It's been a month since I joined Julian's piano sessions and yet there has been no news of Mr Edward's whereabouts. I tried not to be nosy but I couldn't help asking him where and when he would be back.

The investigation has yet to start. I keep sending letters to my siblings, and at least they have been trying to find some clue about Meredith, but alas, it is going nowhere. There has been no sign of my sister or any news about anyone. Time is slowly passing by, and it is disturbing my nerves.

I have no one to share my feelings with. I have started bursting into tears at night and have been suffering from insomnia. Thankfully, I haven't had to perform any surgery that required concentration, but I know this can't continue. If anything, I have learned a few notes on the piano.

A sigh escapes my mouth as I gaze at the lake from the balcony of my chamber. It is a sunny day, and Mr. Sinclair has given me the day off.

But the problem is I have no idea what I should do on a holiday.

The chilly breeze brushed against my face, prompting me to rub my neck for warmth. The lake, shimmering in the distance, exuded a serene beauty that beckoned me. Despite having spent many months in Darius's estate, I had never ventured to the lake before. A memory flashed through my mind—Darius, with a sword, leading a figure towards the lake in the dead of night. Goosebumps prickled my skin as I hurried back to my room, grabbing a scarf before heading back out, compelled to explore the lake's mysterious allure.

Mr. Ralph, was nowhere to be found, and the others claimed ignorance about his whereabouts. I informed a cook of my plans and set off toward the lake, the image of Darius and the mysterious figure weighing heavily on my mind. I had no idea where life is taking me. I am yet to find myself and realise what I truly desire.

The brittle twigs snapped beneath my feet as I approached the lake, each crackle echoing through the stillness of the air. My heart fluttered as the serene and calm sight of the water came into view, its tranquil surface reflecting the fading light of the day. The breeze, carrying a chill, swept over me, ruffling my hair and sending a shiver down my spine.

A lone bird soared gracefully over the lake, its wings slicing through the air as it disappeared into the distant forest.

There was an eerie quietness about the place, no signs of life except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the trees. But then, as if out of nowhere, my eyes caught sight of something unusual—a boat, adrift in the middle of the lake, its sole occupant sitting silently. I watched in silence as the figure rose from his seat, his gaze fixed on the dark depths below.

Without warning, he leaped from the boat, plunging into the water with a splash that broke the stillness of the lake. A gasp escaped my lips as I watched, my mind racing to understand what I had just witnessed. The water seemed deceptively calm, its surface betraying the hidden dangers below.

Seconds ticked by, but the man did not resurface. Panic gripped me as I realized he might be in trouble. Without hesitation, I ran towards the nearest deck, hoping to get a better view of the spot where he had disappeared. As I reached the edge, my heart sank—there was no sign of him.

Driven by a sense of urgency, I made a split-second decision. I jumped into the shallow water, wading in as far as I could, shouting for him to come back up. But as minutes passed with no sign of him, I knew I had to do more. I took a deep breath and dove into the depths of the water, the sun above my only guide in the murky darkness below.

It was cold, so cold that it took my breath away. But I pushed through, scanning the depths for any sign of movement. And then, I saw him—his form drifting slowly downward, his eyes closed, and his body limp.

Instinct took over as I swam towards him, reaching out to grasp his hand. And then, just as my fingers brushed against his skin, his eyes snapped open.

D-Darius?

His gaze remained fixed on mine, unwavering, and just as I was about to let go of his hand, he tightened his grip on my hand, and I watched as he swam above me pulling me with him to resurface. As we broke the surface of the water, I coughed, trying to catch my breath, my mind reeling from the shock of finding Darius in such a perilous situation.

I felt his hands on my shoulders, steadying me, keeping me afloat as I struggled to regain my composure. I wiped my face, my eyes locked on his, confirming that it was indeed him. His expression was as cold and neutral as always, giving nothing away as he held my hand and we swam towards the boat.

With his help, I climbed onto the boat, still trying to process what had just happened.

Was he not drowning? What was he doing here?

My mind raced with questions, but before I could voice them, Darius pulled himself up onto the boat, his movements calm and controlled and he picked up an anchor which had kept the boat on its place.

Did he go for a swim?

My face turned red with embarrassment thinking I might have ruined his plan for a swim.

I coughed and sputtered, my mind struggling to comprehend what was happening. Darius's expression remained unreadable, his demeanor calm and collected as always. As I sat there, trying to catch my breath.

And then, unexpectedly, he gave me a bright smile, his eyes softening. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice gentle.

I felt my face flush with embarrassment, but I managed to nod, unable to form words. Darius then turned his attention to the oar, starting to row the boat towards the shore of the lake. In the distance, I could see Mr. Ralph, standing on the shore. It dawned on me then that they had been out here for a swim, and my sudden appearance had likely interrupted their peaceful outing.

Why hadn't I noticed Mr. Ralph earlier?

We reached the shore in less than five minutes, and Darius was the first to step onto land. I hesitated for a moment before standing up, surprised when he extended his hand to help me down. Memories flooded my mind—our wedding day, and Darius assisting me out of the horse-drawn carriage. His wet hair clung to his face, but he was dressed impeccably in formal attire. I reached out, and as our skin made contact, I felt the chill of his hand against mine.

"Mrs Kingsley, Did you come to rescue me?" His words broke the silence, and I turned to see Mr. Ralph running towards us. He handed Darius a piece of cloth, which he then draped over my shoulders. I was shivering uncontrollably now.

"My lady, what are you doing here?" Mr. Ralph's voice was filled with concern, breaking at the end as if he were scared.

"I came out for a stroll, and I saw him jumping into the water, but he never resurfaced. I was worried, and I..." My voice trailed off as Darius took a step towards me, causing me to instinctively step back.

"And I thought you were drowning," I continued, my voice wavering as I gazed up at him, confusion evident in my expression.

"But, my lady, my lord was not drow-"

Mr. Ralph's words were cut off abruptly by Darius raising his hand, signaling for him to stop speaking. Darius's eyes remained locked on mine as he gave me a reassuring smile, the second of the day. I was still bewildered, unable to make sense of the situation.

He lowered his head to my level, his voice soft as he asked, "Did you jump into the lake without knowing the depth of the water to rescue me, Scarlett?" His question hung in the air, and I felt a strange sensation in my stomach. He looked nothing like the day when we had our conversations, where he had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me or our marriage.

My heart raced as Darius's proximity sent a jolt through me. Remembering his question, I regained my composure and nodded silently. "Yes, my lord," I whispered, and we stood there in silence for what felt like an eternity, locked in a moment of calmness.

Then, abruptly, Darius straightened up and reached out to take my hand. I was taken aback by the gesture, my heart skipping a beat. "We are going back to the estate now. She is shivering," he announced, his gaze unwavering.

"But, my lord, what abou-"

"Forget it, Ralph. We shall come back later," Darius interrupted Mr. Ralph, brushing off his question. He then began to pull me in the direction of the estate, my feet sinking into the cold sand. It was then that I realized I had lost one of my shoes in the water. The twigs and stones underfoot irritated my bare left foot, but I bit back any sounds of discomfort, not wanting to draw attention to my embarrassing state.

Despite everything, I couldn't shake off the shock of Darius's actions. He continued to hold onto my hand firmly as he led me back to the estate, and I couldn't help but wonder what had caused this sudden gesture from him.

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