Page 53 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

“I will not permit anyone to insult Colin in his own home,” Jane said.

A laugh escaped him. “Permit?” He looked her up and down as though the very idea amused him. “My dear girl, what precisely do you imagine you can prevent?”

Jane held his gaze. “As much as I am able.”

“You speak far too much for a little chit.”

Heat flooded her cheeks. “I speak when something must be said.”

“You speak because no one has taught you restraint. Pity your father died before he could teach you manners,” he said.

“My father valued my opinions, and my brother respects me,” Jane said.

“Your father indulged you, and your brother spoiled you,” Zachary snapped.

Jane’s voice remained steady. “You mistake kindness for weakness. And you mistake cruelty for strength.”

The room fell silent again. Jane could almost hear her own heartbeat. She knew she should stop. She knew every sensible instinct urged retreat. Instead, she stepped closer.

“If you truly cared for this family,” she said quietly, “you would be helping us search for Colin.”

For the first time since entering the study, the easy smile disappeared completely from Zachary’s face. “You are becoming tiresome.”

Jane refused to yield. “And you are becoming exactly the man Father warned Colin about.”

His hand came up suddenly, not striking, but reaching to seize her arm in an attempt to silence and intimidate her.

The movement happened so quickly that instinct acted before thought. Not instinct. Training. Hector’s calm voice echoed in her memory.“Do not pull away. Turn.”

Jane pivoted exactly as he had shown her. She rotated her wrist, shifted her weight, and stepped sharply to the side. The pressure disappeared. She slipped free so cleanly that she nearly stumbled from surprise herself.

Zachary’s hand closed on empty air. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. Jane stared at her own freed wrist. She had done it. Actually done it.

Slowly she looked back up. Zachary was still staring at her, genuine astonishment replacing his usual smug certainty.

“What—” He stopped himself. His eyes narrowed.

Jane’s pulse still raced, but for the first time since Colin’s disappearance, something unexpected stirred beneath the fear. Confidence. She straightened her shoulders.

Jane straightened every wrinkle from her sleeve before answering. “It seems I am not quite as helpless as you imagined.”

Color rose along his neck. Before he could answer, footsteps sounded in the corridor.

The family solicitor appeared in the doorway carrying several bundles of papers beneath one arm. He paused immediately.

“My apologies,” he said carefully, glancing between uncle and niece.

Jane noticed how quickly his eyes moved from Zachary’s rigid posture to her flushed face. He had clearly interrupted something.

The solicitor cleared his throat. “Lady Wynten wished me to tell you that she has retired to the morning room. She… she has signed the preliminary acknowledgements.”

“Excellent,” Zachary replied smoothly.

The transformation was astonishing. The sneering bully vanished. In his place stood the composed gentleman. “I trust Lady Wynten understands the unfortunate necessity of the law.”

The solicitor sighed. “As much as anyone can in such painful circumstances.”

“Quite.” Zachary looked toward Jane. “We have estate matters to discuss.”