The Heiress Effect (Brothers Sinister #2)(102)

Emily was nearly incoherent. She had just received a scrap of paper—a telegram—from Titus of all people.

“I can’t believe it,” Emily said. “I have no idea what Anjan said to him, but he agreed. I’m getting married! He won’t be my guardian anymore. It’s over.”

It was over. Jane laughed with her sister—and agreed to be her maid of honor—and hugged her and listened to her describe the difficulties of needing two marriage ceremonies.

She heard more about Anjan, too.

“You’ll have to meet him when he returns. You’ll like him, I promise. Oh, Jane, I’m so happy.”

There were details to be hashed through after that—details of settlements for Emily, her trousseau… These were happy details. Jane floated back to the hotel room she shared with Oliver.

He now had a second pile of paper in front of him. He kissed her, though, long and slow. “I’m glad that’s all settled,” he said, when she explained everything.

But he didn’t sound glad. And he didn’t meet her eyes when he said he had to get back to his work. It was all settled…and he’d only talked about this affair lasting until Emily was found and made safe.

Jane retreated to the dressing room to change her gown for dinner. The hotel maid had undone the laces of Jane’s gown when the knock came.

She heard the door open.

“Mr. Cromwell?”

Jane recognized the voice of one of the hotel staff, and hid a smile at the assumed name.

“Yes.”

“There’s a woman here to see you.”

“A woman?” Oliver asked. “I’m not expecting a…” He trailed off.

Jane was stripped to her corset. Even if she had been dressed, she could not have walked out into that room. To announce her presence in his room at a time like this… She might not care much for her reputation on her behalf, but his reputation still had some value.

There was a pause, the sound of footsteps. And then…

“Mother?” he said. There was another pause. When he spoke again, his voice had altered from swift and business-like to anguished. “Oh my God, Mother. What’s wrong?”

Jane motioned to the servant and sent her away through the smaller servants’ door. No maid needed to overhear this. Jane shouldn’t either, but she had no place to retreat to.

“I’m just glad I found you in time,” the woman—Oliver’s mother—said. “The duke said—well, never mind. I can’t really think—Oliver, listen to me, I can’t get a straight sentence out of my mouth. It’s just…”

“Take a deep breath. Take your time. Tell me.”

The other woman’s voice broke. “It’s Freddy.”

“What happened to her? We can take care of her, find her the best doctors, give her—”

“They found her in her bed a day and a half after she passed away.”

“No.” But Oliver didn’t sound as if he were denying it, just reflexively pushing away the words. “That can’t be. I saw her not so long ago. She looked a little ill, but…”

“It was an apoplexy. They say she didn’t suffer.”

“Oh, Mother.” Oliver’s voice was muffled. “I should have said something to you when I saw her, should have let you know she wasn’t doing well. I should have had you come out and—”

“Enough. I told her I loved her the last time I saw her. We’ve had our differences, but we’ve also had our good times.” The other woman’s voice quavered. “Don’t lay blame. There’s more than enough sorrow without it.”

There were no words for a while after that, just a few sniffles. The sounds of family giving—and receiving—comfort.

Oliver had mentioned his aunt Freddy in the bookshop all those months ago. It was one of the first things that had drawn Jane to him—that he’d talked about a woman who obviously had her own peculiarities with such respect and affection.

It was as if someone had whispered to Jane that if he could love an ornery, stubborn, strange old woman, he might like her.

And he had.

“It’s tomorrow,” his mother said. “The funeral. Everyone is down—Laura and Geoffrey, Patricia and Reuven. Free and your father. We’re having dinner tonight.”

“Of course I’ll be there.”

There was a long pause.

“And Oliver, the woman who is staying with you…”

Jane froze.

“What woman?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re here under an assumed name. You’ve never used my soap, and yet someone here has washed with my May blend. I smelled it the instant I walked in. I only wanted you to know… There won’t be many of us present, just family and a few others. If she’s important to you, if she would bring you comfort, you should bring her.”

“Mama.”

“I won’t pinch your cheek in front of her, and if you’re worried about the example you’ll set for your sister…”

“Mama, please.”

“…don’t. Free will probably lecture you better than I could.”

There was a long pause. Oliver had to know that Jane was listening. He had to be wondering what she was thinking, what she would make of all this. Jane wrapped her arms around herself and wanted. Even if this didn’t last. Even if they never saw each other again after their days together, even if he married his perfect little wren next month.