Page 62 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

“I should hope so. There are many,” Lavinia insisted.

Jane looked doubtful. “Perhaps.”

“I refuse to accept perhaps.” Lavinia’s expression brightened with sudden determination. “I shall make it my mission.”

Jane smiled. “You sound alarmingly enthusiastic.”

“I absolutely am.” She grinned. “I shall introduce you to every eligible gentleman with respectable character before the Season ends.”

“Every one?”

“Every single one.”

Jane shook her head affectionately. “You are truly the most wonderful friend I could hope for.”

“I am devoted.” Her friend squeezed her arm. “And I promise you this: you and Lady Wynten will not face this alone.”

The words settled warmly inside Jane’s heart. Her friend had always possessed an uncanny ability to make the world feel smaller, gentler somehow. Even now, after hearing everything Jane had confessed, Lavinia had not looked at her with judgment.

They reached a quiet marble bench overlooking a small ornamental pond where ducks drifted lazily through the water.

Lavinia gestured toward it. “Sit with me.”

Jane obeyed without protest. Then, Lavinia glanced sideways. “There is still something you have not told me.”

Jane bit her lip. “Well… perhaps there is.”

“Jane, my dear, you can tell me anything. What’s the matter?”

“Well… I…” she looked around, ensuring there was no one within earshot before leaning in and whispering. “The duke and I… We kissed.”

Lavinia’s eyes widened. Then a massive grin spread over her face. “And you waited this long to tell me?”

Jane stared at the pond. “It was foolish. A mistake. It happened after…” She hesitated. “After those men attacked us.”

She could still remember every detail. The alley. The cool stone wall against her back. The warmth of his body. The roughness of his voice. The impossible gentleness with which he’d touched her immediately afterward, as though afraid he’d frightened her.

She had replayed those moments countless times over the past week. Far more often than she cared to admit.

“Well? Did you kiss him back?”

Jane closed her eyes. “…Yes.”

Lavinia smiled. “I thought so.”

Jane rubbed at her forehead. “It should not have happened.”

“You seemed rather wistful while describing it.”

“I am not wistful.”

“You sighed.”

“I did not,” Jane said.

Lavinia laughed. “You absolutely sighed.”

Jane groaned again. “The duke apologized. He stepped away immediately.” Jane’s fingers tightened together. “He said he should not have kissed me.”