Page 89 of The Seduction of an English Scoundrel

“I’m not altogether sure,” Heath said. “Whatever it was hurt like the devil.”

“Whose idea was it to sabotage the wedding?” Grayson asked curiously. “Jane’s or Nigel’s?”

“Nigel refused to say, which was either remarkably brave or stupid, considering that I had two pistols trained on him.”

“It was Jane’s,” Grayson decided with absolute certainty. “Nigel would never have the courage or wits to dare. I suppose they might even have gotten away with it had I not come charging in to save the day. No wonder Jane was so appalled by my offer to help.”

The two brothers lapsed into silence. Heath stirred first, glancing up with a concerned frown. “Just remember that schemes can backfire, Grayson. Jane is a delight for all her faults. Neither of you is exactly what one would call of meek character. It isn’t fair to toy with her heart when she clearly adores you.”

Grayson’s voice was quiet. “I adore her, too. Right now in my desk sits the special license I obtained before leaving London. Jane and I are a day away from respectability.”

“Then tell her you know what she did. You’ll have to sooner or later.”

“And I will,” Grayson said. “When the proper moment arrives.”

He was more convinced than ever that if Jane were capable of sabotaging her own marriage ceremony she would not respect him if he allowed himself to be duped. Jane’s cunning called for the same devious subterfuge from her partner.

“I don’t want to disappoint her, you see,” he added in a thoughtful voice. “I cannot let myself be outwitted by my future wife.”

“It is a gamble to play with her. You might not be as clever as you think.”

“Our game will end soon enough.”

“Are you certain you will win?”

“How can I lose?”

Heath shook his head. The unguarded love on Jane’s face for his older brother touched something deep in Heath’s heart. Jane and Grayson were perfect together, a dynamic match for a family on the verge of falling apart. Until he had met Jane himself, he had not fully understood Grayson’s attraction to her. Now he did. Where would his brother find a woman with the backbone Jane had shown, a mate to challenge his headstrong nature? They complemented each other so well.

“Tell her, Grayson. Trust my instincts. Tell her tonight after the ball or there might be more trouble than you bargained for.” He chuckled softly. “I shall quite enjoy seeing how this all ends.”

Chapter 21

Jane leaned against the bedchamber door, her heart beating in panic. If Heath had found Nigel and Esther, it would only be a matter of time before one of them broke down and revealed her role in their scandalous marriage.

Nigel was a friend. He would defend her to a certain degree, but she could not expect him to stand up to the likes of Grayson. Especially not if Grayson went ahead with this pigheaded notion of a duel. Nigel fainted at the sight of a pricked finger. His wife was more likely to be the one to meet Grayson on the dueling field. The way Jane’s life was headed, she might end up serving as Nigel’s second herself.

There was only one thing left to do. Confess everything. Apologize to all parties involved. Then throw what was left of herself upon the mercy of Cecily and her duke while the world decried her. Perhaps she would become a governess to their children and spank wicked young boys for a living. The worst of it would be Grayson’s reaction. He would hardly show that her deceit had hurt him. He would simply cut her dead.

She wasn’t fool enough to think she could confess to his face and live to tell of it. He would never forgive her. He would probably laugh if she tried to explain how desperately she had wanted to avoid an arranged marriage. And, frankly, she was too much of a coward even to dare. She would write him a letter and leave it under his pillow.

As she turned to the rosewood escritoire by the window, she noticed that the room had been efficiently tidied by one of his discreet staff. A hip bath sat beside the screen, filled with steaming water. Thick clean towels lay plumped up on the bed, and a bowl of fragrant musk roses occupied the nightstand.

And on the dressing table next to her treasured mouse brooch sat a new blue velvet jeweler’s box with a card tucked beneath it. She read it twice, tears blurring her eyes.

Something to commemorate our first of many nights together.

G

Inside the box she found a large marquis-cut diamond pendant on a gold chain. Costly. Elegant. The gift a generous man would give a mistress to mark a night of passion.

“Do you like it?” Grayson asked quietly from the door.

She let the necklace slither through her fingers. “It’s absolutely extravagant. I wish I could accept it.”

“Of course you can. Why don’t you undress and model it for me?”

“I beg your pardon. At this time of day?”