Page 38 of The Lord Next Door I Wished For
“There you are,” his mother said as she reached his side. “Did Jane find you?”
He blinked in surprise, and apparently that was answer enough. His mother frowned. “She went after you, hoping to have a word, I believe.”
“I didn’t see her…” Luke’s heart thumped painfully, his gut dipping with wariness before his mind could even catch up. She’d wanted to speak to him in private?
Was she having a change of heart?
Was that why she’d seemed so overset while they’d danced?
“Really?” His mother frowned. “Her mother has been looking for her. When she didn’t return, I’d thought she’d found you and…well. I thought you two were together.”
“I’m sure she just…needed a moment,” he finished lamely. Already his gaze was searching the crowd, but there was no sight of her. And with each passing second, his wariness grew to dread.
Jane hadn’t found him, clearly. She’d lied. She’d slipped away. She’d…
She’d run.
Blast. He turned on his heel, heading back the way he’d come, ignoring his mother’s questions from behind him.
He passed the open door of the library just as thunder cracked and…wind.
A gust of wind caught his coat and had him turning toward the dark room. He’d joked earlier about leaving a window open for her, but she wouldn’t…
She wouldn’t run away from him and their engagement.
He told himself that even as he saw the parted curtains, the window raised high.
“Blast!” He didn’t hesitate before climbing out into the stormy night. Mud squished beneath his feet, and the flash of lightning illuminated another pair of footsteps as well.
She’d been there, all right.
What was she thinking? Her slippers were no match for this rain and the wet lawn. He looked around him, but his feet were already carrying him toward the stables.
All the while, his heart raced just as quickly as his mind. Why had she run?
Had someone said something? His heart twisted and ached. Why hadn’t she waited for him? What was she thinking?
Was she having second thoughts about marriage?
He broke into a run the moment he saw the stables silhouetted against the night sky. She was in there. He knew it.
And he needed more than anything to know that she was safe.
He threw open the stable doors just as lightning flashed overhead. Jane squeaked with alarm, swinging the lantern around as she whirled to face him.
“It’s me, Jane,” he said, holding his hands up high as she pressed a hand to her chest. He moved closer, his chest aching when she backed up a step as if…
As if she really were running away from him.
He stopped, taking her in from her wet disheveled hair to her rain-drenched skirts that clung to her legs. His heart ached so badly he thought it might break.
She looked as miserable as he felt.
“Jane, what…what happened?”
She bit her lip and shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
He waited for more but nothing more came. “Did someone say something to offend you? Did someone…did someone hurt you in some way?”
