Mrs. Langford’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. I’ll be blunt. I want Garrett Upton. And I intend to have him.”

Jane placed a steadying hand against the wall. She took a breath, concentrating to keep a blank look on her face. So there it was, the ultimate challenge, and stated in such a way that it sounded absurd. “What are you planning to do? Toss a sack over his head and abduct him?”

Mrs. Langford smirked. “Such a wit, Miss Lowndes, and such a child. I am a full-grown woman and, believe me, I know the way to bring a man to heel.”

Jane’s eyebrows shot up. “To heel? Like a dog, you mean?”

“If need be.” She tossed her head and barely shrugged one shoulder. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

“Like tampering with a saddle and challenging someone to a race?”

The widow gasped and took a step back. “What are you implying?”

Jane eyed the woman. She had no intention of getting into an argument with Isabella in the middle of the ball at Cass’s wedding party, but she also refused to allow the widow to think she was fooling anyone. “Don’t count your victory quite yet, Mrs. Langford. I, too, have read Secrets of a Wedding Night.” Jane brushed past the widow and made her way back to Lucy. Admittedly, her departure would have had a superior impact if she hadn’t had to half limp, but an exit was an exit, was it not? The words were more important than the walking.

Lucy had managed to find Garrett, and they were standing together when Jane returned. She smiled at him brightly and he rushed to offer his arm. “How is your ankle?” he whispered in her ear, causing gooseflesh to pop up. Hopefully he’d got a good whiff of that magical perfume.

“Not perfect but much better,” she replied.

To Jane’s chagrin, Mrs. Langford sauntered up and joined their group. The woman’s strident voice rang out behind them. “Your Grace, it’s lovely to see you again.”

Lucy rolled her eyes but turned to greet the widow. “Mrs. Langford.” She inclined her head.

They turned to face one another in a small circle. Jane kept her arm firmly wrapped around Garrett’s.

Mrs. Langford touched her elegant fingers to the strand of pearls at her neck. “It’s really too bad you cannot dance this evening, Miss Lowndes. I do hope your ankle heals eventually.”

“I’m sure you do, Mrs. Langford,” Jane replied, a false smile on her face.

“I myself would love to dance.” Mrs. Langford eyed Garrett expectantly.

Jane’s grip on his arm tightened. For one awful moment she thought he would be obliged to offer.