Page 56 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

Another answered quietly. “If I were in her position, I should retreat to the country until people forgot.”

“They never forget.”

“True enough.”

“Still, remaining here only encourages gossip.”

Jane’s footsteps faltered. Only for a moment. Then she forced herself onward.

Lavinia caught the hesitation immediately. “Do not.”

Jane looked at her. “Do not what?”

“Do not allow strangers to decide where you belong.”

Jane stared ahead again. “They think I should hide.”

“They think many foolish things,” Lavinia said.

“They believe I ought to disappear until Colin returns.”

Lavinia snorted. “And when he returns, they shall claim they always knew he would.”

Jane couldn’t help smiling. “You make society sound exhausting.”

“Itisexhausting.” Lavinia lifted one elegant shoulder. “The ton survives almost entirely upon speculation.”

Jane’s smile faded. “They are speaking of Colin as though he is already dead.”

“No.” Lavinia’s voice softened. “They are speaking like this because they know nothing.”

Jane swallowed. Some days, she still expected Colin to stride through Wynten House laughing about some absurd misunderstanding at White’s. Other days, she woke with terror already sitting in her chest.

She had not allowed herself to imagine the worst. She refused to. If she entertained that possibility even once, she feared she would never recover.

They reached a flower border bursting with roses and paused to admire it.

Lavinia bent slightly to inhale the nearest bloom. “I should steal one.”

“You would be chased.”

“I should look magnificent while fleeing,” Lavinia declared.

Jane laughed quietly.

“There is the smile I have been trying to coax from you,” Lavinia said.

“It seems flower theft is remarkably effective,” Jane said.

“I have many talents.”

Another group approached. Three elderly ladies. Jane recognized Lady Weatherby almost immediately. The older woman looked directly at Jane before lowering her voice.

Not quite enough.

“…engagement broken, brother vanished… most unfortunate…”

Jane’s stomach tightened.