Page 129 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

“You did.” She reached up and gently straightened the collar of his coat. It was an old habit. One she’d had since they were both children, whenever he’d rushed out the front door with his cravat crooked or his buttons mismatched.

Without warning, he pulled her into another embrace. “I do not know how to thank you. You saved my life. You refused to stop looking.”

She closed her eyes briefly. “I never would have.”

He rested his forehead lightly against hers. “I know.”

When they stepped apart, Evan approached. His smile carried both gratitude and uncertainty. “I owe you more than I can ever repay, Lady Jane.”

“There is only one thing I ask,” she said. “Take care of him.”

Evan’s expression softened immediately. “There is nothing I want more.”

She glanced between the two men. “You have both hidden long enough. I hope wherever you go, you finally have the chance to live honestly.”

Colin slipped his hand into Evan’s. The sight filled Jane with quiet joy.

“You have my blessing,” she said simply. “And Mother’s, once she understands.”

Colin swallowed. “I pray she forgives me.”

“There is nothing to forgive.” She smiled. “I shall remind her of that every day if necessary.”

That finally earned a genuine laugh from him.

Hector joined them. For a moment, the two brothers simply regarded one another. There was no awkwardness now, only affection.

Evan reached into his pocket and withdrew a folded piece of paper. “I wrote down the address.”

Hector accepted it. “In case we must write first.”

“If we move again, we shall send another letter.”

Hector clasped Evan’s shoulder. “You have survived too much to disappear without warning again.”

Their eyes met. Some unspoken understanding passed between them. The bitterness born from years of supposed rivalry had vanished completely.

Jane wondered what their lives might have looked like had they never been forced to pretend hatred. She pushed the thought away. There would be time enough to mourn what had been stolen.

Today belonged to hope.

Evan disappeared briefly into the bedroom before returning with writing supplies.

“I nearly forgot.” He handed Jane a small folded sheet. “My first letter.”

She blinked. “You have already written?”

She tucked it carefully into her reticule. Outside, birds had begun singing in the hedgerows. Morning had arrived.

Hector glanced toward the window. “We should go.”

No one argued. The moment had come. Jane hugged Colin one last time. Then Evan. “Write often.”

“We shall.”

“Do not make me send the duke after you.”

Evan laughed. “I suspect that would be quite terrifying.”