Page 25 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

Jane’s face tightened. “Colin did not frequent… establishments like this.”

The duke looked at her as if she had just said something naïve. “He is a man,” he said simply.

Jane stiffened. “That does not mean?—”

“That means exactly what it means,” he interrupted. “If you intend to follow me into this investigation, you shouldunderstand that places like this are exactly where information is exchanged.”

Jane lifted her chin. “I understand that perfectly.”

“Do you?”

Jane straightened. “Yes.”

The duke studied her for a long moment. Then he said, “Very well.”

Jane blinked. “Very well?”

“I will show you,” he said simply.

Then, as if testing her, he tilted his head slightly toward the alley’s exit. “And, Lady Jane,” he added, his voice lower now, “if you are truly as curious as you claim, you may find that this place reveals more than just information about your brother.”

Jane’s throat tightened slightly at the implication, although she refused to show it. “I am not easily shocked,” she said.

The faintest hint of something like amusement crossed his face. “We shall see,” he replied.

And then he turned, gesturing for her to follow him toward the building’s entrance.

Jane hesitated for only a fraction of a second. Then, lifting her chin as if she belonged there far more than she felt she did, she stepped forward beside him.

“Lead the way,” she said coolly.

His gaze lingered on her a moment longer than necessary. Then he turned toward the door.

“Come then,” he said.

They stepped inside. The change was immediate. The noise of the alley vanished behind them as the door shut, replaced by a muffled hush that felt almost unreal after the roughness outside.

The interior was dimly lit, but not dark. Lamplight softened the edges of velvet curtains, polished wood, and figures moving with quiet efficiency.

Jane kept her cloak pulled tightly over her head. It felt ridiculous and necessary at the same time.

The duke did not look back to check on her. He simply walked forward.

A man near the front desk looked up as they approached. His gaze flicked over the duke first, then paused briefly on Jane, just long enough to make her acutely aware of every choice she had made that evening.

The duke’s voice was calm. “I need to speak with the madam.”

The clerk did not question him. He simply nodded once and gestured toward a corridor. “This way.”

Jane followed silently, her steps careful on the carpeted floor. She kept slightly behind the duke, although she was not sure whether that was intentional or instinctive. Either way, she found herself noticing how he always moved just slightly ahead of her, as if positioning himself between her and the world without acknowledging it.

They were led to a heavy door at the end of the corridor. The clerk knocked once, then opened it and stepped aside. The duke entered first. Jane followed.

The room inside was warmer and more private. A desk stood near the center. On it, papers were neatly arranged, and a small fire burned low in the hearth. The air smelled faintly of perfume and ink.

A woman sat behind the desk.

She did not stand immediately. Instead, she studied them with slow, deliberate attention, as though she had all the time in the world and intended to use it.