Page 86 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

He admired her determination. He also found it profoundly exasperating.

“You possess an astonishing ability,” he observed, “to mistake stubbornness for courage.”

A corner of her mouth lifted. “I could say much the same of you.”

Despite himself, Hector almost smiled. Instead, he said, “You continue to confuse persistence with victory.”

“And yet, I generally obtain what I seek.”

“Not always,’ Hector said, smirking.

“No.” She lowered her eyes for only a moment. “But sometimes.”

Something in her voice had changed. Hector felt his instincts sharpen. “What has happened?”

She looked up again. “I beg your pardon?”

“You are different tonight.”

Jane smiled. “I assure you I remain precisely the same woman.”

“I doubt that.”

Her smile faded. He studied her more carefully. She was attempting composure. He had seen soldiers do the same after battle. He had done it himself often enough.

“What occurred?”

“Nothing,” Jane insisted.

Hector said, “I do not believe you.”

“There is nothing to believe,” Jane said with a sigh.

“You summoned me,” Hector pointed out. “Without explanation. You ask me to show you how to defend yourself. And you expect me to conclude that nothing has changed?”

Her chin lifted. “I am merely trying to prepare myself.”

“For what?” Hector asked.

“For whatever comes next.”

“That is not an answer.”

Jane simply shrugged. “It is the only one I have.”

Hector stepped closer. Not enough to crowd her. Just enough that he could study her face without the distance between them obscuring the smallest detail.

“You are frightened.”

She opened her mouth immediately. “No.”

“You are.”

“I am worried,” Jane said. “That is not the same thing.”

She held his gaze stubbornly. “I fear for Colin.”

For the first time since receiving her note, genuine unease settled in his chest. Not because of what she had said, but because of what she refused to say.