The man continued, “Do you think you love the chit? Fine. Shag her. Put her up as your mistress. You don’t marry a girl like that.”

“I will marry her, if she will have me.”

“Don’t be a fool like your father.”

Constantine motioned to the door. “I’m going after her. I’ll return later for my things.”

“Your things?” The duke shook his head in bewilderment. “I don’t—”

“That’s correct. I’ve learned all I want to learn from you and I’ll be moving into a house of my own.”

“Now see here, Sinclair!” His face reddened. Blustering, he stabbed a finger after him. “You cannot think you can simply inherit my title and fortune and know how to properly manage—”

“Oh, I can and I will inherit your title and fortune because that is the law.” He turned on his heels and opened the front door. He looked over his shoulder. “And I will manage just fine.”

“It’s time to go,” Nora announced as their train was called for the second time.

She and Bea had obtained a porter to help them with their luggage and they maneuvered through the station, much more crowded now than when they had arrived. Voices buzzed around them and train whistles blew alongside the rumble of steam engines.

Bodies bustled into them, and someone bumped into Nora. She dropped her reticule and bent to pick it up. Straightening, she paused as a single shout split the air, amid all the other noises.

“Nora! Noraaaa!”

“Is someone calling you?” Bea looked from her to the area around them, scanning the many faces.

Trepidation tripped down her spine, heightening her sense of urgency. “Of course not. Come. Let’s go. We don’t want to miss our train.” She tugged on Bea’s arm and hastened forward.

“Nora!”

Bea pulled back on her hand. “Oh, come now. Did you not hear that? It was definitely your name.”

Bea looked back into the crowd, and Nora reluctantly followed her gaze.

“There!” Bea stabbed a finger in the air.

Stomach plummeting to her feet, Nora froze, watching as Constantine darted through people, bumping into them roughly with little regard to courtesy.

Bea looked back at her with a smug look. “What’s he doing here, I wonder?”

She shrugged, shaking off her astonishment at seeing him there. “I don’t have any earthly notion. Perhaps he has come to collect someone.”

“Indeed. You.”

She shot Bea a glare. “We are going to miss our train.” Almost on cue, the final call for their train bellowed across the air. Bea didn’t budge. “Fine,” Nora snapped, a fiery ball of desperation spreading through her chest. “Stay here or join me. I’m going.”

She turned stiffly. With a nod for the porter, she continued on her way.

Of course, she did not make it very far.

A hand clamped on her arm and spun her around. “Nora!”