Chapter 1

Jane could see the church spire out of the window. The public house was on the same road as the quaint little church in Swadlincote, and the church bells were practically ringing in Jane’s ears. It was such a beautiful day, but the sounds of the bells through the open window made Jane furious.

This shouldn’t be happening. Three months after the proposal, and she had hoped that Ian would see sense and break things off with Anna Day. Jane had been hoping for her brother-in-law to realize what he was doing was ridiculous. He couldn’t marry her, surely?

But he was. In just a couple of hours, Ian would be marrying the twice-widowed, mother-in-law of the Earl of Derby. Jane felt nauseous at the thought.

She growled at the sound of the bells and spun away, resuming her pacing across her bedroom. Seated on the bed, Rachel groaned and put her hands to her head.

“For goodness sake, Jane, would you stop pacing around? This room is small enough and you’re making me queasy.”

“Then don’t look at me, Rachel,” Jane snapped.

“How can I not when you’re right in front of me?”

“Then turn and look at the wall or leave the room.”

Jane carried on pacing. She couldn’t bring herself to sit down. Every time she tried, her body just kept trembling, so Jane had to keep moving. Her night had been sleepless, as she tossed and turned. It had driven Rachel mad and she had ended up prodding Jane very hard in the side before she managed to settle down. Now, being confined in her room so she didn’t run into any of the Harrison family didn’t help matters. Jane wanted to confront Ian and Anna at the wedding. She did not want to be steered away beforehand.

Selfish? Yes. But Jane felt justified. This anger had been building for a while.

Rachel sighed and lowered her hands. “Come on, Jane, please? You need to stop, take a deep breath and calm down.”

Jane swung around and glared at her friend. Rachel had insisted on coming with her, and Jane had reluctantly agreed. She couldn’t go gallivanting around the country without a chaperone, and Jane would prefer her closest friend than her elderly mother or one of the servants. Her mother would certainly not let her go, and the servants would follow so close to the point of stepping on her dress. At least Rachel would be able to go along with her.

Then again, from the way Rachel had been talking during their journey to Derbyshire and through most of the previous evening, and again this morning, she was certainly not going along with Jane’s plan. If anything, she was in staunch opposition to it.

“You’re fussing over something really silly,” Rachel protested. “Besides, the wedding has nothing to do with you.”

Jane stared at her. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Nothing to do with me?” she repeated. “Did you really just say that?”

“Well, it doesn’t.”

“My brother-in-law is getting married this afternoon to a woman who has had two husbands die on her already! How can I let that go on good conscience? How do we know Ian’s not going to become dead husband number three?”

Even as she said it, Jane could feel herself cringing inwardly. The more she complained to Rachel, the more Jane was beginning to think that Rachel might be right. She was being a stupid little fool over something that really had nothing to do with her.

Maybe that’s what Rachel was trying to do, turn her around and make her realize what she was doing. Well, it wasn’t going to work. Jane had to stiffen her spine. She had to save Ian.

Rachel sighed and rose to her feet. “Jane, we’ve been over this several times. Anna Day divorced her first husband, which I consider a miracle nowadays…”

“There’s nothing miraculous about her!”

Rachel held up a hand. “That first husband, an odious man, was murdered by her second husband, who was hanged for the murders he committed on the Earl of Derby’s estate. They didn’t die because of her, and she certainly didn’t have a hand in it.”

Jane knew that. She had gone into Society to find out whatever she could about Anna Day. There were quite a few rumors going around, but the general consensus was that Anna Day was simply unfortunate with choosing the right man. Several of the older generation wanted to find a bit more drama, make it more than it was, but the more level-headed people believed that Anna was finally finding love. Ian Harrison was a well-respected gentleman considering his title of Viscount, and a widower who was finally remarrying. Not even his son’s previous discretions could change that.

It felt like no matter what Anna Day did, she always landed on her feet. And now she had captured a Viscount. Well, Jane was not about to let that happen.

“It doesn’t matter if they died because of her. It doesn’t set a good tone for anyone.” Jane kicked at the bed, the hard wood jarring her foot, and then stormed back to the window. “She’s bad luck. I don’t know what Ian sees in her.”

