Page 99 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke

The note was brief.

Strachan has been seen. One of his warehouses near the eastern docks has drawn unusual attention these past three evenings. Guards rotating twice nightly. Deliveries at irregular hours.

My men cannot investigate without alerting him. If you intend to act, do so quickly.

Hector read it twice. Then a third time. The warehouse. His pulse quickened despite years of training himself never to betray emotion. Evan.

He folded the letter carefully before feeding it into the fire. Within seconds, only curling ash remained.

“I must go,” he told Ambrose.

“Do you need me?”

“No. I’ll handle it, but thank you.”

“Good luck, my friend.”

And with that, Hector left.

Nearly an hour later, the familiar nondescript carriage rolled into the quiet street behind Wynten House. The lamps had been extinguished along much of the lane, leaving only scattered pools of moonlight.

Anna appeared exactly as expected beside the servants’ entrance. She offered a quick curtsy. “My lady will be here directly.”

“You have my thanks.”

Anna disappeared inside. Moments later, the back door opened again.

Jane hurried toward the carriage, her dark cloak concealing the pale blue of her evening gown. She climbed inside before the driver urged the horses onward. The door shut. For a heartbeat they simply looked at one another.

She was the first to speak. “You sent for me. What happened?”

“I’ve received information.”

She leaned forward. “About Colin?”

“About Strachan.”

Her eyes widened. “What sort of information?”

“My acquaintance has identified one of Strachan’s warehouses. Outside the city.”

“Do they believe Colin is there?”

“They do not know,” Hector said. “But there is some unusual activity there.”

Hope flickered across her face so quickly it almost hurt to witness. “Then we must go.”

“We?”

Jane nodded. “Of course.”

“No.” The answer came instantly. “My lady, I felt the need to inform you before I went there myself. I cannot endanger you?—”

“I will not stay behind.” The words struck harder than she’d intended. Her voice softened. “Hector… If Colin is inside that building… how could you possibly ask me to remain at home?”

His resolve wavered. “If anything happened to you…” He could not bring himself to finish the thought.

“You taught me to defend myself.”