‘You are very ungallant!’ Jane said severely. ‘What do you suppose is their opinion of you, your Grace?’

Alex looked startled. ‘A good question! Apart from as a rich Duke in need of a wife?’

‘Upon my word! But then, I suppose there are some young women who will tolerate any number of faults for a title and a fortune!’

Alex smiled as the point went home, but he did not rise to her comment. ‘You would not count yourself amongst them, Miss Verey?’

‘No, indeed! You have not answered my question,’ Jane pointed out. ‘Perhaps you are so quelling that all the young ladies you meet are over-awed by you!’

‘Then it is fortunate that I do not ask them to bear with me,’ Alex said laconically. ‘Though you, Miss Verey-’ He broke off with an exclamation.

Following his gaze, Jane saw that the wheel of the carriage in front was wobbling wildly and even as Alex shouted a warning to the coachman, there was the sound of rending wood and the vehicle lurched violently to one side. The wheel rolled off into the ditch and the carriage sat marooned like a fat dowager in the middle of the road.

Philip, whose phaeton was at the front of the procession, reined in and turned back hastily. By the time that Alex and Jane had drawn level, Lady Eleanor had already been helped down and Sophia was comforting her by the roadside whilst Philip and the groom tried to aid Lady Verey.

It quickly became apparent that Lady Verey had fallen awkwardly when the coach had tipped up and seemed to have sprained her wrist. She had fainted from pain and shock, and as she was no lightweight the two men were having some difficulty in extracting her from the carriage. Eventually they managed to pull her out, by which time Alex had sent his own groom to fetch a physician and had driven to the nearest inn to alert them to the accident. They laid the invalid on the travelling rugs at the side of the road and stood around a little helplessly as they waited for her to return to consciousness.

‘Hartshorn!’ Lady Eleanor said triumphantly, after rummaging in her reticule. ‘My poor Clarissa! She looks as white as a sheet!’

Jane suspected that Lady Verey was better off unconscious, at least until the doctor arrived to have a look at the injured arm. Fortunately Alex returned at that moment, bringing a makeshift stretcher made out of a tavern bench. They wrapped Lady Verey up and carried her to the inn.

It seemed to Jane, watching with anxiety tinged with amusement, that Alex’s presence seemed to smooth all possible obstacles. In the space of a few minutes, Lady Verey was carried to a bedchamber, a parlour and refreshments were bespoken for the other guests and the physician arrived to set the broken limb. The damaged carriage was brought in and a wheelwright set to work whilst the ostlers attended the horses. It was all achieved with maximum speed and minimum fuss. Jane sat with her mother whilst the doctor was busy and presently went down to the parlour where the others were waiting, standing around a little awkwardly as they awaited some news.

‘My mother is much better now that her arm is bandaged,’ she confirmed in response to Lady Eleanor’s anxious enquiry. ‘She is sleeping now, for she is quite worn out, but declares that she will be quite well enough to return home tomorrow. Perhaps-’ she turned instinctively to Alex ‘-you would be so good as to give my brother a message when you return to Town, sir? If he could come to fetch us tomorrow we shall do very well, and need not delay your departure any further.’

Her words were met with a storm of protest. ‘We cannot leave you here alone, child!’ Lady Eleanor said astringently. ‘No, indeed, we must all stay!’

Sophia added her own concerns. ‘Oh, Jane, it is impossible that you should stay here! Why, everyone knows that inns are most dangerous places! You would be ravished in your bed!’

‘It is natural that Miss Verey would wish to remain to look after her mother,’ Alex said smoothly, stifling a smile. ‘I have already spoken to the landlord and they have only three rooms altogether, so it is clearly impossible for all of us to stay. It would be better for you to return to London, Aunt Eleanor, for I am assured that the carriage wheel has been mended already. Philip can escort you and Miss Marchment. She will need to stay with you tonight, for she cannot return to Portman Square and be alone with Lord Verey! I shall stay here with Miss Verey and her mother.’

Jane opened her mouth to object at the arrogant way in which Alex had taken charge. She closed it again as he shot her a quelling look. Lady Eleanor looked affronted. ‘Well, upon my word, I see that you have it all worked out, Alex!’