“Perhaps she’s a decent person who makes him smile every day, something to look forward to in the day?” Rachel snorted. “You’re only sore about this because he’s marrying someone who isn’t you.”

Jane gritted her teeth. Rachel had to hit far too close to the mark. She was good at that. Rubbing her arms, Jane stared out of the window at the church on the other side of the trees.

“I love him, Rachel,” she said. “And yet he proposes to that woman?”

“Jane, you’re younger than his own children. How can he marry someone who’s been family since they were born?”

“I bet she put a spell on him.”

Rachel let out a frustrated growl that made Jane jump. Rachel placed her hands on her hips, and scowled at her friend.

“Why don’t you just grow up, Jane? Have you ever heard yourself? You’re the most level-headed person I know, but when it comes to Viscount Harrison, you’re all over the place. It’s like you’ve been put under a spell yourself.”

“Rachel…”

“What would you say to someone in your position?” Rachel demanded. “If someone was obsessed with a gentleman and were planning to disrupt his wedding in an attempt to make him see her for the first time and that he’d had love in front of him all this time, what would you say to her?”

“I would tell her that she can’t change a person’s mind like that and it’s best to let it go.” Jane shook her head. “This is different, Rachel.”

“It’s not different at all!” Rachel shouted. She stopped, took a deep breath and let it out slowly, lowering her voice to a more level tone. “You are not stopping this wedding to make yourself feel better, Jane. If anything, you’re going to make yourself look a complete fool.”

“I can make my objections about the wedding. What’s wrong with that?”

“What’s wrong with it is that people in Society are going to be there, and word will get around that you’re an unstable lady who needs to be locked away for your own good.” Rachel gestured at Jane. “What do you think your parents are going to think about this? Your mother is going to be distraught over your actions. You know that. She isn’t a strong woman.”

That did give Jane pause. Her mother was not in the best of health, being of old age, and Jane did worry that she was going to wake up one day and hear her mother had died in the night. Which was why she had never said a thing about her feelings after the initial frustrations over Ian’s engagement. Her mother had simply told her to stop being so silly over something she couldn’t control and move on.

Jane couldn’t move on. At least, she couldn’t yet.

Rachel folded her arms and snorted. “So, you’d happily embarrass your brother-in-law and his family by barging into a wedding you haven’t been invited to and declare that Viscount Harrison shouldn’t marry a twice-widowed woman because of what? You don’t like the fact that you’re not the bride?”

Jane bared her teeth at her friend. “You’re not helping, Rachel.”

“I didn’t come here to help you embarrass a big crowd of people, including yourself.”

“Then why did you come at all?”

Rachel’s jaw tightened. “Because I didn’t want to see my closest friend become a laughing stock. You needed someone to tell you what you’re doing is wrong, and you often talk to me. At least, you talk, and I listen. How about listening to me for once?”

Jane didn’t know what to say to that. The other lady was right. She needed to take a step back and take a look at the bigger picture. From the bigger picture Rachel had created, the general opinion was that it was a happy occasion for two people who needed some good luck into their lives. But Jane didn’t like that picture. She wanted to see something different.

“I’m going to see if we can have something to eat. I’m hungry.” Rachel headed towards the door. “Don’t you dare go anywhere.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Rachel snorted and left the room, closing the door sharply behind her.

#

Alexander headed down the aisle of the church and behind the altar into the private area where the vicar had his private office and the vestry. His uncle had arrived at the church earlier to get ready, along with his sons David and Geoffrey. Alexander had seen both of his cousins in the churchyard with their wives, their various children running around playing. The vicar stood with Geoffrey’s wife Sarah talking and didn’t appear to be concerned about the scene.

Alexander smiled at the sight. He liked children. He was the fun uncle who would do silly things with them and be a bit of a fool. They liked someone who didn’t stick to the restricted rules of Society and Alexander couldn’t remember the last time he followed the rules without slipping within the hour.

His parents had asked him about when he was going to finally settle down and have children, but Alexander always dodged the questions. He would like children at some point, but he wasn’t about to slip up and get a woman pregnant. No woman should have to be married to him with his reputation, and he wasn’t about to make his parents happy.

