She briefly considered her original plan. Could she hide in this house for the rest of her natural life or was she, indeed, required to declare herself? “We don’t know what became of Jane,” she could hear her mother’s voice saying years from now at a party. “She went out to the library one afternoon and never returned.” Because she had told her mother the library was her destination. She just hadn’t mentioned which library. Mrs. Bunbury, that poor darling, remained in bed with a head cold.

In the end, she decided she must make her presence known. If for no other reason, the idea of the future Mrs. Upton being told that Jane had gone missing in the library would no doubt spur that particular lady into launching an all-out search that would not end until Jane was discovered.

“I’m here,” she called back softly.

He tilted his head and looked up at her. His smile was warm and welcoming. “I’m glad you came,” he said. Her heart, that traitorous organ, beat quickly, and for a moment she could almost believe he meant it. Almost. But the memory of him kissing Isabella Langford rendered in Jane’s mind. She wished she could scrub it away, but it remained like a hideous scar.

The dogs wagged their tails, obviously waiting to be greeted by their master. Garrett bent over and slapped his hands on his thighs. The dogs wiggled up to him and he petted each of them in turn.

Jane slowly made her way down the staircase. She came to stand a few paces from Garrett. She arched a brow. “Dogberry and Verges?”

His grin hit her in her middle. “The stars of the play if you ask me.”

“Not Hero and Claudio?”

“Certainly not.”

She tapped her slippered foot against the rug. “What about Beatrice and Benedick? They would be the names I’d choose. You surprise me, Upton. I didn’t know you were partial to dogs.”

“I’m not. My friend, the Countess of Merrill’s sister, Miss Andrews, gave me these two. She works with the Royal Society for the Humane Treatment of Animals and she’s forever rescuing animals in need. When I saw these two little scoundrels, I couldn’t say no.”

“They are darling,” Jane allowed, scratching Dogberry behind the ear.

“Would you care to sit?” Garrett asked her.

Jane followed him to the settee near the center of the room. She sat on one end. He sat on a chair at right angles to her. He looked handsome today, blast him. Unbearably so. His long legs were encased in buckskin breeches, his feet in black top boots. He wore an emerald green coat and white shirttails and cravat. His dark hair was a bit mussed and it looked as if he hadn’t shaved in a day or two, which Jane quite liked, actually.

“You’ve been keeping a large secret from me, Upton.”