Jane pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. Perhaps she shouldn’t have said that. She desperately needed to change the subject. She blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Lucy tells me you intend to marry Isabella Langford.”

“Jane, I—”

“I think it’s for the best. I wish you both well.”

She took a shaky breath. She didn’t love him. He didn’t love her. So why did the thought of Garrett with Isabella make Jane sick to her stomach?

Thankfully, Daphne and Berkeley returned then. “Captain Cavendish sends his greetings, Jane,” Daphne said.

“I should have come with you,” Jane replied. Then I wouldn’t have had to sit here and have this excruciating conversation with Garrett.

“Ladies, what do you have planned for the remainder of the week?” Lord Berkeley asked.

“I intend to go shopping on Bond Street tomorrow,” Daphne announced. “But I cannot seem to convince Miss Lowndes to come with me.”

Jane laughed. “You cannot convince me because I’d rather have my eyes gouged out with hot pokers than go shopping. Unless a bookstore is involved, of course.”

“Is that so?” Lord Berkeley whistled. “A lady who doesn’t enjoy shopping. You are a rare find indeed, Miss Lowndes.”

Jane tilted her head and grinned at him. “My lord? You’ve never met a bluestocking spinster before?”

Berkeley laughed aloud at that. Then he asked, “What do you intend to do with yourself tomorrow then, Miss Lowndes?”

“I’ve been looking for an old book. I’m going to the library to search for it. I don’t have much hope of finding it, of course, but I do intend to try.”

“What book is it, Miss Lowndes?” Lord Berkeley asked.

“It’s called The Art of Penmanship,” Jane replied. Surely Lord Berkeley was only being polite by asking.

“I have it.” Upton’s reply sounded curt.

A silence ensued.

“Pardon?” Jane finally offered.

“I have that book at my town house,” Upton said.

Jane turned to face him. “You have The Art of Penmanship?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Upton, I could not be more astonished,” Jane said.

He met her eyes. “If you come to my house tomorrow, you’re welcome to borrow it.”

Chapter 39

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Jane stood outside the imposing door to Upton’s town house for five entire minutes. Eloise was waiting in the coach. Jane was unable to either step forward and rap upon the door or flee back to the vehicle. Instead, she stood, hands folded, reticule dangling from her wrist, as she contemplated the possibilities. She could knock on the door and be ushered into the town house where she would simply tell Upton she’d come to borrow his book. Or, she could turn away, go back home, and pretend she’d never made this journey. Then Upton wouldn’t think she gave a fig about him or his book collection. That would show him.

However, she wanted that book.