It was just easier to stay a bachelor and have fun, even if it meant being the bane of his family’s lives.

Waving to his cousins, Alexander headed into the church and towards the vestry. When he was getting ready that morning, he hadn’t expected to receive a note from his uncle asking him to meet him before the wedding as he had something important to discuss. It could have meant anything, and Alexander had no idea what Ian could be talking about. As far as he was aware, he and Ian had a good relationship. Ian was more tolerant of his rakish lifestyle, and kept his opinions to himself.

Still, Alexander wondered what he had done.

The vestry door was closed, so Alexander knocked.

“Come in.”

Alexander entered and found his uncle standing in front of a huge mirror that was on the inside of a wardrobe door. Ian Harrison had gone more silver-haired over the last few months, and it looked good. Alexander had always admired how Ian managed to look more dapper the older he got. Apart from a few lines around his mouth and eyes, his uncle could easily have been much younger. The jacket that his valet was adjusting fitted him well, and Ian seemed to look several inches taller. Alexander stood for a moment in the doorway to observe him.

He never thought Ian would marry again and yet here he was, the happiest Alexander had seen in a while.

Ian caught sight of him in the mirror and turned, smiling at his nephew. “Alexander. Come on in. Close the door behind you.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

Alexander did as he was told and approached the older man. Ian turned back to the mirror and the valet brushed his shoulders down.

“Think this will do?”

Alexander chuckled. “Very fetching. You’ll certainly make the ladies envious of Anna.”

“There’s only one lady I want to impress today, and that is the future Viscountess Harrison.”

“I’m sure,” Alexander drawled.

Ian elbowed him in the stomach, which caught Alexander off-guard. Ian chuckled and went to a dresser under the window leaving Alexander rubbing his stomach.

“I wish you would stop doing that. I’m not a child anymore.”

“Then behave yourself.” Ian glanced over his shoulder. “Nice to see you’ve brushed up as well.”

“Hey!” Alexander looked down at his dark jacket and cream-colored breeches. “I always make sure I scrub up for weddings.”

“I know you do, seeing as you’ve been to several in the last three years.” Ian paused. “If only you could do that with your life in Society.”

Alexander sighed. He was not doing this now.

“If you brought me in here to chastise me about how I conduct myself…”

“I didn’t. Not on my wedding day. And I’m not your father.” Ian turned and leaned against the dresser. “I’ve actually got a task for you. It might mean you miss the wedding, but I feel this is something I can entrust to you.”

Now Alexander was confused and intrigued. He was being entrusted with something? His own parents never did that, saying that he was irresponsible with his lifestyle, so he had to be irresponsible with everything else. He was curious.

“Go on, Uncle.”

“You know about my sister-in-law, Jane Malcolm? I think you might have met her in the past at my home in Ireland.”

Alexander did remember Jane. A petite, blonde little thing with eyes that could entrance a gentleman if he looked long enough. Alexander had felt like that for a moment, until he realized what he was doing and backed away quickly. Jane Malcolm had been far too dangerous to get involved with, as far as he was concerned. Besides, she had been more interested in fawning over Ian. She certainly did seem to adore her brother-in-law.

“She’s the sister-in-law who’s about my age, isn’t she?”

“She is. The surprise baby.” Ian sighed running his hand through his hair. “She would visit us regularly in Ireland until a little after Elizabeth died. At that point, I realized that she was showing me adoration that was a little more than comfortable. She was fifteen. A child. I was old enough to be her father, and she looked at me like I was her knight.”

“I remember that part. I thought it was a little odd.” Alexander spread his hands. “I thought it was simply because she had lost her sister and you had lost your wife. The three of you were close and she wanted someone to hang onto.”

“She had her parents for that, not me. So, I told her it was best she didn’t visit for a while.”

“I bet that went well.”

Ian snorted. “It certainly didn’t. I allowed her to come to our place in London over Christmas as my sons liked her company and they were the same age, but I kept myself at arm’s length.”

“Now you’re getting married and Jane’s objecting to it.”

