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It had been less than a month, but Jane’s family welcomed him into the family with open arms, and even her many so-calledunclesandcousinswho were constantly around the leader, Harold Meyers, treated Wayne like they approved. To Wayne, it was obvious that Jane’s father was involved in something illegal, and it was up to Wayne to find solid proof and arrest the man.
The only part of his job that he didn’t like was deceiving people, and even though he continued to play the role of Jane’s fiancé, he still didn’t enjoy lying to her. She wasn’t exactly what he would consider stunningly beautiful, but she was a sweet woman, even if she had a criminal father.
Wayne sat on the edge of his bed and pushed his fingers through his hair, but even that was painful to do. Perhaps before he did anything else, he should have the cook prepare him a concoction for hangovers. If only he could convince his feet to stand and walk him out of the room, then maybe he could make it downstairs soon.
With his eyes closed, he rubbed his throbbing forehead. Within seconds, another memory flashed through his head. He had been kissing a very beautiful woman, and they were in... his coach?
Slowly, he shook his head. That couldn’t have possibly happened. After spending time with Jane’s father and her cousins, Wayne came straight home to prepare for the ball, but he became ill and decided not to attend. When had he been with a woman? Then again, perhaps his memory wasn’t of last night. Although, her delicate hands had rested on his chest, covered by the same clothes he had worn last night. He also recalled drinking out of the wine bottle Harold Meyers had given him.
The woman wasn’t Jane, thank goodness. He didn’t need to be forced into marriage because he had put them in a scandalous situation. Yet, he was in a shameful situation with the woman who had been in his carriage.
But it puzzled him that he couldn’t remember. The few times he’d gotten himself so foxed he hadn’t known his own name, he still recalled what happened afterward, so why was his mind so unclear this time?
Immediately, he thought of Harold Meyers. Could the man have given Wayne some Opium without his knowledge? He prayed the earl hadn’t done anything so foolish. Yet, that would be proof of the man’s crooked deals. Although, where was the physical proof? Wayne’s fuzzy mind wasn’t enough to get the man arrested.
The explosive sound of someone knocking on his door nearly split his head open. Groaning, he moved to the door to stop the rude person who had the nerve to knock. He opened the door, and the boarding house’s owner stood in front of Wayne. The tall, thin man smiled brightly.
“Pardon me, sir, but you have a visitor downstairs.”
Wayne shook his head slowly, only because he truly believed it would open at any moment. “Please, give my excuses. I have a terrible headache.”
“I would do this for you, but the woman is determined to talk to you. She informed me she wouldn’t takenofor an answer.”
He rubbed his forehead. “Who is the woman?”
“Lady Jane Meyers, whom I believe you are engaged to.”
Wayne groaned, and this time he didn’t try to hide it. The boarding house’s owner was correct. Jane would not acceptnofor an answer. Wayne feared if he didn’t go downstairs to greet the obstinate woman, she’d come up to his room and cause the disgrace he didn’t want.
“Fine,” Wayne grumbled. “Tell Lady Jane that I will be down momentarily. I need to clean myself up first.”
“Yes, sir. I will tell her.”
As Mr. Hogan hurried down the hallway, Wayne closed the door and leaned against it, and he glanced down at his clothes. Whatever had happened last evening, he hadn’t the strength to remove his clothes. They were wrinkled, and although he didn’t want to change now, he had no other choice.
Fifteen minutes later, he walked down the stairs. His head still pounded, but not as badly. At least he wore clean clothes and combed his hair. He wasn’t fully presentable, but it would do.
Lady Jane and her companion stood in the parlor. Jane leaned against the wall, staring out the window. When his shoes clicked against the polished wooden floor, she jumped away from the window and turned toward him. Her eyes lit up like stars, and she grinned, but as she ran her gaze over him, her smile gradually disappeared.
“Wayne, my darling.” She hurried over to him and gently touched his face. “You look like death warmed over.”
He nodded. “That is exactly how I feel.” He took her hand away from his face and escorted her to the sofa to sit. Even standing was difficult for him.
She sighed heavily. “Father had mentioned you were under the weather, but that is all he said.” During her brief pause, she frowned. “What happened to make you so ill? Father said you seemed to enjoy yourself at the tavern.”
Wayne shrugged. “I wish I knew what happened.”
“You don’t remember?”
“I don’t. I believe your father dropped me off at the boarding house, but that’s it.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “Father said you had become so foxed that you stumbled out of the tavern and left. He couldn’t find you afterward.”
Why couldn’t he remember any of this? He didn’t enjoy feeling insane. “I honestly can’t recall why I was so foxed.”
Chuckling lightly, she touched his arm. “You were having a pleasant evening with my father and cousins. Any man in your position would tend to drink more than he should.”
Wayne wasn’t going to tell her the reason he suspected he acted this way. Not until he had more proof. “You are probably correct.”
