Page 8 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

The certainty in her friend’s voice nearly made Jane cry. Instead, she hugged Lavinia one final time.

Then, she left the ballroom.

Servants moved quickly from room to room. Jane climbed the staircase two steps at a time. When she reached the blue drawing room, she pushed open the door.

Her mother was awake. The relief hit so suddenly that Jane nearly stumbled. Two footmen stood nearby waving a fan. The housekeeper hovered protectively at Lady Wynten’s side.

The moment her mother saw her, tears flooded her eyes.

“Jane!”

Jane hurried forward. Her mother grabbed both her hands. “Where is he?”

Jane felt her own eyes sting. “We don’t know yet.”

Lady Wynten began crying again. “Oh, God.”

Jane sat beside her. “We’ll find him.”

“What if they hurt him?”

Jane’s stomach twisted painfully because she had been trying not to think exactly that.

“We don’t know that they will,” Jane said, swallowing against the lump in her throat.

“They pointed guns at him.” Her mother’s voice rose as she verged on hysteria.

“I know.”

“What if he’s frightened?”

Jane closed her eyes briefly. She pictured her brother, but she couldn’t picture him scared. He would be brave, come what may.

“We’ll bring him home,” she said firmly.

Her mother clung to her hands. “What if they kill him?”

The room fell silent. Even the servants looked away. Jane refused to allow herself to imagine it.

“No.”

Her mother blinked. She looked as if someone had slapped her.

Jane forced herself to soften her voice. “We are not giving up on him.”

Lady Wynten nodded shakily. A footman shifted nearby. The movement caught Jane’s attention. A plan started to formulate in her brain.

“You,” she said.

The servant immediately straightened. “My lady?”

“Help Mrs. Watkins manage the departing guests,” Jane said. She wasn’t used to being in charge, but someone had to be.

“Yes, my lady.”

“And send for the authorities immediately.”

The footman nodded. “They’ve already been summoned.”