“From what my family has been telling me and what I’ve gleaned from people of the ton, she’s been going around asking questions and trying to get someone to speak badly of me. She gets what she wants from the old bats, but that’s about it.” Ian sighed and folded his arms. “I don’t know where she thought our relationship was going to go, but I could never see her as a wife. She’s a little sister to me. That isn’t going to change because she wants it to. I’ve received several letters from her over the last few months since I proposed to Anna, and they’re not exactly kind letters.”

“Sounds like she’s lost her mind.” Alexander murmured, but he could see where this was going. “And you want me to steer her away if I see her anywhere around.”

Ian nodded. “I know it’s not exactly something you do, but my sons are in my wedding party, and I can’t have them distracted. Not when my daughters-in-laws are both expecting.”

“So instead, you make your nephew the sacrificial lamb.” Alexander grunted. “Charming.”

“Alexander.”

Alexander looked up. Ian was looking at him intently. It made Alexander want to step back. His uncle was an easygoing man, but he was hard when he wanted to be. After having to accept that one of his sons was a killer who was thus shipped off to the other side of the world last year, it was a wonder he could smile again.

“Your father is constantly telling me that you don’t accept responsibility, that you think everything’s a game.” Ian’s eyes never left Alexander’s face. “I want to prove him wrong. I want you to show him, and me, that you can be responsible. Prove to him that you can do what we ask of you.”

“By steering your former sister-in-law away from disrupting your wedding.”

“I know you don’t really like weddings. So, you can be my personal bodyguard.” Ian pointed at him. “I’m entrusting you with this.”

Chapter 2

That did make Alexander feel a little better. He loved most of his family, and he liked to see them as much as he could, but his grandparents and his parents were driving him mad. They would constantly pester him about settling down like everyone else, and that frustrated Alexander. Weddings were the worst because Alexander felt cornered, especially when the younger children made a beeline for him.

At least this got out of him standing beside his mother with her and his grandmother poking him in the sides and telling him it should be him next. This was the sixth wedding in three years, and it was getting worse.

“I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything.” Ian pushed off the dresser and approached him. “I’ll allow your lack of attendance to slide because I need you to do this. I want you to promise me that you won’t let Jane Malcolm into the church. I’ll make sure you get rewarded handsomely for this.”

“I don’t want a money for this, Uncle.” Alexander grinned. “How about a summer at your home instead? You know I love it there.”

Ian chuckled. “I know you do. Still, I do have a reward that has nothing to do with money. I have an empty cottage on my estate, close to the beach. Needs a bit of fixing up, but it’s a good enough dwelling. You do this for me, and that can be your wedding present.”

Not him as well. Alexander scoffed. “As if I’m going to get married.”

“Well, the only lady who’s crossing the threshold will be your wife. It won’t be turned into a love nest for you. You do that, and I take it from you.”

“So, it comes with a stipulation as well.”

Ian sighed, then he reached out and hugged Alexander.

“Show that you can be a man and not a little boy for once in your life, Alexander. I know you can easily do that. There are rewards at the end.” Leaning back, he asked, “Will you do this for me or not?”

Alexander was tempted to tell his uncle to shove it. After he heard the stipulations to the cottage, he should have said no and that he wouldn’t be forced into marriage. But Ian was giving him a chance to show that he could be relied upon, something his parents lamented about. They thought he amounted to nothing and were trying to force him into the right direction, and it wasn’t working. He didn’t want his uncle to do the same thing.

Still, this was a favor for Ian Harrison, a gentleman who had more faith in him than anyone else. Alexander was willing to do anything for his favorite uncle, no matter what he asked. Even making sure a jilted woman didn’t come bursting in while the bride and groom were making their vows.

#

Jane stood under the overhanging branches of a tree and watched the church doors. She had been watching the guests go inside, chattering away happily. Children were running around screaming with laughter. Jane even saw Ian’s sons, David and Geoffrey, greeting the guests. Everyone was smiling and looked so happy.

The more she watched, the more Jane realized that she was being a fool. This was getting ridiculous. As Jane played everything over in her mind, everything she had heard over the last few months, Jane was beginning to notice how obsessed she had become and how pathetic she was being. Over a gentleman she had known practically all her life.

