Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 275: Yvonne Changes Her Mind

Yvonne had never liked Sylvia in the first place. She'd resisted this marriage from the start.

Now that she'd seen this with her own eyes, she was bound to hate Sylvia even more, to think she was the kind of woman who couldn't keep herself straight, that she was "ruined."

At Yvonne's order, footmen stormed in with clubs in their hands, looking ready to beat someone senseless.

Sylvia shut her eyes in despair. They're about to tie me up and haul me off to drown me.

In this life, she and Piers were never going to happen.

"Sylvia!"

Yvonne's voice cut in again.

Sylvia opened her eyes slowly.

Yvonne had come up close. She reached out a hand, her voice unexpectedly gentle. "You must be terrified."

Sylvia just stared, stunned.

The Duchess... she doesn't hate me?

Yvonne took Sylvia's hand and spoke softly. "This is my fault. I got here too late. Come on. We're leaving."

Before she led Sylvia out, Yvonne cast one last look at the man being pinned on the floor.

That face, she had it right.

He was the house steward's son from the Baker household.

Back at Dawnfall Ridge, he'd been the one who'd climbed into the carriage with Clarisse and hooked up with her.

Yvonne had no idea how he'd ended up at Sunspire Hill, but he'd somehow latched onto Sylvia here too.

Today, it had been Yvonne who told Sylvia to come and say goodbye to Elowen. Which meant Sylvia had ended up in this danger because of her.

Guilt twisted tight in Yvonne's chest.

Luckily, after she'd sent Sylvia off, she'd thought it over again. Having Sylvia come alone to say goodbye could look disrespectful to the Duchess of Duskmoor. So Yvonne had decided to come too.

Outside the door, she'd heard what Sylvia said.

That she wouldn't betray Piers. That she wouldn't shame the Ashcroft family.

It hit Yvonne hard.

And in the same instant, she understood that Sylvia was in danger inside that room.

She'd rushed in, and there it was, Sylvia driving a hairpin into the man's chest.

Yvonne had always regarded Sylvia as an utterly unremarkable girl, timid by nature, skilled at little more than quiet needlework, and far too plain to be considered a worthy match for her precious son.

But in that moment, Yvonne saw it clearly. This girl had courage. And she had a backbone.

It was almost ridiculous, how had Yvonne ever liked Clarisse?

Sylvia is clearly the better choice. A daughter-in-law like that would make the whole household prosper.

Yvonne made up her mind on the spot.

Marry. This marriage has to happen. And it has to happen fast.

If someone else snatched her up, Yvonne would regret it for the rest of her life.

Elowen had barely eaten half a bowl of noodles at Serenity Church when a servant came running in with news: something had happened at the hot springs estate at Sunspire Hill.

"A man tricked the guard outside. He said he had urgent business with the duchess, and he got into your courtyard. Miss Ashcroft was there at the time. He tried to, he tried to force himself on her."

Elowen froze. The noodles in her bowl didn't look appetizing anymore.

"Is she okay? Sylvia's okay, right?"

"She's okay. Just shaken up. Miss Ashcroft pulled a pin from her hair and stabbed him in the chest. The doctor says she hit the spot. If it'd gone in any deeper, he would've died right there."

Only then did Elowen breathe again.

Okay was all that mattered.

Cassian spoke up. "Where'd he come from?"

The servant answered, "He said he was from the Baker household. We were going to grab him and question him, but he was hurt. When I left, he was still unconscious."

Elowen turned her head sharply. "The Baker household?"

"Yes."

Elowen remembered that man's look when he'd been around her before, sticky and unsettling, like something that wouldn't wash off. Even now, it made her stomach turn.

She looked at Cassian. "I think it's the steward's son. He came to my courtyard before, following Lady Anwen and Clarisse."

Cassian nodded.

Elowen wouldn't accuse someone for nothing. If she said it, it was real.

Most likely he'd been coveting her, waiting for an opening to get what he wanted.

Cassian's gaze darkened. Something cold and sharp flickered behind his eyes.

Elowen set her bowl aside and stood. "Let's clean up and head back."

Cassian lifted his eyes. "Aren't we watching the sunrise tomorrow?"

Elowen was serious. "But something that big happened at the estate. We're the hosts, for one. And as her brother and sister-in-law, we need to check on her. Sunrises happen every day."

Cassian gave a quiet sound of agreement.

They packed quickly and headed back to Sunspire Hill.

On the way, it finally sank in, and Elowen murmured, "Sylvia's amazing. Not only did she protect herself, she managed to hurt him."

Cassian replied evenly, "I told you before. Sylvia's capable."

Elowen still sighed. "I just don't know what Yvonne's going to think after seeing it."

If that made Yvonne look down on Sylvia, what then?

That was how the world worked too often. An innocent woman got targeted, and somehow people blamed her for it, said she wasn't careful enough. Worse, they demanded she die to "prove" her purity.

Elowen's chest stayed tight the whole way back.