Page 181 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

Her friend smiled. “Yesterday’s news?”

“Exactly.”

The conversation shifted naturally, and Jane glanced toward Hector.

“The trial is finally over,” she said.

Lavinia nodded. “Strachan?”

Jane’s expression softened. “Yes. He has been sentenced. He will never be able to harm anyone again.”

A quiet relief settled over the group. So much had happened because of that man. But now he was only a memory. A terrible one, granted, but no longer something that controlled their lives.

Hector approached then, placing a hand gently at Jane’s back. “Everything all right?”

Jane smiled. “Everything is perfect.”

His eyes softened. She had learned that Hector still sometimes worried. Still expected disaster. But he was learning, too. Learning that happiness did not have to disappear the moment he touched it.

Ambrose cleared his throat. “I believe we are all ignoring the most important announcement.”

Jane exchanged a look with Hector. They had not yet told everyone.

Lavinia immediately noticed. “Oh.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, no.”

Jane laughed. “What?”

“You have that look.”

“What look?”

“The look people have right before they reveal something life-changing.”

Ambrose grinned. “She is correct. It is the exact look Hector had when he proposed, except slightly less terrifying.”

Hector frowned. “I was not terrifying.”

“You threatened a man moments before announcing your engagement.”

“A reasonable man would have been intimidated.”

Jane shook her head, laughing. Then she looked around the room. At her mother. At Lavinia. At Ambrose. At Hector. And she realized there was no reason to wait.

“We have received word from the King.”

The room quieted. Hector reached for her hand.

“The petition was approved,” he said.

Jane smiled. “The title of Earl of Wynten has officially passed to Hector.”

Her mother’s eyes filled immediately. “Then...”

“Then our children will carry the title,” Jane finished.

Everyone understood. The weight of it. The kindness of it. The future that had once seemed impossible.

“And,” Hector added, looking at Jane with a tenderness that still made her heart race, “we have another announcement.”