Free Almost A Spinster by Jenna Petersen Page B

don’t still care for you.”
    She tilted her head. He was moving forward, tiny step by step. “We shall always be friends, I’m sure.”
    “I hoped for more than that, Jane.” He cleared his throat. “You see, once I am married, I’ll have the means to maintain a mistress.”
    She stumbled backward a step. “I beg your pardon?”
    He nodded. “You know I always liked you. I could keep you in a very high fashion.”
    Her face twisted in horror. “You cannot be serious.”
    “I am, I assure you.”
    He took another step but Jane held up her hands and he stopped. “Listen here. I would never be your mistress, David! I would never have considered that under any circumstance. And I cannot believe you would approach me with such a notion, especially at the ball celebrating your own engagement!”
    The expression on his face was more confused than angry. “Jane, your family position is precarious. Certainly, you must know how difficult it will be for you to marry well. If you took my offer, you would have money, pretty clothes-”
    “Stop!” Jane stomped her foot and David shut his mouth. “I will not hear another word. I do not accept your vulgar offer.”
    She spun around to leave and found herself face to face with Madeline’s father. The Duke’s expression left very little of his anger to the imagination. He did not look at her, but past her to David. She glanced over her shoulder. David was standing in the middle of the room, his face ashen as he realized his future father-in-law had heard enough of his offer to Jane to ruin his plans. To ruin everything.
    “Good evening, Lady Jane,” the Duke said, sparing her a quick, kind glance.
    “Your Grace,” she breathed. “I-”
    “It’s all right, my lady,” he said softly. “Please close the door on your way out.”
    She nodded once, then ran from the room. She shut the door behind her, leaving David to whatever fate awaited him and then hurried down the hallway toward the lady’s retiring room. She needed Wesley, now more than ever. But when she went to him, it wouldn’t be because of David. Not ever again. When she went to him, it would be to reveal her heart. And once she calmed down, she was ready to do just that.
    #
    Wesley glanced at the little clock that was on the mantelpiece in the billiard room. Eleven-thirty. Almost time. His heart rate doubled at the thought.
    “Are you going to take your shot, Stanton?”
    He looked at Lord Greyson. The young Earl was staring at him, head cocked and brow wrinkled.
    “Sorry, yes.” Wes lined up his shot carefully. The game was just beginning. Greyson had only just come in from the party for a short match.
    “Very nice,” Greyson said as one of the billiard balls rolled into the pocket. “Too bad the party will be cut short tonight. I’d forgotten what a worthy opponent you are, Stanton.”
    Wesley straightened up. “Why would the party end early?”
    “Well, with the engagement being called off…” Greyson stopped at Wesley’s blank expression. “Oh, yes. You’ve been in here all evening. It just happened a few moments ago. David took off in his carriage like the hounds of hell were at his heels. Poor Maddie ran up to her room crying and the Duke looked ready to kill.”
    Wesley’s grip tightened on his cue stick, even as he tried to keep reaction from his face. “The engagement is off? Any idea why?”
    The other man shrugged as he stooped to take his shot. “No one can say for sure. But I did hear a rumor that Lady Jane Davenport was seen going into the library with David a while before. Some say he’s renewing his addresses to her, but you know how women talk.” He let out a curse when he missed his shot and straightened up. “Pretty thing, that. A shame about her family connections.”
    The room began to swim as Wesley’s vision clouded. He set his cue stick aside and gripped the table with both hands. Jane had seen David alone… just as he had told her to do the day before. And now