Page 125 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

She crossed the room and lowered herself onto the rug before the fire instead of returning to the sofa. The flames painted warm gold across her face.

He hesitated before joining her. Not too close, just close enough that the fire warmed both of them. For a while neither spoke. The silence felt companionable.

Jane folded her hands loosely in her lap. “I feel guilty.”

He looked toward her. “For what?”

“You are a duke.”

“So I have been informed.”

“And yet you are sleeping on the floor because of me.”

“I am sleeping on the floor because there is only one bed, and just one couch,” Hector said.

She smiled. “I believe you enjoy pretending nothing inconveniences you.”

“I prefer solving problems, rather than dwelling on them,” Hector replied.

She tilted her head. “You admit that rather easily.”

“I have learned that arguing with you is rarely productive.”

Her smile widened. “I shall consider that a victory.”

“I suspected you might.”

She watched the flames for another long moment. “When I was little...My father used to build forts.”

He blinked. “Forts?”

“Blankets over chairs.”

A quiet chuckle escaped him before he could stop it.

She looked delighted. “I knew that would surprise you.”

“It has.”

“Whenever Colin and I quarreled, Father would declare that the Kingdom of Wynten had fallen into civil war.”

Hector listened without interrupting.

“He would drag every blanket from the nursery, recruit the footmen, and build an enormous fortress in the drawing room.”

She laughed softly at the memory. “We thought it magnificent.”

“I imagine it was.”

“Then he would announce that peace negotiations could only occur over hot chocolate. Colin always insisted on giving me the larger cup.” She stared into the fire. “He has always believed everyone else’s happiness mattered more than his own.”

Hector recognized the sentiment. Perhaps because it sounded painfully familiar. “He resembles someone else I know.”

She glanced sideways. “You?”

He considered denying it. Instead, he nodded once. “Perhaps.”

She smiled gently. “I thought so.”