Chapter 25

"Icannot say that I know how you feel but I am sorry that you have gone through all of this, Colin," Mark said, shaking his head as Colin filled him in on all that had happened.

It had been a few days since Jane left his home after the grueling conversation they had in the drawing room. He snorted.

"How could she say that she felt trapped? All I have ever done is ensure that she is happy and that my nieces have a woman in their life that would care for them and teach them how to behave like proper women. How is it that she feels trapped?"

Mark heaved a breath and clapped him on the back, handing him another glass of whiskey.

"I cannot claim to know the mind of a woman. Perhaps what you believed to be freedom, she saw as different. I wish I could say that she would see the advantage of her marriage to you and return but I do not wish to lie to you."

Colin looked at his friend and rolled his eyes.

"You sure do know how to comfort a friend when he is down."

He threw his head back and poured the stiff drink into his mouth, wincing as it burned all the way down. He welcomed the sting it brought, hoping it would distract him from the pain in his heart.

"I had hoped that she would remain in my home until after the annulment had been finalized before leaving to return to her father's house. Perhaps it would have given me enough time to show her that I love her and perhaps she loves me too and we could find a way to work this out and be happy together."

He got up from his chair to pour himself another drink and sighed as he swirled the golden liquid in the glass. It had done nothing to help his situation, instead, it seemed to have him more focused on his feelings and what he had lost.

Colin still could not fathom how this was his life. How could things have gone horribly wrong so suddenly? Finding out he was in love with her had been quite terrifying for him. Dealing with his feelings had been even worse.

Colin had only managed to come to terms with his love for her and his decision to tell her about how he felt after speaking to his grandmother but he hadn't been given the opportunity to do so.

He had been robbed of his moment when she told him she wanted an annulment.

"I wish she had given me an opportunity to tell her that I love her," he said, voicing the thought that had plagued him since she left.

He'd had dreams of that night over and over again, except in his dreams, he had told her that he loved her. Her reaction to his feelings was never the same.

On some days, she was happy and reciprocated his feelings, putting an end to any talk of annulment while on other days, she had laughed in his face before telling him that it hadn't been part of their arrangement when he sought her hand and she could never love him back. "I do not know how long I can fake being happy in front of Margaret and Louisa. I can tell that they have begun to suspect that Jane will not be coming back. What am I supposed to tell them has caused her to leave?"

"Perhaps you do not need to tell them anything yet. You should take some time to yourself and feel better and then you can broach the topic in a way that will not hurt them."

Colin shook his head. He could already see the hurt in their eyes when he told them the truth. The girls had already been abandoned so many times already. He did not want them to feel that way again. He doubted they would recover from it this time.

"The girls are going to be hurt no matter what I say. They have been through a lot already but they welcomed her and loved her. It would hurt them to know that she left. For now, they think she has only gone to visit her family. I do not know how long I can continue to sell them that lie before they realize that she is not coming back."

It hurt that things might have to come to that, however, he could not blame her leaving if she did not feel satisfied. Although there was a part of him that simply could not believe it to be true.

"I cannot for the life of me believe that she was truly unhappy with me. Perhaps that makes me egotistical but it is a matter that boggles my mind. Jane has never been one to shy from saying her mind. If she truly was unhappy, I do not think she would have faked a smile for my sake."

Mark listened in silence as his friend lamented his woes. He hummed as he took in all that Colin had said.

"Perhaps it is not for you that she faked her happiness but for the sake of the children and she merely could not take it anymore," he said.

Colin looked at him in amusement despite the pain he felt.

"You really are quite terrible at consolation, aren't you?"

Mark laughed. "I believe in the truth and the truth is that I do not know for certain how she feels. I wish to console you and tell you that all will be right but I cannot do so as you would know it to be a lie."

Colin nodded. "You're quite right. It is for that reason that I am speaking to you about this."

Mark held his chest comically, trying to lighten the mood.

"You mean to say that you have not asked me because of my amazing conversation skill and dashing handsomeness?"

Colin glared at him as his lips curved slightly.

"Perhaps it is time you took your dashing handsomeness and headed home. It is night time after all," he joked back but Mark merely waved him off, taking no offence and paying him no mind.

"Your Grace, you have a visitor."

Colin's heart skipped a beat as his thought first went to his wife but then he frowned. There was no need for her to come see him at night. Not when she could meet him during the day.

"Who is it?" he asked, looking at his friend who mirrored his confusion.

"It is Lady Sarah, Your Grace," the valet responded.

Colin jumped to his feet.

"Let her in."

The valet left, quickly returning with Sarah who had wrapped herself in a cloak.

