about. Madeline supposed the housekeeper had already left. She made her way up to the nursery. She crossed to Grace’s bed.
“Baby,” she murmured, shaking her daughter gently, “sweetheart, it’s time to get up.”
Grace whimpered and rolled over, crushing her favorite teddy bear to her chest. Madeline shook her again. “Come on, sweetie, we’re going on a trip. Time to wake up.”
Grace yawned. She cracked open her eyes. Her lips curved up. “Hi, Mommy.”
Madeline’s heart turned over. She never got enough of hearing her daughter call her that, never got enough of that sweet, baby voice or the way the little girl looked at her—as if Madeline were the most important, the best, person in the world.
She loved Grace so much it terrified her. She prayed she was doing the right thing.
“I need you to dress, baby. Your clothes are right over there.” She pointed to the rocking chair, where she had laid out her daughter’s garments. She saw that her hand shook. “Can you do that for me?”
Grace nodded and sat up; she stuck her thumb in her mouth—a habit Pierce couldn’t abide—and eyed her mother. “Mommy’s upset.”
“No, honey. Just rushed.”
“Where are we going?”
Madeline hesitated. What could she tell her daughter? That she planned to drive until she could drive no more, her only goal to put as much distance between them and the Monarchs as possible? Hardly. Instead, she tapped Grace on the nose. “It’s going to be so much fun. Just you and me.”
“Not Daddy?”
Madeline shook her head. “He has to work.”
Grace accepted her explanation without question or murmur. The truth was, Grace and Pierce weren’t especially close; he was always busy, and when he did have time for Grace he was critical—she was too loud, too messy, she didn’t pronounce words correctly. He hardly ever hugged or kissed her; he always spoke of her in terms not of love but of value. To the family. To the business.
“Not Grandfather or Grandmother?”
Madeline shook her head. “Nope.”
Grace curved her arms around herself. “Not brother?”
“Not brother,” Madeline answered sharply. Never brother. “We’re going to have such fun, just you and me.”
“Okay.” Yawning again, Grace climbed out of bed. “Clothes over there?”
“That’s right, honey.” Madeline went to the nursery door, stopping when she reached it. “You get dressed. I’ll be right back, then I’ll help with your socks and shoes.”
“Thanks, Mommy.”
Madeline squatted and held out her arms. “I think I need a hug.”
Grace trotted over. She wrapped her chubby little arms around Madeline’s neck and squeezed. Madeline hugged her back, hard.
“I love you, sweetheart. More than anything. I always will.”
“Me, too. More than anything.”
Madeline kissed her, then stood. “I’ll be right back. Get dressed.”
Madeline ducked into the hall, glancing at her watch again as she did. Time was slipping by. Too much time. She had to put as much distance between her and this family as she could, as fast as she could. When Pierce and Adam realized what she had done, they would use their every resource to find her.
She ran to her and Pierce’s bedroom. There, she raced across to the bed and, getting down on her hands and knees, yanked the suitcases out from under. With trembling fingers she unlocked hers, looked it over to make sure nothing had been moved, then tucked the pouch of gems inside. That done, she snapped the case shut, stood and bent for the bags.
Pierce knew.
The thought came to her suddenly, with it an overwhelming feeling of dread. A sense of foreboding. She looked over her shoulder, half expecting to see him standing behind her, the expression in his eyes murderous.
The doorway was empty.
Even so, a shudder moved up her spine. He knew. Dear Jesus, he knew.
But how could he? She shook her head. If he did, he would have disturbed the contents of her suitcase. He would have confronted her.
She had to get a grip, she told herself, hoisting up the bags. She had to keep her wits about her—for Grace’s sake. And her own. If Pierce caught her, she didn’t know what he might do.
He might even kill her.
Madeline took a deep, calming breath. Twenty minutes from now she and Grace would be on the road, and on their way to starting a new life, one free of this unhappy, twisted family. Everything was going according to plan.
After peeking into the hall to make sure no one was about, she returned to the nursery. Grace was dawdling, having gotten distracted in the bathroom.
“Mommy, I brushed my teeth really good. For a long time, every tooth.”
Madeline took another deep breath. Losing her cool with her daughter would not hurry her. “Good girl,” she said with elaborate calm. “Come on now, we have to hurry.”
Grace trotted back into the room. “Why?”
Madeline held out Grace’s jumper. “Why what?”
“Why do we have to hurry?”
“Because we do.” Madeline’s voice rose; she heard the edge of hysteria in it. She fought it back and smiled at her daughter. “I’ll help you dress.”
She did and within minutes Grace was ready to go. Madeline sat her on the rug next to the packed suitcase, handed her her favorite toy, then started filling Grace’s suitcase, throwing in clothes and toiletries and toys, only the essentials and a few of Grace’s favorites.
A knock sounded at the nursery door. Madeline swung toward it, heart thundering. The knock came again.
“Mrs. Monarch? I’m leaving for the market, is there anything special you need?”
The housekeeper. She hadn’t left yet.
As if reading her mind, the woman said, “I got hung up on the phone with the plumber. They’re sending someone by this afternoon. Is there anything you need?”
Madeline struggled to find her voice. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
“Mrs. Monarch? Are you all right?”
Madeline heard the question, the concern in the other woman’s voice. Panic pumped through her; if she didn’t answer, the housekeeper would come into the nursery.
“I…I’m fine, Alice. And no, there’s
