“No. I didn’t find it and then Garrett told me the story about Isabella and the wine cellar and I completely forgot about the book. He did say I could come back whenever I wished, however.”

Lucy smiled slyly. “That’s perfect. Return to Garrett’s house to borrow that book, and while you’re there, look for the letter.”

Jane gasped. “I can’t do that.”

“Whyever not?”

“You want me to root around in his private things?”

Lucy nodded. “Yes, exactly.”

“I can’t do that, Lucy.”

“I’d do it. Be bold.”

Jane groaned.

Lucy patted her shoulder. “Think of it this way, dear, what would Lucy Hunt do?”

Jane pressed her palm to her forehead. “She’d go to Garrett’s town house and search for that letter.”

Chapter 42

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Garrett had gone straight to Isabella’s town house as soon as the hour had been decent. She wasn’t in, or so the butler had said. Garrett had left more frustrated than before. He wanted to confront her, to ask her why she’d done what she’d done. How had she known he and Jane were planning to meet in his room that night?

After his talk with Jane yesterday, he had more to think about than ever. Jane had not answered him when he’d asked if they could have a future together. He didn’t blame her. He’d made a complete mess of things. He’d proposed to her too late at the house party, and now he was asking her about their future while he was supposed to become formally betrothed to another lady. The wrong lady. A lady who would apparently stop at nothing to get what she wanted. How the devil had things got so complicated in such a sort amount of time?

“Sir, would you like to go home?” the coachman said as Garrett reentered the vehicle.

“No, John. Take me to my mother’s.”

Ten minutes later, Garrett was sitting in his mother’s drawing room. Mary Upton came pattering in, a wide smile on her face. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I thought I’d stop and see how you are.”

His mother arched a dark brow. “I think the more important question is, how are you, my son?”

Garrett wrinkled his brow. “What do you mean?”

“I may be getting on in years but I still keep abreast of the latest news. There is quite a lot of talk about you lately.”

“Talk? About me?”

“You, the house party, Miss Lowndes?” His mother dragged out the last two words in a dramatic fashion.

“What about Miss Lowndes?”

“Seems the gossips are saying she was spotted in her night rail near the bachelors’ quarters the night of the earl’s wedding.”

Garrett struggled to keep his face blank. His mother eyed him carefully. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”