Page 5 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

“Did you see?”

“Where are my gloves?”

Lady Wynten sagged in Jane’s arms.

“Mama?” Jane said tentatively.

Her mother’s face had gone frighteningly white.

“Fetch water,” Jane said sharply to the nearest footman. “Now.”

Her mother clutched at her sleeve with shaking fingers. “They took him,” she whispered. “Dear God, they took my boy.”

“It will be all right,” she whispered, though the words felt hollow even as she spoke them. “We’ll find him.”

Jane had no idea whether that was true, yet she said it anyway. Anything to assuage her mother’s worries. Anything to get her to a better place. If she could keep her mother calm, then everything would be okay.

“What if they hurt him?” Her mother wrapped her fingers tightly around the sleeve of Jane’s gown.

Jane could not answer that, because the truth was already gnawing viciously at her mind.

Those men had not come to rob the house. They had come specifically for Colin, which meant this had been planned. Intentional. Personal. Fear coiled tighter around her ribs.

“Mama,” she whispered, stroking trembling fingers through her mother’s hair. “Please breathe.”

Lady Wynten only shook harder. Then, suddenly, all the strength went out of her body. Her eyes rolled back in her head. Jane barely managed to hold onto her as she fainted.

“Mama? Mama? Help!” Jane called sharply. “Someone help me!”

Two footmen hurried forward immediately. Together they lifted Lady Wynten carefully while Jane steadied herself enough to think clearly, if only for a moment.

“Careful,” Jane ordered. “Take her upstairs. To the blue sitting room. Send for a physician immediately.”

“Yes, my lady.”

The servants hurried upstairs, carrying her unconscious mother between them carefully. For a moment, Jane stood frozen, watching them go.

Jane called one last time. “Mama.”

Lady Wynten did not stir. The doors closed behind them.

For a moment, Jane simply stood there. She took one deep breath and then another.

The ballroom seemed unreal now. Only an hour ago it had been filled with music, laughter, and polite conversation. She had been feted, even if it wasn’t something she had been particularly happy about.

Candles still burned in their crystal sconces. Half-empty champagne glasses remained scattered across tables. The musicians sat frozen near the stage, too shocked to continue playing.

And everywhere she looked, people were staring, whispering, and watching. Those that had stayed anyway. Many had already fled. She could feel eyes on her, but when she glanced in their direction, no one would meet her gaze.

A chill crawled down her spine. The scandal had already begun. Tomorrow, every drawing room in London would be discussing tonight’s events. Lord Wynten kidnapped by masked gunmen. Shots fired at the engagement ball. The Deverell family ruined.

Jane pressed trembling fingers against her temple. She tried to calm her racing thoughts.

My brother is gone.

The word echoed relentlessly inside her mind. She kept expecting Colin to emerge from somewhere and laugh at the absurdity of it all.

“Lady Jane.”