Page 60 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

“My reaction?” Lavinia stopped walking altogether. “My reaction is remarkably restrained.”

Jane smiled weakly. “I can think of several stronger words.”

“I can think of dozens.” Lavinia took both of Jane’s hands. “Start from the beginning.”

Jane hesitated. She cleared her throat. “The night Colin disappeared…”

Slowly, carefully, she recounted everything. She spoke of the duke arriving through the servants’ entrance of the pleasure house. That one in particular earned another horrified expression. Then she told her about Foxglove, about the attack in the alley.

This time Lavinia actually stopped walking. “They attacked you?”

Jane nodded. “There were three men.”

“And you neglected to tell me this?”

“There was very little time.”

“There is always time to tell your best friend that criminals attempted to assault you.”

Jane looked down. “I know.”

Lavinia searched her face. “Were you hurt?”

“No. The duke protected me.” She realized only after speaking that her voice had softened. “He fought all three men. He barely allowed them near me.”

“And?”

“And…” Jane struggled to explain. “I never doubted for a moment that he would keep me safe.”

The admission lingered between them.

Lavinia’s expression gentled. “You trust him, then.”

Jane was silent. Did she? She trusted him with her life. She trusted him to protect her. She trusted him to search for Colin as relentlessly as she herself would.

“I… I do not know, Lavinia.”

Her friend tilted her head to the side. “I think you do.”

Jane looked away. “The point is that our search is progressing.”

Lavinia smiled knowingly but let the subject pass. “You know, I am glad that you are making progress in the search for Colin, but…”

“But?” Jane repeated.

“Well, you have to think how this will look if society finds out about your…arrangement with the duke,” Lavinia said in a low voice.

Jane regarded her friend. She knew that Lavinia was right, but she couldn’t help but feel a flash of disappointment. Part of her had hoped for Lavinia to tell her that there was nothing wrong with the situation.

They resumed walking, and after several moments, Jane spoke again. “There is something else.”

Lavinia immediately looked concerned. “What is it?”

Jane’s smile disappeared. “My uncle Zachary.” Just hearing her uncle’s name seemed to chill the warm summer air. “He came to our home today. With a solicitor.”

Jane went on to recount everything that had happened that morning.

Lavinia gasped. “He laid hands on you?”