Page 178 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

“I did not know,” he insisted.

“But you knew enough.”

That silenced him. For once, Zachary had no argument. He looked down. His shoulders sagged. “I never intended for anyone to be hurt.”

Hector almost laughed. Intentions meant very little. Actions were what mattered.

He stepped closer. “There will be no second chance. If you approach Jane or her mother again...” Hector paused. He let the silence carry the threat. “You will discover that I am far less forgiving than I was today.”

Zachary swallowed. Then he lowered his head. For the first time since Hector had met him, he looked defeated. He should. Because Hector had spent years believing monsters were onlymen like Strachan. He knew better now. Sometimes they were the people who opened the door and invited them inside.

The journey home was quiet. Hector sat across from Jane in the carriage, watching her carefully. She had not cried. Not yet.

He knew her well enough now to understand that. Jane held herself together when things were at their worst. She became practical. Focused. She found what needed doing and did it.

Only afterward did the emotions find her. He suspected tonight would be no different.

When they reached Sunderford House, the servants moved quickly to assist Lady Wynten. Jane remained at her mother’s side the entire time, refusing to leave until she was certain she was comfortable.

Her mother looked small beneath the blankets. Fragile in a way Hector knew Jane had never allowed herself to see.

“Jane?” The soft voice made her immediately lean forward.

“I’m here.”

Lady Wynten looked between her daughter and Hector. “Who was that man?”

Jane’s expression tightened. “Mother...”

“Why did he want us?”

Hector watched Jane struggle. She wanted to answer. He knew she did. But she also knew her mother had endured enough for one evening.

“He cannot hurt you anymore,” Jane said gently. “He has been arrested.”

Her mother’s eyes closed briefly. “Strachan?”

Jane nodded. “Yes.”

A flicker of fear crossed Lady Wynten’s face. “But why?”

Jane reached for her hand. “We will explain everything. I promise. But tonight, you need rest.”

Lady Wynten looked as though she wanted to argue. Then exhaustion won. She squeezed Jane’s hand weakly. “All right.”

It was nearly an hour before Jane finally left her mother’s bedside. Hector waited in the hallway. He had spent that time thinking. About the moment he had entered that room and seen her standing there. The possibility that he might have arrived too late. The memory still made his chest tighten.

“Jane.”

She looked up.

“May I speak with you?”

Something in his voice must have told her this was different. She nodded. They moved into a smaller sitting room nearby. The door closed behind them. For a moment, Hector said nothing.

Jane studied him. “Hector?”

He looked down. Everything he wanted to say felt too important to risk saying poorly. “When I realized you were in danger...”