Page 84 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

He reached for the note. “There was no signature?” he asked.

“No, Your Grace.”

Hector broke the seal. His eyes immediately recognized the elegant hand.

The usual corner near Wynten House. It is important.

He read the brief message twice. There was no greeting or explanation, but he knew who it was from instantly. His pulse gave an unexpected, unwelcome thud.

Lady Jane never wasted words. If she had sent for him instead of waiting for his next note, something had happened. He fought the urge to jump up and rush out of the room. Never before had he been so moved to hurry as he was now about Lady Jane.

He folded the paper carefully. “I shall be out.”

Benson inclined his head as though this were the most ordinary announcement imaginable. “Shall I have the carriage prepared?”

“Immediately.”

“Very good, Your Grace.” The butler disappeared.

Hector remained seated for another moment, staring at the extinguished fire. He ought not to go. The thought came automatically.

After the attack in the alley, after Strachan’s men had warned them to stay away, distance had seemed the wiser course. Hisacquaintance in parliament had promised to investigate further. Until then, remaining quiet was the prudent decision.

It was the sensible decision. Yet here he was already rising from his chair. He muttered a curse beneath his breath. She had become entirely too capable of disrupting his judgment.

London had quieted by the time his carriage rolled through the darkened streets. A cool breeze stirred the summer air, carrying with it the distant sounds of horses and late-night revelers drifting home from clubs and assemblies.

The driver stopped where instructed. Hector stepped down onto the cobbled street. The familiar corner sat wrapped in shadow beneath an overgrown elm.

She was already there.

Lady Jane stood beneath the branches, her dark cloak pulled close around her shoulders. The hood concealed much of her face, yet he recognized her instantly.

She turned when she heard his footsteps.

For one brief moment, he noticed that relief softened her features before she gathered herself once more.

“You came,” she said quietly.

“You implied urgency.” Hector kept his voice even and low.

“I did.”

Neither moved closer immediately. The silence between them felt different tonight. Hector searched her face. Moonlight filtered through the leaves overhead, illuminating her features in shifting fragments.

She looked tired. There were faint shadows beneath her eyes that had not been there only days earlier. Her shoulders seemed tighter than usual, as though she was anxious and stressed.

“You wished to see me.” It was not a question, but his tone invited explanation.

She nodded. “Yes. I have a favor to ask.”

His brow lifted slightly. “A favor?” Now he was intrigued.

She inhaled slowly. “I want to ask you to continue teaching me to defend myself.”

Of all the requests he had anticipated, that had not been among them. He folded his hands behind his back.

“I thought we had agreed,” he said evenly, “that we would suspend our investigation until new information arrived.”