As a young girl, Jane had imagined what it would be like to be Elizabeth. To marry a man like Ian Harrison. But that had all blown up in her face. She was longing for something that would never happen, and Jane had refused to see it.

Now she stood watching the guests go into the church, and she saw Anna Day coming up the path with her daughter and David Harrison’s wife as her attendants. They all looked gorgeous in their beautiful dresses. Anna looked absolutely radiant with such a beaming smile. She really was a handsome lady.

She didn’t deserve any of this. Anna had lost two husbands through no fault of her own. Jane had thought it would be enough for Ian to run away, but he knew everything, and he was still there. The gentleman was loyal. Jane couldn’t fault him for that.

She was a stupid little girl who couldn’t let go of the past and now here she was, about to make a complete fool of herself. Was that really what she wanted?

No. It wasn’t. She shouldn’t have come here.

“I figured you might be out here.”

Jane gasped and spun around. A tall, slim gentleman with dark hair was standing by the church wall. Or rather, he was leaning against the wall with his hands behind him, watching her with a slightly lazy smile. He was wearing the wedding colors of the groom, his coloring was very similar to Ian’s. He even had flecks of silver at his temples despite his young age. This wasn’t one of Ian’s sons.

Then Jane remembered.

“You’re Ian’s nephew, aren’t you? Alexander?”

“That’s my name.” Alexander Harrison pushed off the wall and stepped towards her, ducking his head beneath the boughs. “Ready to disrupt the celebration, are we?”

Jane was about to give him a sharp retort when she saw his eyes. They were sapphire blue, piercing. They had Jane rooted to the spot and she couldn’t look away.

A slight tremble went through her body, her heart skipping a beat. Jane pushed it aside. She knew of Alexander’s reputation. He was a rake, a man not to be trusted and certainly not a man she should find attractive.

Attractive? She really had gone mad.

“I must warn you, Miss Malcom,” Alexander said as he looked down from his great height, “I’ve been advised to stop you from going inside, and I don’t want to have to manhandle you away from the church. That wouldn’t look good for either of us.”

“It’s Lady Jane, Mr. Harrison,” Jane said stiffly. “I am the daughter of an Earl.”

“My apologies.” Alexander gave her a slight bow. “My Lady.”

Jane glanced over her shoulder. The sound of the organ was coming out through the open doors, filling the churchyard with gay music. It left her with a slightly heavy heart as she turned back to Alexander.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything. I…” She licked her lips and looked at the ground. “I was just standing here, watching everyone going in. It’s made me think a little more about things.”

Alexander was silent. Jane glanced up and found him watching her closely. She swallowed and resisted the urge to shuffle from foot to foot. Then Alexander said something that completely threw her.

“Would you like to talk?”

Talk? From what Jane remembered of Alexander Harrison, he wasn’t one to talk. He had fun with the children, who seemed to adore him, and he flirted a lot, but he wasn’t a person who talked. Nevertheless, he was holding a hand out to her with a slight smile. Even that smile made Jane go weak at the knees.

She shouldn’t touch him. If she did, Jane was going to make a fool of herself. Again. Even just being alone with him, like this could ruin her reputation. She looked around.

She finally reached for his hand. “Somewhere that’s not the churchyard? I don’t fancy being here when they come out.”

If they saw her, Jane knew there was going to be a scene. She had already made enough of a fuss; she didn’t want to do anything further.

“Of course.” Alexander grasped her hand. “Come on. I know a place where we can talk in private.”

Jane wasn’t sure about being alone with him. Someone could come along and find her alone with a rake. Then again, she had managed to sneak out of the public house’s back door without Rachel noticing, so proprieties had already gone out the window.

Jane followed Alexander out of a side gate and across a path. They headed through the trees and into a field. Jane didn’t even know this place was here. Just on the other side of the field was a stone bridge with the river running through. She could hear the sounds of the water from where she stood. With the blue sky and a deer prancing around on the other bank, it looked idyllic. Perfect even for the end of September.

Alexander went to where there were two large stones sticking out of the ground. One was low enough for Jane to sit on, which she did once Alexander settled against the other. Hands twisting in her lap, Jane looked around. Anywhere but at the gentleman in front of her.

