Page 61 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

Jane nodded. “If it had not been for something the duke taught me…” She left the sentence unfinished. She clasped her hands tightly together. “Lavinia… my uncle acts as though Colin will turn up dead. As though Colin’s title has already passed to him for good.”

Lavinia looked horrified. “That monster! He cannot know that.”

Jane nodded. “He intends to frighten us.” She took a slow breath. “And… he implied that if Colin is not found, Zachary will remove Mother and me from Wynten House.”

Lavinia stared at her. “He truly said that?”

“He all but promised it.”

Silence settled between them. The breeze stirred the branches overhead. Somewhere nearby, a child laughed. The ordinary sound felt strangely distant.

Jane’s voice dropped to little more than a whisper. “That’s why I have to find Colin. Even if I must walk all over London with the duke at night… It’s my only hope, Lavinia. Otherwise my mother and I will lose our home.”

“Oh, my friend!” Lavinia reached for her without hesitation. She wrapped Jane in a fierce embrace. “I wish I could help, I wish I…”

Jane closed her eyes. “Youarehelping,” she whispered and squeezed her friend back.

For several precious moments, Jane simply allowed herself to be held.

When they finally separated, Lavinia’s own eyes glistened. “You should never have carried all this alone.”

“I did not wish to burden you.”

“You are my dearest friend,” Lavinia said.

Jane felt tears spring to her own eyes. “I know.”

“You are never a burden.”

Emotion tightened Jane’s chest. “Thank you. Still… there is one thing I must ask.”

“Anything.”

Jane looked directly into her friend’s eyes. “You cannot tell anyone.”

Lavinia did not hesitate. “I swear it.”

Jane searched her face. She believed her completely. Relief washed through her. “I cannot risk anyone learning that I have been wandering London at night with the duke.”

Lavinia laughed softly. “No. I imagine society would expire from the excitement.”

Jane groaned. “Precisely.”

“I shall take your scandal to my grave.”

Jane smiled. “I appreciate that.”

Lavinia linked their arms once more. “So… I had a thought. What if we find you a husband?”

Jane sighed. “I feared you would return to that.”

“It remains an excellent plan.”

Jane’s smile faded again. “I do need to marry.” The words tasted strangely hollow. “If… If Colin is not found, Mother and I must have somewhere to go. Though I am not certain anyone wishes to marry the sister of a kidnapped earl. Especially after my previous fiancé abandoned me before the candles burned out.”

“He was a spineless coward,” Lavinia said.

Jane smiled despite herself. “There must be at least one gentleman in London with more courage than Lord Maltby.”