“I love you too, Cass. I’m so happy for you and for Julian. As for my ankle, I’m only glad a litter wasn’t involved.”

“Don’t think I wouldn’t have arranged it,” Cass replied.

“I have no doubt.” Jane took her leave of Julian, Lucy, and Derek and made her way out of the ballroom and up the stairs to her room. By the time she arrived at her door, she was trembling with nerves. She rang for Eloise, who quickly helped divest her of her gown. Jane made it a point to dismiss the maid before she removed her chemise. She took a step over to the wardrobe and grabbed her dressing gown. She clutched it in both hands, staring at herself in the full-length mirror. She looked altogether different in her chemise. In fact, she’d never exactly studied herself this way before, with her hair down and her feet bare. Would Garrett think she was pretty enough? Would her naked body be acceptable to him? Would he think her thighs were too plump? Her backside too round? She’d never cared what anyone thought about her appearance before, but tonight she cared. She cared deeply.

“If you’re not there, I’ll know you changed your mind,” Garrett had said.

For a brief awful moment she thought of him there, waiting for her if she didn’t come. She took a shaky breath. She had this moment, this one moment to decide. The clock on the mantelpiece struck two and she stared at her reflection in the glass. Her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it in her ears.

She was frozen, paralyzed. What if he thought she wasn’t good enough? Wasn’t pretty enough? She couldn’t take rejection. Not from him.

She squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t do it.

*   *   *

When Garrett left the ballroom, he went directly to the wine cellar. He needed a bottle of red for tonight. He’d be sure to send over a replacement to reimburse the Morelands, though he doubted they’d mind. The earl and countess had a vast and extensive collection of wine.

The kitchens had been humming with servants bringing courses to and fro, but the evening had died down and a much smaller group remained hard at work. After getting the approval of the butler and assuring the good man that he did not need his help, he asked the hall boy for direction to the wine cellar.

“Just down the way, sir,” the boy replied, pointing toward a darkened room at the far end of the basement. Garrett grinned at him and tossed the boy a pound coin for his trouble.