Jane shook such fancies from her head. It did not signify that Mr. Dunkirk had called her by name or that Mr. Vincent thought her his muse; what mattered in this moment was that Beth stood to be injured by Captain Livingston.

In short order, Jane was admitted to Robinsford Abbey’s drawing room, there to await the pleasure of the mistress of the house. Unable to sit and pretend that there was no urgency to her call, she paced instead. The glamour that she had shewn Beth how to work on the bookshelf clawed at her senses; stiff and unyielding and yet perfectly executed. Jane wanted to rip the offending work from the ether and redo the whole of it.

Mr. Dunkirk entered in a riding habit. “Miss Ellsworth, what a pleasure. We had not looked for you until later this afternoon.”

“Please forgive the earliness of my call.”

“Not at all.” He looked at the volumes in her hands. “I appreciate your devotion to my sister more than I can tell. Beth will join us shortly; we were set to go for a ride, but she is delighted that you have come.”

Jane glanced at the books which she had forgotten she was carrying. None of these would provide comfort to Beth once Jane had related the particulars of Captain Livingston’s betrayal. For that Beth would need the support of her brother, and yet, could Jane rely on him to react with a steady mind? But she could not see her way clear to another course. He must be told. “I am afraid, Mr. Dunkirk, that I have brought these books merely as an excuse to call.”

His manner changed at once. “What is the matter?”

“You recall that I promised that I would let you know if Beth was in any way endangered?”

He became quite still.

“I must ask for a similar promise from you; I must ask that you not settle on a course of action without consulting me, for it turns out that the matter affects my family as well.”

“I see.” He gestured to a chair. “Please.”

Though her joints ached with an urge to flee, Jane sat, still clutching the books as if they could shield her with their happy endings. “Will you promise me to consult me?”

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I do not know if I can, in good conscience. I must guard my sister’s safety to the best of my abilities.”

Jane nodded, biting her lip. She took a breath and continued. “As I must guard my sister’s.”

“Pardon?”

“I have only just learned that the same man courts them both.”

Mr. Dunkirk pushed himself out of his chair and strode to the window. Even the morning light did nothing to soften the tension in his form as he stood with his back to her. “Will you tell me who this man is?” His voice was so even and so level that Jane felt a chill.

“I ask you to promise me that you will do nothing rash.”