Jane breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you for checking on me. I’m quite fine.”

Cass crossed over to her and gave her a quick hug. “I’m so glad.”

Lucy whirled and narrowed her eyes on Jane. “Did you, ah, happen to see Garrett last night?”

Jane pressed her palms together to keep them from shaking. She counted three and took a deep breath. They knew something. But she’d come this far and she refused to back down. “Upton?” she said in the most disinterested voice she could muster. “Are you asking if I saw Upton in the library? Because the answer is most assuredly no. I doubt Upton even knows what a library is.”

Lucy’s smile was catlike. “You didn’t see Garrett at all then?”

“If you’re interested in Upton’s whereabouts last evening, you might try asking Mrs. Langford. She seems to be quite taken with him, though goodness knows why.”

Distraction. It usually worked on her mother. Would it work on Lucy?

Obviously dissatisfied with that answer, Lucy opened her mouth to speak, but Cass patted Jane’s hand. “We’ll see you later for the picnic on the lawn, won’t we, Jane?”

Lucy plunked her hands on her hips and glared at Cass.

“Yes, of course.” Jane smoothed her hand over her hair. “I think I’ll just pop back to bed for a bit more sleep. I’ll be down for the picnic around noon.”

“Have a good rest,” Lucy called as she made her way to the door, Cass trailing behind her.

The two disappeared nearly as quickly as they’d come, leaving Jane staring after them perplexed. Just what did they know?

Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Garrett had been summoned. Summoned to the gold drawing room where Lucy and Cassandra were apparently holding court. The entire house party—or at least those who were inclined—were to have a picnic lunch in a meadow on the estate at noon. While most of the guests were assembling in the foyer to make their way out together, a footman had delivered a note asking Garrett to meet Lucy and Cassandra in the salon directly before the group departed.

Thank God that hideous concoction of Colton’s had done its work. Garrett’s headache was gone. The sick feeling in his stomach was now caused only by the knowledge that he’d done things with the most unlikely lady in the kingdom last night. He could only hope she hadn’t realized it was him. Or had she? No. That wasn’t possible. First, it was surprising that Miss Lowndes would ever do any of the things they’d done last night. Garrett wouldn’t have guessed she had it in her. He wouldn’t believe for a moment she would have done them had she known she was doing them with him.