Either he had far more strength than she, or his desire for her was far less consuming, for he let his hand fall to his side, and then without another word, turned on his heel and left.

At the echoing of silence, her shoulders sagged. This was just another post, and he was just another man, and soon she’d have her freedom. Freedom that would soon be arranged and secured by the Marquess of Waverly—a mere stranger in the real scheme of life. Why, she’d known him less than a week and a handful of hours, yet, it felt as though she’d known him far longer.

“Gabe—”

A startled cry rang from Jane’s throat at the unexpected intrusion. She wheeled around, a hand at her breast. “Chloe,” she said.

The young woman’s smile widened. “Jane. Good morning. I did not see you at breakfast this morning.”

With last night’s catastrophe, the prospect of food had left her belly churning with nausea. Unable to explain her absence, she said nothing.

Gabriel’s sister glanced about. “Have you seen my brother? I needed to speak with him.”

This was safer. Questions that required answers she could handle. “He has gone out on a matter of business.”

“He is always attending to business.” Chloe wrinkled her nose. “The stiff, starchy marquess, as usual.”

“He is not—” The other woman looked to Jane’s rapid defense with a question in her eyes. “He is not here,” she amended. It wouldn’t do to reveal more in terms of Jane’s relationship with this young lady’s brother.

Chloe wandered over to the window and pulled back the curtain. “The servants are readying the carriage and trunks.”

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Jane fisted her hands at her sides. He’d wasted little time in ridding himself of her. His household. Ridding his household of her. Chloe looked back with a frown. She cleared her throat. “I am to go to reside with your brother, Lord Alexander, and his wife.”

The curtain slipped from Chloe’s fingers and she stared at her. “What?”

Her lips pulled in a grimace. How very pathetic to be shuffled about and for her shameful ruination the evening prior, no less. “I cannot remain in your residence,” she said with a matter-of-factness she did not feel. She’d never had a right to be here and it had been the height of foolishness to accept the young woman’s friendship.

“You cannot leave,” the young woman said with a firm shake of her head. “I forbid it.”

Warmth unfurled in her chest at this undeserved show of support and kindness. “I must leave,” she said with a gentle firmness that merely brought Chloe’s shoulders back.

Then her eyebrows shot to her hairline. “Why, he is sending you away.” Before Jane could respond, a shocked gasp filled the office. “He will not do right by you.”

“That is not—”

“I never expected this of him.” Chloe, who’d apparently already made up her mind as to the circumstances, began to pace. “He is proper and polite and all things stuffy.”

Surely, the other woman did not even now speak of her brother, Gabriel? A man who kissed with his passion could never be considered any one of those things.

“A man such as he would always do right by you.” No, most gentlemen of his lofty station would not. Only, Gabriel had been the first nobleman who’d seen beyond her bastardy. He’d known of her birthright and offered for her anyway. She slid her eyes closed a moment. That defining piece of her life had mattered so much to everyone and yet he’d not allow that fact to keep him from marrying her. Her heart swelled with some dangerous emotion she didn’t care to examine.

“Well, this will not do,” Chloe muttered to herself as she increased her frantic back and forth pattern upon the carpet. “My mother will assuredly gather what has transpired and return posthaste.”

The horrifying possibility of the distinguished marchioness returning to right a wrong that only Jane was responsible for jerked her to the moment. “He did offer.” She drew in a slow breath. “I politely declined.”

Chloe stopped mid-stride with such alacrity her satin skirts snapped noisily about her ankles. She spun to face Jane. “What?” The young woman’s mouth formed a round moue of surprise.




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