Page 27 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

She set it down carefully. Then opened it.

The pages inside were dense with handwriting. It was the kind of record meant to be seen but not understood by anyone not already initiated into its meaning.

Jane stepped closer without thinking. The duke remained beside her, scanning the pages quickly. For a moment, neither spoke.

The madam watched them both, her arms folded, and her expression unreadable. The duke turned a page. Then another.

Jane felt a sinking sensation. Nothing obvious prompted it. Nothing that stood out at any rate. The duke exhaled slightly, as if already preparing to dismiss the entire lead. Then Jane stopped him.

“Wait.” Her voice was sharper than she intended.

The duke looked at her. Jane leaned in, pointing. “There.”

A single entry.

FOXGLOVE.

The duke looked at it, then back at her. “What is it?”

Jane hesitated for only a moment before answering. “When we were young, my brother and I invented a game,” she said quietly. “We used to play it at our country home. Foxes and foxgloves.We would look for them in the gardens during spring and summer. It was Colin’s favorite. It was mine too.”

The duke’s gaze shifted back to the ledger. “Are you certain?” he asked quietly.

Jane nodded immediately. “Yes. He would never use that word by accident.”

The madam, who had been listening with mild curiosity, now stepped closer. “Foxglove,” she repeated, as if tasting it.

Jane turned toward her quickly. “Who booked that entry?”

The madam studied the page. Then she looked intently at Jane and the duke.

Finally, she said, “A man.”

“Alone?” she asked.

“Yes. He had the complexion of a gentleman,” she added. “Nothing unusual at first glance. We have many such visitors.”

The duke’s expression did not change, but Jane felt the tension in him sharpen slightly.

“Did he request a woman?” Jane asked.

The madam shook her head. “No.”

Jane frowned. “Then why did he come here?”

The madam’s tone shifted slightly, becoming more observational. “He did not ask for company,” she said. “He only took a room.”

Jane exchanged a glance with the duke. He was listening now, with full attention.

The madam continued. “He paid in advance, but he did not stay long.”

Jane’s stomach tightened. “And?” she prompted.

The madam hesitated before adding, “He seemed to be waiting.”

The duke’s voice cut in immediately. “For whom?”

The madam lifted one shoulder slightly. “That, I cannot say.” She paused, and then added almost thoughtfully, “No one arrived.”