‘Yes, Aunt Eleanor,’ Alex agreed, shepherding her towards the door, ‘but it really is all for the best! There is little we can do for Lady Verey until tomorrow and there is Miss Marchment to consider as well. Philip-’ his brother came forward with alacrity ‘-please take Lady Eleanor and Miss Marchment out to the carriage. And let Simon Verey know what’s happened, there’s a good chap…’

Jane escaped upstairs. Alex’s high-handedness had evidently won the day and for the moment she did not wish to confront him. She was certain that he had manoeuvred matters so that they would be alone together and she was tempted to spend the rest of the day in Lady Verey’s chamber in order to avoid him.

Lady Verey was asleep, showing none of the signs of incipient fever that the doctor had warned against. Jane sat with her for a few hours until night fell outside and Jane’s stomach began to rumble and remind her that she had not eaten for a number of hours. Whilst she was hesitating over whether or not to venture down to bespeak supper, there was a knock at the door. The landlord’s daughter poked her head in.

‘His Grace’s compliments, miss, and will you join him for dinner in the parlour? I am happy to sit with your mother whilst you are away.’

Jane was tempted to refuse but it seemed that Alex had already removed the most obvious excuse by engaging the girl to sit with Lady Verey. She washed her face and hands slowly, and made her way downstairs.

The parlour was cheerful with a small fire burning in the grate and an enticing smell of food. Jane’s spirits began to revive a little. Alex was standing before the fire and came forward at once to hold a chair for her and to ask after Lady Verey. Jane realised that she felt nervous; the strangeness, intimacy even, of their situation, suddenly struck her. He passed her a glass of madeira and, after a moment’s hesitation, Jane took a sip.

‘You are very quiet, Miss Verey,’ Alex observed, after she had made no effort to speak during the entire first course. ‘I hope that the distress over your mother’s accident has not overset you?’

‘Oh, no!’ Jane tried to pull herself together. ‘That is…I am very sorry for Mama, for it was a dreadfully unlucky thing to happen, but I believe that she will recover well. I must thank you for your help, sir. You have eased our difficulties considerably.’

‘Even if the price is having to accept my company?’ Alex said, with an unrepentant smile. ‘I saw that you disapproved of my high-handedness, Miss Verey!’

Jane bit back an answering smile. ‘You are very frank, sir.’

‘I deal straight, as you do, Miss Verey. Perhaps you would have preferred to stay here alone, facing whatever dangers Miss Marchment feels lurk in such places?’

‘I do not believe that I would have been in any great peril,’ Jane said judiciously. ‘However, your Grace evidently felt it necessary to provide protection, for which, no doubt, I should also thank you!’

‘It was nothing. I have my own reasons.’

‘I do not doubt it,’ Jane said, a little crossly. ‘Does everyone always fall in with your plans, sir?’

‘Almost always!’ Alex said cheerfully. ‘Except for you, Miss Verey! You are the one notable exception and it has been a salutary experience for me!’

Jane met his eyes squarely. ‘I collect that you refer to my refusal of your brother’s suit? If you thought to spend your time this evening persuading me, I should warn you now that it would be a waste of time! I am still of the same mind!’

Alex considered the deep ruby red of his wine. ‘Oddly enough, Miss Verey, that was not my intention.’ He looked up suddenly and Jane’s heart did a little flip as their eyes met. ‘Though I should be gratified to know why you are so adamantly against the match.’

Jane looked away. ‘It is simply that marriage is a very serious business, your Grace. I esteem your brother-we are fast friends-but we have little in common on which to base a life together.’ She blushed. ‘Must we speak of this? I have no wish to prolong the subject!’

Alex inclined his head. ‘Then we will not do so. It would be ungallant of me to persist with a topic you find distressing.’ He paused. ‘However, your reluctance did lead me to wonder whether your feelings were already engaged. I asked you before, of course, but now that we know each other better you might be willing to confide…’

Jane stared at him, her pie congealing on the plate in front of her. Of course! Why had she not thought of that for herself? It would have been the obvious delaying tactic! She could not believe that it had not occurred to her to invent a secret fiancé, or indeed to plead guilty to an affection that was not returned! There was only one problem-the identity of her secret love…

‘Harry Marchnight, for instance,’ Alex was saying, carefully expressionless. ‘I have observed that you are very fond of him, but perhaps your feelings are of a deeper nature than mere affection…’

Dark eyes and hazel met and held. Jane trembled on the edge of committing herself. Henry was a perfect candidate for her unrequited love, handsome, dashing…Yet there was something in Alex’s gaze that compelled her honesty.