Her eyes flew open, and she saw the concerned expression of the Marquess of Glastonbury, Cressida Minton’s fiancé. A little behind him was Cressida herself and, to Jane’s frustration, her own mother.
“Thank you,” Jane murmured as the Marquess helped her to her feet. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to cause such a fuss. I… It… I… In the excitement of tonight, I fear I was rather silly and forgot to eat.”
“That is easily done,” Cressida said, taking Jane’s hand with a worried expression on her face. “I have often done the same. Come, let us get you somewhere private, where you might recover your strength.”
Jane felt her color deepen but nodded. However, she instantly regretted it, as it made the room begin to spin again. “That would be most kind, but please, do not feel you need to accompany me. After all, this is all for you, and I would hate for you to miss any part of it on my account.”
“Nonsense.” Lord Glastonbury smiled kindly at her, his green eyes full of warmth. “You are one of my darling Cressida’s dearest friends. What kind of host would I be if I did not ensure you were well.”
“And you will be hard-pressed to be rid of me, dearest Jane.” Cressida squeezed Jane’s hand again, her eyes soft as she glanced at her fiancé. “Besides, I need a break from all the well-wishes and would welcome the excuse for a little respite.”
“But—” Jane began, guilt for disrupting such a beautiful evening rushing through her.
“There is no but. Now come, let us go to the library. You can recover your strength there.” Cressida beckoned one of the nearby servants over. “Please could you have some light food and refreshments sent to the library?”
“Of course.” The servant bowed and scurried away.
Jane felt as though all eyes were on her, but there was very little she could do about it. She allowed Cressida and Lord Glastonbury to lead her out of the ballroom, her mother following close behind.
“I should have checked that you had eaten. I know what you are like, I was just so focused on—” Lady Cotswalts began, and Jane was sure she was about to speak of finding her a match.
Jane interrupted her mother. “It is no fault of yours. I am a fully grown woman and should be more than capable of ensuring I remain fed.”
Before her mother could answer, the Marquess had paused outside the door, frowning slightly.
“What is the matter?” Jane asked. The nausea was returning once more.
Not again.
“There is something—the door appears to be stuck.” Lord Glastonbury jiggled the handle.
As he did so, Jane heard what she was certain were the sounds of low voices. Some light scuffling.
Was that a woman laughing?
She shook her head. Surely she must be imagining things.
“Ah, good, that’s done it. Blasted thing, I must ask my steward to—” began Lord Glastonbury as the door to the library swung open, but the scene before them robbed him of speech.
Cressida gasped and clutched at Jane for support. Every muscle in the Marquess’s body seemed to tense up. Jane glanced at her mother and noticed her eyes narrowing in disapproval.
Before them, standing far too close to be proper, was a man and a woman. The woman was trailing her hand down the man’s chest, her fingernails longer than Jane thought proper. She was pretty, with green eyes and red hair.
“Oh, I hadn’t planned on an audience,” the woman said in a tone that reminded Jane of a cat stalking its prey. “I am sure we can pick this up another time, my dear Duke.”
The woman slipped out of the room, leaving the man sitting on the edge of the table, his arms folded as he stared after her. He was tall, and his brown hair was tousled, as though someone had run their hand through it moments ago.
His blue eyes swept over the group. Jane could not quite read his expression until he noticed the women with the Marquess. An apologetic look flashed across his face, and he went to open his mouth.
Cressida shrieked. “I told you! I told you one hundred times not to invite him. Andlook! Look what he has done!”
“Cressida, darling, I am sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation.” The Marquess made soothing gestures towards his betrothed as he cast a frustrated look at his friend.
“What reasonable explanation can there be? What if the other guests saw his behavior? Heavens above, the scandal! A man, in a dark room, alone with a woman. What would my father think? What will your mother think of me?” Cressida clutched at her chest, and Jane knew that her friend was imagining the very worst of the ton and their gossip.
“Mother thinks the world of you, and the Duke is my guest. I will take responsibility for my actions,” the Marquess spoke gently and took her hands in his own.
Unfortunately, Cressida seemed not to hear him. “They will think it is because of my low birth, and I shall be the laughingstock of the ton. What if the guests discover this transgression? It will be all anyone will talk about for years.”
