Page 169 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke
“Nobody,” Strachan said softly, “is leaving.”
Zachary froze. “I only thought...”
“I know what you thought.” Strachan smiled pleasantly. “You thought you could introduce us and excuse yourself before unpleasantness began.” His smile vanished. “You were mistaken.”
Jane watched her uncle’s confidence collapse. For years she had feared him. Now he looked like a frightened child.
He opened his mouth. Closed it again. Not another word escaped him. Strachan seemed satisfied. He lowered the pistol once more, returning it to Lady Wynten’s temple with infuriating calm.
Jane forced herself to breathe evenly. Panic would help no one. She needed to think. Hector’s lessons echoed faintly in her mind.When you cannot fight... observe. When you cannot escape... delay.
Delay. It was all she had. She had no idea whether Hector even knew where she was. She had left no note. She had told no one except the coachman where she intended to go. For all she knew, Hector believed she was safely visiting callers in Mayfair.
Still…every minute mattered. She lifted her chin. “If you intended to flee London,” she said quietly, “why remain long enough to confront me?”
Strachan looked at her with polite interest. “An excellent question.”
“I imagine you don’t waste your time.”
“I do not.”
“Then why are we here?”
He regarded her for a moment before answering. “Loose ends.”
Jane nodded slowly, pretending to accept the explanation. “And we are those loose ends.”
“You and your husband.” She noticed he kept returning to Hector. The realization settled heavily inside her. He viewed the duke as the true threat. “You seem remarkably concerned about my husband.”
“I respect capable opponents.”
“He defeated your men.”
“He inconvenienced me.”
“He rescued my brother.”
“Temporarily.”
The certainty in Strachan’s voice made Jane’s stomach tighten. “You speak as though this is not over.”
He chuckled. “It rarely is.”
Jane kept her face composed, though her thoughts raced. “Is that why you kidnapped my mother?”
“A precaution.”
“Against what?”
“You.”
She blinked. “Me?”
“You’ve proven unexpectedly resourceful.”
Jane almost glanced toward her mother but stopped herself. Keep his attention. Keep him talking. “You overestimate me.”
“I never overestimate anyone.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “That is why I remain alive.”
