assure you, Your Grace, our conversation has made several things clear to me,’ she said enigmatically.
Hawk grimaced his impatience at her stubborn refusal to listen to him. ‘Perhaps you are right, Jane, and we should talk of this again later. When you have had more time to think the matter through?’
‘Perhaps,’ she responded unhelpfully, giving a slight inclination of her head before turning to leave.
Hawk’s expression was one of brooding frustration as he watched her cross the study to the door, her movements elegantly graceful, her head angled proudly.
But how long would Jane maintain that elegance and grace, let alone her pride, if Lady Sulby had her way and Jane was imprisoned for theft…?
Chapter Thirteen
‘Jane…?’
Jane did her best to ignore the curricle—and its driver—as it drew alongside her, and walked determinedly along the lane that would take her to the road to London.
‘Is it you beneath that bonnet, Jane?’ The query was repeated impatiently.
She turned her face to the curricle, her smile rueful as she looked into the frowningly handsome face of Justin Long, Earl of Whitney, where he sat atop his curricle in complete control of a pair of lively-looking greys. ‘It is indeed I, sir,’ she confirmed dryly as she continued to walk.
‘What the deuce are you doing wandering around the countryside unchaperoned?’he demanded disapprovingly.
Jane raised mocking brows. ‘Our conversation yesterday evening led me to believe that you are the last person to be concerned with the proprieties, sir.’
He looked irritated by the jibe. ‘Some of those proprieties are unavoidable, Jane. The unsuitability of a single young lady roaming the countryside unchaperoned is one of them,’ he added with a frown. ‘You—Jane, will you stop marching along in that military style and tell me what the devil you think you are doing?’
‘Partaking of the air?’ she returned tauntingly as she continued to ‘march’.
Blond brows met over censorious blue eyes. ‘I do not believe my question was an invitation to facetiousness, Jane.’
No, Jane was sure that it was not. It was only that if she didn’t answer him in this offhand manner she knew that she would in all probability burst into the tears that had been threatening since she had packed her small bag and departed from Mulberry Hall an hour ago.
And she didn’t want to cry—was sure that once she started she would not be able to stop.
‘Jane, have I not instructed you to cease this infernal marching?’ the Earl reminded her sternly.
Jane came to an abrupt halt in the lane and turned to glare up at him, an angry flush to her cheeks. ‘I no more take orders from you, sir, than I do the Duke of Stourbridge!’
‘Ah.’
Jane bristled at his knowing expression. ‘And exactly what is meant by that, My Lord?’ she demanded resentfully.
His expression was mockingly derisive. ‘Argued with the young Duke, have you?’
‘And what business is it of yours if I have?’ Jane eyed him challengingly.
The Earl gave a rueful smile. ‘Only that I would dearly have liked to witness that unusual occurrence!’
‘Because you are still annoyed at his conquest of your Countess?’
The Earl gave an appreciative shout of laughter. ‘Please tell me that you and the Duke did not argue over dear Margaret?’
‘We did not,’ Jane snapped, deeply irritated by his amusement at their expense. ‘Now, if you will excuse me, My Lord, I must be on my way—What are you doing?’ She frowned as he secured his reins before leaping agilely down from the curricle to stand at her side, looking as rakishly handsome as ever, in a tailored blue jacket that matched the colour of his eyes, breeches so tight in fit it was obvious that he owed none of his physique to padding, and a pair of highly polished Hessians.
‘My dear Jane,’ the Earl drawled, ‘you do not seriously think that even the Earl of Whitney, having been made aware of your lonely state here on a public byway, would simply continue his journey back to London as if nothing untoward had happened?’
That was exactly what Jane had been hoping. Although the Earl’s mention of his destination changed her thoughts somewhat…
She forced a smile. ‘If you really wish to be of help to me, sir, then you will offer me a seat in your curricle to London.’
The frown returned to his brow as he eyed her speculatively. ‘And what happens then, Jane? Does your guardian challenge me to another duel? Or will you settle for those damned matriarchs of Society demanding that as I have compromised you I must now marry you?’
Jane gasped. ‘I wish for neither of those things, My Lord! I care nothing for the demands of the matriarchs of Society. The Duke and I have—parted ways. It is my belief that he is no longer concerned with what becomes of me.’
No doubt Hawk, once he got over his anger at Jane for having disobeyed him once again, would actually be relieved at having her disruptive presence removed from his household. Especially as she was now accused of being a thief!
‘Then, my dear Jane, it is my belief that you do not know the Duke of Stourbridge as well as he might wish.’ The Earl eyed her pityingly. ‘The man is enthralled by you, you little goose!’ he added impatiently at Jane’s blank expression.
She could not deny that the Duke found her physically appealing—that would be impossible after the events of yesterday evening!—but he most certainly was not ‘enthralled’ by her. If Hawk had felt any affection for her at all then surely he would have believed her earlier this morning, when she had assured him of her innocence concerning the disappearance of Lady Sulby’s jewels?
‘I assure you that you are mistaken, My Lord,’ she said flatly.
He smiled. ‘And I assure you that I am not,’ he drawled, staring at her wordlessly for several long minutes before giving an impatient inclination of his head. ‘Very well, Jane,’ he murmured slowly. ‘For you I will break the rule of a lifetime and allow a woman up into my curricle with me.’
Her face lit up with pleasure. ‘Oh, thank you, My Lord! You will not regret your decision, I promise you,’ she vowed, as she plucked up her skirts in order that he might help her climb into the elegance of his open carriage.
‘Believe me, Jane, I already do!’ the Earl muttered, his expression grim as he moved to climb in beside her and take up the reins once more.
Jane smiled happily as the greys moved forward, completely unconcerned by the Earl’s sarcasm now that he had agreed to take her to London with him. Although she did seem to be making rather a habit of accepting lifts in the carriages of unmarried gentlemen, she acknowledged ruefully. Rakishly handsome unmarried gentlemen.
‘I may rethink my decision if you do not cease looking so
