Page 85 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke
“We have,” Jane agreed.
“Then why the sudden desire for instruction?” Hector watched her carefully.
“Because I wish to continue learning.”
He kept his expression unreadable. “Lady Jane.”
“I am serious.” Jane looked at him with a determined expression on her face.
“So am I,” Hector said, his tone carrying a note of warning.
She took a small step toward him. “I have been thinking about that night.”
“The attack,” Hector supplied.
“Yes.”
“You handled yourself remarkably well.”
“I froze.” Jane’s expression turned to one of self-disgust.
“You recovered.”
“I still froze.”
He regarded her for a long moment. “You are being unnecessarily hard on yourself.”
She gave a humorless smile. “No.”
“You escaped when it mattered,” Hector said.
“Only because you were there.”
The words lingered between them.
Hector found himself looking away first. “I was,” he admitted.
“And next time?”
Hector shook his head. “There should not be a next time.”
“You cannot promise that,” Jane said.
“No.”
“Neither can I,” Jane said.
He sighed quietly. “This is not the appropriate moment.”
Jane said, “It never will be if we continue waiting.”
“I have other concerns.”
“Such as?”
He looked back at her. “Such as the possibility that Strachan’s men are still watching.”
Her gaze swept briefly down the deserted street before returning to him. “If they are, then I need this even more.”
