Page 76 of A Stormy Season

She took another sip of tea, trying to take comfort in its warmth, as the weather had suddenly become stormy again, the wind rattling the shutters as raindrops began to smack the windowpanes.

People started to call, braving the weather, expressing concern, having heard about or even seen what happened in the street. So many came that Penelope had to turn some away. But Jane just sat and sipped her tea, letting Penelope answer their questions while she checked to make sure Luke was still alive, still unharmed, and still sitting two feet away from her.

Henry came home in the middle of calling hours. After the callers had been there an appropriate amount of time, Henry asked them to leave to allow the family to rest after their ordeal.

Why was Jane so unnerved? She’d been kidnapped once, her room invaded in the middle of the night, and bruised and threatened a second time, but she’d never been so emotional as she was now.

I love him.That was it, she finally realized, and it was both the logical and the emotional explanation. She loved Luke Watley, and he’d nearly been killed right in front of her.

When Luke stood to go Jane followed him to the door, noticing that her brother and sister-in-law stayed in the sitting room. She was alone with Luke.

He embraced her, holding her close while he pressed his face against her hair. “I thank God you are safe. Thank you, God.” His voice was low and his breath warmed her ear.

He quickly let her go and stepped back. “Forgive me if I am overstepping.” He let his voice trail off, then reached for the door. “I’ll be back tonight,” he said abruptly.

But she couldn’t bear to let him go without saying something. She grabbed his hand before he could open the door. “I am so thankful you are safe, so glad you weren’t hurt.” She had to blink back tears and clung to his hand, willing him to kiss her.

If only he would.

“Thank you for that,” Luke said. He squeezed her hand, then kissed it quickly and was out the door, leaving her to sigh in disappointment.

~ ~ ~

The workmen had been in Jane’s room for an hour, installing the bars on her window.

“I don’t need the bars now,” she had told Henry. “Lenoir has been captured and we have all the names of those who were trying to help him start a revolution.”

“Better to be safe than sorry,” Henry replied.

Jane remained in the library with the door closed, lying on the couch and reading a book—or trying to read, rather. Her mind kept wandering to the events of earlier in the day, to Luke and to their adventures. She tried to remember every expression on his face, everything he had said. Was he as exhausted as she was after nearly being killed, after holding his gun on another man?

Jane sighed, wishing she could talk to him, ask him how he felt when Lenoir and his henchman were threatening them. She wanted to know all his thoughts. Did he love her? She was like the person playing the silly game with the flower petals, picking them off and saying, “He loves me, he loves me not,” as she went back and forth in her mind, trying to figure it out.

“The workmen are finished with your window.” Henry was standing in the doorway of the library, and Penelope was beside him. But there was something strange about the way they were both smiling at her.

“What?” Jane asked, rising from the couch. “What have you done?”

“We haven’t done anything,” Penelope said, but her smile did not fade.

“Come and see your window,” Henry said.

“Why should I? I’ve seen iron bars on a window before.”

“Well, isn’t it time for you to change for dinner?” Penelope asked. “You should go up to your room and change.”

“You have done something,” Jane said. “What is it?”

“Nothing, nothing at all,” Penelope insisted, and she never lied. “Just come upstairs with me. Please?”

“All right.” Jane put down her book and went with Penelope.

As they climbed the stairs, Penelope giggled.

“I can hardly wait to see what it is that has you so excited,” Jane said. “But I have to say, it’s a bit annoying that you’re not telling me what it was.”

Penelope’s smile was not the least bit diminished by Jane’s annoyance.

Jane entered her room. “There are no bars on my window. Why are you and Henry being so strange today?” Didn’t they know she’d had enough shocks and surprises for one day?