“I love Ian.” She felt embarrassed saying that now. “I still do. But I think I’ve been fooling myself. I believed what I felt was a romantic kind of love, one that is between us. I thought if I kept coming back and showing how I felt to Ian that he would see me as the one he needed, someone who could mend his broken heart after my sister died.”

“And it didn’t happen,” Alexander said. “Because my uncle didn’t see you the same way.”

It was a mere statement, but his tone was not judgmental at all. But it still made Jane cringe.

“No, he didn’t. I’m only just beginning to realize that.” She ran her hands over her face. She wanted to cry over her own stupidity. “I’m such a fool. If I had gone in there and made a show of myself, I would have looked like I was completely insane. Word would have gotten around, and then I would have been a laughing stock. Mother and Father would have fits over it.”

Alexander stayed silent for a moment. When Jane looked up, he was watching her pensively. There was nothing in his expression that said he thought she was unstable. It made Jane want to cry even more. He was the first person in her life who had listened to her and not made any judgements.

“What made you change your mind?” Alexander asked.

“I…” Jane stood and began to pace. She couldn’t bring herself to sit still for long. “I’ve watched Ian with Anna Day over the last couple of months. He proposed to her just moments before I found him. And I’ve seen the way the two of them are together. It’s genuine affection, love for each other that you couldn’t hide. And I…” She swallowed. “I began to think that maybe I was wrong about her.”

“And yet, you still turned up.”

Jane flinched. “I was trying to keep myself angry. At Anna. At Ian. At anyone. Keep on with what I planned to do. And yet, I just couldn’t.” She briefly closed her eyes. “I couldn’t.”

“Maybe it’s for the best.” Alexander said quietly. “You wouldn’t have been able to recover from it had you gone in there.”

He was right, and Jane was just beginning to realize that herself. She opened her eyes and looked at him. His expression hadn’t changed.

“Have you ever made yourself a fool over a woman?”

“Never. I don’t believe in love.”

“You don’t?”

Alexander snorted. “Never have, never will. It may exist with some people, but I don’t believe it for myself.”

Jane was surprised when she heard his declaration. She had heard many things about those who were jaded by love, didn’t think it was something magical to keep hold of or even go looking for, but she had never heard about someone who didn’t believe in it for themselves.

Then again, she shouldn’t have been surprised. Alexander’s reputation preceded him. Jane didn’t need to meet him to know exactly what he was like.

“I’ve heard of your reputation,” she murmured. “You’re quite well-known with the ladies of the ton. Most of the whispers I’ve heard about you certainly made me sit up.”

Alexander’s mouth twitched in a wry smile. “A lot of talk about me would make anyone sit up. I’m not exactly discreet.”

“I’m sure you’re not.”

They stared at each other. Behind them, Jane heard the church bells chiming. The ceremony must have finished, and they would be coming out soon. Jane was glad Alexander had taken her away now. She didn’t want anyone to see her.

Such a stupid little fool she was.

“Look, Lady Jane Malcolm,” Alexander sighed and pushed off the stone, towering over her, but with no animosity. “A part of my uncle still cares for you. He still considers you family. But he’s not about to let you ruin things for him. Give him some time and let him get used to his new life with Anna. Then ask if you can talk to him.”

“If he wants to talk to me at all,” Jane grunted.

Alexander smiled. His expression softened. “I’m sure he will. Ian is a very forgiving person.”

The way he said it had Jane smiling.

“You sound like that’s a curse.”

“It can be with a lot of people. With me, forgiveness doesn’t happen often. My parents have seen to that. No matter what I do, they don’t give anything away.”

There was a bit of pain in his voice when he said that. Jane peered up at him, but then the pain disappeared. Alexander cleared his throat and stepped away, looking anywhere but at her.

“But we’re not here to talk about me, Lady Jane. We’re here to make sure the wedding happens for my uncle.” He paused and glanced at her. “And to get you home.”

Home. Jane couldn’t think of any place better to be right now.

Then they heard voices. Familiar voices. The bride and groom had come out of the church. They were laughing, sounded so happy.

And Jane just froze.

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