared to be brewing with fury. Her fair complexion had turned red with her anger, and Jane was certain that there would be smoke billowing from her flaring nostrils if it were possible. Any trace of sympathy from either of them had disintegrated like a leaf devoured by a flame, and Jane suddenly became aware that she had indeed made an error.

Regina moved to speak, but her husband held up his hand to silence her. Jane had never seen her grandmother shrink away like she did in that moment, but the woman did, cowering behind him as he prepared to speak the words that would silence Jane forever. She was terrified now, her heart beating wildly in her chest as she awaited the moment her last hope would be destroyed. It was agony, but she knew that the present feeling of fear and devastation would pale in comparison to what was to come.

Buttoning his coat, Henry glared at his granddaughter and unfeelingly spoke his piece, a feeling of hatred for something or someone that Jane could not identify, emanating from his aggravated demeanor.

"I don't know what you think you know," Henry began, stepping towards her to tower over her. "But you can cast it away now before you come to regret it. And don't try to test me on this; you're out of your depth, little girl."

Jane felt his words. Because of her wardrobe selections of the day, she looked far younger than she was, and like a child, there was so much that she not know. It wasn't her fault that she was so unaware of all the moving parts of her family's dealings, but regardless of whose fault it was, Jane was suffering for it now. She was too ignorant of the details to be making a stand in this way, and now that she saw her grandfather's hostile expression, she was all too aware of it. Simply put, the entire conversation had not turned out at all the way she planned, and Jane was now more terrified than ever. Not only was she condemned to a life with James, but she had also managed to irritate the only people who had the authority to save her from such a fate.

What little courage she had managed to build up in herself during the last months had been shattered in an instant, and now as she stood there vulnerable to her emotions and the continued oppression of her grandparents, Jane knew that all hope was lost. She was just like any other woman, a victim to the rule of men and denied the most basic right of having a choice. Her life was not her own, and no amount of courage could change it. This was merely the way of the world, and like her mother before her, there was no one to defend her.

Jane was utterly and hopelessly alone, and so, without another word, Jane meekly excused herself from her grandfather's study, weak from the defeat she had suffered. In her despair, Jane found herself running down the hallways towards the one place in which she was sure to find comfort. When she reached Harry's room, she found him standing near the window with his shirt laid out on the bed beside him. Had it not been for the tears in her eyes, Jane would have admired the way Harry's muscles strained under his bare skin as he turned around to face her, but now was not the time for such small pleasures.

When Harry first saw her standing there in the doorway, he was initially embarrassed by the nakedness of his chest, but as he observed the tears in Jane's eyes, his heart dropped in his chest. Jane had told him the night before that she would be speaking to her grandfather that day, and Harry took Jane's present distress as the unfortunate results of that conversation. As angry as Harry was in that moment, he cast away his feelings for the time being in hopes that he might comfort Jane and come to understand the entirety of what had happened that morning.

Harry made quick work of approaching Jane, for in a matter of moments, she was in his arms once again with her face pressed against his bare chest. Despite the less than ideal circumstances, Harry could not help but feel relieved that Jane was with him like this. He loved feeling of her skin against his own, and though he knew it was not the time for such thoughts, Harry could not help but imagine what it would be like if they were married. He would get to feel her perfect skin in its entirety and they would love each other more completely than anyone had ever loved someone before.

Harry's thoughts were interrupted as Jane sobbed into his chest for what seemed like the hundredth time. He wished it weren't like this; he wished that when he held her, it wasn't in an effort to soothe her tears. He wished that he could hold her in a moment of joy instead of sadness, and that he could kiss her without the taste of her tears on his lips. He wished for serenity, but that was not in the cards for either of them. Instead, they had to navigate the restless waters of their lives, hoping for one brief moment of respite before being pulled beneath the surface for another battle to attain oxygen. The battle was exhausting, but the war had just begun.

Gently stroking her hair, Harry kept his arms tightly around Jane as he swayed ever so slightly in an effort to bring her some sense of peace. Eventually, his actions began to succeed as Jane's weeping slowly dissipated. She looked up at him moments later, her eyes red and puffy from the excessive amount of crying she had been practicing as of late, and as Harry looked upon her face, he understood that all hope was lost. Jane didn't need to speak for him to understand that, but still, he wanted to hear it aloud, lest he allow himself hope that would only taunt him.

"What happened?" Harry asked her cautiously, bracing himself for the dreadful answer he already knew.

Jane sniffled and wiped beneath her eyes as Harry released her and allowed her to gather herself to speak. She could not bear to look upon his face, for she knew that if she did, she would only start to cry again, so she kept her eyes cast towards the floor to avoid yet another emotional outburst.

"Th- they said I have to marry him, Harry." Her voice cracked as she said his name. "They said that there is nothing that could make them change their minds."

Regardless of Harry's preparedness for Jane's words, Harry felt his heart shatter in his chest. Surely, there was some mistake; surely, James couldn't matter that much to these people. Harry didn't understand.

"Wha–" Harry cleared his throat. "What are we going to do, then?"

Jane shrugged, "I don't know; the only thing that can undo it is if I run away."

"I'll go with you," Harry interjected earnestly, even though he knew she hadn't meant it. He meant it though; after the words left his lips, Harry knew in an instant that would be entirely willing to follow Jane wherever she led him. If running away were their only option, Harry would do it without a second thought.

Looking up at him with wide eyes, Jane could scarcely believe what she had just heard. "Harry, you cannot be serious?"

It took him several moment to process her words, merely because he was too shocked with himself to think coherently, but eventually Harry once again iterated what he had already said to her.

"I am serious, Jane. If you want to, I'll run away with you tonight."

•••

My contacts are so dry from writing this that they're about to fall out of my eyes lol

Thanks for reading! Ily❤️
-kate❤️