Tall, Dark... Collection. Carole Mortimer

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 smugly self-satisfied, Jane!’ the Earl warned her with a scowl.

      Jane at once lowered her head to look at him demurely from beneath her bonnet.

      The Earl raised scathing brows. ‘If anything, that is worse!’

      She gave a relaxed laugh. ‘You are very difficult to please, My Lord.’

      ‘Am I…?’ He easily maintained control of the greys as he continued to look at her frowningly.

      ‘Yes…’ Jane found herself disconcerted by that look. None of the consummate flirt of the evening before was now evident in the seriousness of the Earl’s expression. Her smile faded. ‘Why do you look at me so intently, My Lord?’

      He turned sharply away. ‘It is of no matter, Jane.’

      Jane continued to look at him for several long seconds. ‘It is my belief, sir, that you are not quite as others see you…’ she finally murmured slowly.

      His gaze was puzzled as he glanced at her. ‘What can you mean, Jane?’

      She shook her head. ‘You would have people believe there is no more to the Earl of Whitney that the flirtatious rogue.’

      His mouth twisted. ‘But Jane Smith does not believe that to be so?’

      ‘I know it is not so, My Lord.’ She nodded. ‘There is a kindness in you—the same kindness as coming to my rescue just now—that you do not like others to see.’

      His mouth twisted into a grimace. ‘You are far too astute for a young lady of such tender years, Jane Smith.’

      ‘So I have already been informed, My Lord.’

      ‘By Stourbridge, no doubt.’ He nodded knowingly. ‘Poor devil.’ He gave a rueful shake of his head. ‘You seem to have succeeded in shaking him from his pedestal of untarnished superiority.’

      She shook her head. ‘Not so untarnished, My Lord, considering that the two of you appear to have recently shared a mistress!’

      The Earl gave a shout of appreciative laughter. ‘Far too forthright, Jane!’

      She shrugged. ‘I am merely stating the facts. It is you and the Duke who must take credit for the contents of that truth.’

      The Earl’s attention was drawn to the greys for several minutes. ‘I believe, Jane,’ he said grimly, once he had the lively greys under control, ‘that we will save the rest of this conversation until I can give it—and you—my full attention.’

      As far as Jane was concerned they could continue the rest of their journey in silence. Her only interest was in reaching London and from there continuing on to Norfolk. Talking of Hawk only caused her pain. Discussing his most recent mistress with the man who had been the Countess’s previous lover only reminded Jane of her own immodest behaviour with Hawk the previous evening.

      From there it was only a short distance to remembering their conversation earlier this morning.

      And the disturbing conclusion she had made during that conversation.

      Could it truly be that Sir Barnaby was her real father? All the evidence—the previously unknown Sir Barnaby being appointed her guardian, Lady Sulby’s hatred of her and her mother—pointed to that being the case.

      In those circumstances it had perhaps been unwise of her adopted father to have made Sir Barnaby her guardian, but the fact that there had been no one else he could leave Jane’s future care to had probably meant he had had no choice in the matter.

      No, any mistake must lie at Sir Barnaby’s door, by his even attempting to introduce his illegitimate daughter into his own household, let alone expecting her to be accepted by his wife and legitimate child…

      ‘This is not the way to London, My Lord!’ Jane realised frowningly as they passed a sign at the side of the road that indicated London was in the opposite direction from the one in which they were now travelling.

      The Earl gave an abrupt inclination of his head. ‘It really is most unsuitable for you, a woman alone, to go to London with me, Jane.’

      She glared at him fiercely. ‘It is for me to decide where I will go and who I will go with, My Lord!’

      ‘No, Jane, it is not.’ He gave a firm shake of his head.

      ‘Where are you taking me?’ Jane demanded. But she already knew the answer to that question. The countryside about the Stourbridge estate was familiar to her…

      ‘I am sure that you believe your reasons for leaving Mulberry Hall to be valid ones—’

      ‘They most certainly are!’

      ‘Perhaps,’ the Earl allowed grimly. ‘But I somehow doubt Stourbridge would agree with you.’

      ‘I believed you to be a man who was not frightened of the high-and-mighty Duke of Stourbridge!’ Jane scorned.

      ‘I am not, Jane,’ the Earl assured her softly. ‘It is you that frightens me,’ he added enigmatically.

      ‘Me?’ she echoed impatiently, her desperation rising as she saw the mellow outline of Mulberry Hall in the distance.

      ‘You.’ He nodded frowningly, his mouth twisting derisively. ‘Did you not fear what might happen to you once you found yourself alone and unprotected in London?’

      ‘No, of course not.’

      ‘That is precisely the reason