"Lady Sarah, I admit I am quite surprised to see you here, especially at this time of the night," he said, motioning for her to take a seat.

He took a seat and looked at Mark who was staring at Sarah with so much interest.

Colin smiled and pointed at him.

"Lady Sarah, this is the Earl of Ashbourne, Mark Harding. Mark, Lady Sarah, my wif- Jane's sister."

Colin stared off into space in embarrassment at almost calling Jane his wife. While the two had not yet been separated legally, there was no point in calling her his wife any more since she wanted nothing to do with him.

"Pleasure to meet you, Lady Sarah," Mark said, bowing with a flourish. He stared at her with a grin and a sparkle in his eyes.

"Thank you, Lord Ashbourne," she said, curtseying slightly.

Colin shook his head. He knew exactly what his friend was thinking. While Mark was a flirt, he was never truly interested in knowing ladies as he did not wish to be trapped by overzealous mamas, however, his interest in Sarah was unmistakable.

Mark's gaze lingered on her, prompting a smile from Colin who watched the event play out with interest.

"Lady Sarah, I must admit you shine brighter than the stars that grace the sky on this very night," he said poetically.

Lady Sarah's cheeks reddened. "I do not quite believe that you have been out long enough to see the night sky otherwise you would know that the sky is quite bare of stars tonight."

She turned to face Colin who found it difficult to hide his smile.

"Ah, I suppose I must apologize for my unintentional slight, my lady. Perhaps you will allow me redeem myself. You are like a flower that blooms in the summer, bright and colorful and gracing the world with your beauty."

Lady Sarah blushed some more, however, her lips remained firmly sealed in a straight line.

"Thank you for your kind words, Lord Ashbourne, but I must speak with His Grace," she said, cutting him off harshly.

Mark smiled not at all put off by her words. He motioned for her to carry on with what she wished to say and sat in a chair, content to sip his drink.

"What do you wish to speak about, Lady Sarah?" Colin asked, utterly curious.

Surely it had something to do with Jane and if that was the case, he was quite eager to hear it.

"I have some concerning information that I fear I must let you know. I believe it will change how you feel about my sister's decision to annul your marriage. She is not aware that I am here but I couldn't let this go on for longer, not if waiting might lead to something dire."

Colin sat forward in his seat when he heard the graveness in her tone and because of the look on her face.

"What has happened?"

Sarah stood and paced the length of the floor.

"I recently found out why Jane chose to put an end to your marriage. My courtship with Lord Graham was a ploy by him to get close to my sister. He made sure that I could not say a word by threatening to harm her and now, he has done the same to her. Lord Graham is threatening Jane."

"What?"

Colin shot up from his seat as his anger began to build. All this time, he knew that everything seemed wrong and did not believe that she would willingly seek to end their marriage and now, he had proof of that.

"I fear that is not all, Your Grace," Sarah said, halting the angry rant he was about to spew.

"Lord Graham threatens to harm your nieces if she does not annul her marriage and leave you to be with him. He plans to elope with her and force her into a marriage she has no desire to be in."

Colin's mouth fell open and he stopped in his tracks.

"She did this for my nieces?"

His voice held amazement. He truly was amazed by how much she cared about his family. She had gone out of her way to ensure her safety, even if it involved denying himself of happiness.

"She loves you and your nieces, Your Grace. She will do anything to ensure that she keeps you all safe, even if that means denying herself of happiness."

Colin has never felt so angry in his life. "Graham will pay for what he has done to my wife," he vowed.

He took the last sip of his drink and got up to exit the room.

"Thank you for letting me know. I'll have my carriage prepared for you. In the meantime, I have somewhere I need to be."

"Where are you headed?" Mark, who had remained silent in all of this asked suddenly.

"To find Graham. Surely that must have been quite obvious."

Mark rolled his eyes. "I know that you are angry but you cannot go looking for him without a plan."

"He threatened my wife and nieces, Mark."

"Yes, however, without a plan you will come off like a mad man to the ton."

Colin opened his mouth to argue but Mark held up his hand.

"I understand that you wish to seek revenge and you will, however, you must do it in a way that ensures he is out of your lives forever. A man like him will not take kindly to being embarrassed and just might seek to wreak havoc," Mark advised.

Colin slowed down and sighed. "What do you advise I do?"

"Perhaps it is worth mentioning that Jane will be meeting Graham tomorrow," Sarah added.

Colin turned to her just as Mark snapped his fingers.

"There. Tonight you plan and tomorrow, you make him pay."

Colin nodded after some deliberation. He turned to Sarah.

"Thank you, Sarah. I promise I will take care of this. He will not be escaping after all that he has done."