toying with his emotions. He was talking to me as if I were the miscreant. I grew angry. I told him in no uncertain terms what I thought of him and his morals. He never tried to defend himself, but his expression in the moonlit shadows became even more forbidding. All he said, in a quiet, contained voice that sent shivers down my spine, was that he had thought better of me. He said I was a creature of gossip."
"And that you should try being a woman."
"Yes! How did you guess?"
Jane smiled wryly. I’ve been accused of the same. "
"Royce?"
"The same."
"And it was Royce who brought Conisbrough here," Lady Elsbeth said thoughtfully. "I wonder—"
"You wonder what?"
Her aunt smiled. "Nothing. But now you know my sad tale. I need hardly say that later I learned that he had kept two mistresses at once, but he’d severed both relationships after he met me."
"Dear God."
"Yes, exactly. But by then Father had died and Hereward and his young family needed me, and it just seemed to go on from there. At first I desperately wanted to see him so I could apologize, not that I thought it would change things, but it would ease my conscience. But we were in mourning, which seemed to go on for the next six years. After that I felt it was too late, and it would smack of the old spinster trying for what she foolishly gave up, so I made sure I stayed away from him.
"I thought of writing, but I consider that the coward’s way. If I had known all those complications were going to happen in my life, I would have written him. Last night was the first time I’ve seen him in fifteen years, but he had never left my thoughts. That’s why I fainted."
"It doesn’t seem as if his feelings have altered in time. "
"Oh, they have. He carries around a great hurt inside him. I can feel it. He could never truly bring himself to forgive me. "
"Elsbeth, how can you say that without giving him a chance?"
Her aunt smiled and patted Jane’s hand, a faraway look in her eyes. "I should be happy if we could go through life as friends. I hope that is not too much to ask."
"But Elsbeth!"
"Shush. I’m too old."
A mulish expression pursed Jane’s lips tight and hardened her eyes into green gemstones.
"Enough," Lady Elsbeth begged. "Now go and get dressed. We haven’t much time."
"All right. But do not think because you fob me off now you will do so in the future."
"I shall continue to do so as long as you fall into the traps I did."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?"
"It means, dear, dear Jane, do not believe all the gossip you hear," Lady Elsbeth said, shutting the door firmly behind her.
The generously greased hinges of the heavy oak door that closed off the ground floor family quarters from the remainder of the house opened silently. Jane crossed the threshold soundlessly and turned to pull the door closed behind her. Suddenly she stopped, one hand on the ornate brass latch. A frown pulled at the corners of her mouth. There, not twenty feet away, stood Jeremy—or rather, crouched Jeremy. The young footman was bent down to the keyhole, listening to the conversation in the parlor!
"Jeremy!" she called in a strident whisper. She pulled the door closed behind her with a snap.
Jeremy jumped and fell backwards. His face flushed bright red. He unfolded his long legs and scrambled to his feet.
"Oh, Miss Jane!" he said excitedly as he hobbled toward her while brushing his backside. He paused to twist the tails of his coat forward, checking for telltale signs of dirt. Satisfied, he dropped them and hurried forward, skittering awkwardly to a stop before her.
Jane stood with arms akimbo, glaring at the footman.
"Miss Jane! I heard them! I heard Lord and Lady Willoughby and Lady Tipton."
"I’m certain you did. Haven’t you been warned against eavesdropping? You shall never get a full butler’s position if you continue in your present manner!" she remonstrated him.
"Yes, ma’am, but—"
"I don’t want to hear any excuses! If I catch you once more, I shall be forced to demote you and put David in your place until Mr. Nagel is well enough to resume his duties. "
"I’m sorry ma’am, but—"
Jane’s patience fled. "Enough! All I want to know is if you understand me?"
"Yes," the young man said miserably. He shifted from foot to foot, one hand clasping the fingers of