Chapter 1 #2
“They will kill him!”
“It’ll be all right.” Jane’s throat burned with unshed tears. “Please stay by my side. If you don’t, they will shoot you.”
“I do not care!” Her mother’s wail filled every corner of her soul.
Jane cared, though. Dear God, she cared. She could not lose both of them tonight. The masked men dragged Colin across the ballroom toward the entrance. Guests scrambled backward to clear a path, terrified of drawing attention to themselves.
At the doorway, Colin twisted once more, looking frantically through the chaos. When their eyes met, there was something awful in his expression.
It wasn’t fear. It was guilt. And suddenly Jane felt cold all over.
The masked men disappeared through the ballroom doors with Colin between them. Then they were gone. Only the echo of boots and distant shouting remained as they vanished into the night.
For several seconds, nobody moved. The ballroom looked unreal now. Overturned chairs, shattered glass glittering across the floor, and guests pale with shock. Somewhere nearby, a woman began crying hysterically.
Then everything dissolved into chaos. People rushed toward the exits all at once.
“Oh, God.”
“Did you see?”
“Where are my gloves?”
Lady Wynten sagged in Jane’s arms.
“Mama?” Jane said tentatively.
Her mother’s face had gone frighteningly white.
“Fetch water,” Jane said sharply to the nearest footman. “Now.”
Her mother clutched at her sleeve with shaking fingers. “They took him,” she whispered. “Dear God, they took my boy.”
“It will be all right,” she whispered, though the words felt hollow even as she spoke them. “We’ll find him.”
Jane had no idea whether that was true, yet she said it anyway. Anything to assuage her mother’s worries. Anything to get her to a better place. If she could keep her mother calm, then everything would be okay.
“What if they hurt him?” Her mother wrapped her fingers tightly around the sleeve of Jane’s gown.
Jane could not answer that, because the truth was already gnawing viciously at her mind.
Those men had not come to rob the house. They had come specifically for Colin, which meant this had been planned. Intentional. Personal. Fear coiled tighter around her ribs.
“Mama,” she whispered, stroking trembling fingers through her mother’s hair. “Please breathe.”
Lady Wynten only shook harder. Then, suddenly, all the strength went out of her body. Her eyes rolled back in her head. Jane barely managed to hold onto her as she fainted.
“Mama? Mama? Help!” Jane called sharply. “Someone help me!”
Two footmen hurried forward immediately. Together they lifted Lady Wynten carefully while Jane steadied herself enough to think clearly, if only for a moment.
“Careful,” Jane ordered. “Take her upstairs. To the blue sitting room. Send for a physician immediately.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The servants hurried upstairs, carrying her unconscious mother between them carefully. For a moment, Jane stood frozen, watching them go.
Jane called one last time. “Mama.”
Lady Wynten did not stir. The doors closed behind them.
For a moment, Jane simply stood there. She took one deep breath and then another.
The ballroom seemed unreal now. Only an hour ago it had been filled with music, laughter, and polite conversation. She had been feted, even if it wasn’t something she had been particularly happy about.
Candles still burned in their crystal sconces. Half-empty champagne glasses remained scattered across tables. The musicians sat frozen near the stage, too shocked to continue playing.
And everywhere she looked, people were staring, whispering, and watching. Those that had stayed anyway. Many had already fled. She could feel eyes on her, but when she glanced in their direction, no one would meet her gaze.
A chill crawled down her spine. The scandal had already begun. Tomorrow, every drawing room in London would be discussing tonight’s events. Lord Wynten kidnapped by masked gunmen. Shots fired at the engagement ball. The Deverell family ruined.
Jane pressed trembling fingers against her temple. She tried to calm her racing thoughts.
My brother is gone.
The word echoed relentlessly inside her mind. She kept expecting Colin to emerge from somewhere and laugh at the absurdity of it all.
“Lady Jane.”
The voice pulled her from her thoughts. She turned. Lord Maltby approached through the crowd. His dark coat was immaculate. Not a button out of place. Not a hair disturbed.
Jane felt an odd flash of relief. At least someone familiar remained. Surely, he had come to offer support or to ask after her mother. Something. Anything. They were engaged after all.
“My lord.”
He bowed stiffly. “May I have a word?”
They moved toward the edge of the room, away from the departing guests. Maltby folded his hands behind his back.
Without preamble, he said, “I believe our engagement cannot continue.”
Jane stared at him. The words barely registered. “Pardon?”
“In light of tonight’s events…”
For a moment, she honestly thought he meant postponing the wedding. It seemed reasonable enough. Everything had changed the moment the gunmen had entered the ballroom.
“We can discuss that later,” she said tiredly. “Naturally the wedding should wait until my brother is found.”
A flicker of discomfort crossed his face. “No. You misunderstand me. I mean the engagement itself.”
Jane stared at him, not comprehending what he had been saying. “You wish to end it?”
“Yes.”
Jane blinked. Of all the things she had expected tonight, this had not been one of them. Though, if she were being honest with herself, she had never felt the remotest romantic feeling toward Lord Maltby.
Their match had made sense. He possessed a respectable title. She possessed a respectable family. Both parties had approved.
“My brother has just been kidnapped,” Jane said, wondering if Lord Maltby had missed that small detail.
His jaw tightened. “I am aware.”
“My mother collapsed.”
Maltby gave a curt nod. “I know.”
“And you choose this moment?” Jane could hear the hiss entering her voice and fought to control it.
Maltby sighed. “My lady, please try to understand.” The use of her given name suddenly felt inappropriate. “This situation creates difficulties.”
“Difficulties?”
Maltby had the grace to look uncomfortable. “Your family is now connected to a criminal investigation.”
Jane stared at him. The sheer selfishness of the statement left her speechless.
“Surely you understand my position…” he mumbled.
She didn’t. Perhaps she should have. Perhaps this was who Lord Maltby had always been. A man who measured everything according to convenience. A man who could witness tragedy and immediately calculate how it affected him.
“You fear gossip.”
His silence answered her.
A strange calm settled over her. She was not heartbroken over this revelation; she was disappointed. She saw him clearly now. She had assumed that the respect she felt for him would eventually grow into affection. Now she knew she could never respect him.
“Very well,” she said.
Maltby frowned. “Very well?”
“What exactly did you expect me to do?” Jane asked.
“I merely wished to explain—” Maltby stammered.
Jane cut him off. “You’ve explained quite enough, my lord.”
His expression hardened. “I am trying to be civil.”