"Be careful."

Mary flashed John a wry smile. He stood on the other side of the hallway as she was ready to enter the library to meet Jane. At least she hoped it was Jane who had sent the note.

"It's my sister," she said. "I can't imagine what could go wrong other than her refusing to return home with me."

"Still," he said with a stubborn tilt to his jaw. "Be careful."

With a nod, she turned back to the door and pushed it. The soft click of it opening sounded more ominous than any door opening in her life, and she couldn't help but think that John's worry had somehow tainted her feelings. Stepping inside, she closed the discouraging door and looked around. A familiar shape stood at the far end of the room, looking out the window.

Relief flooded her as she recognised her sister's sable hair—the same colour as her own—and the stubborn set of her shoulders. Unlike the other residents, Jane appeared to be wearing a regular morning dress with a bluebell pattern. Something Mary was rather happy about since it might mean her sister truly was not taking part in the activities. There might still be hope to bring her home with no one the wiser and everyone's reputations still intact.

"Jane!"

Her sister turned around but stayed where she was. "Mary."

She frowned. There was an aloofness to Jane she wasn't accustomed to. And a maturity she did not remember her having. It made her hesitate and instead of rushing forward to take her sister in her arms, she took only a few steps further into the room.

"Are you well?" she asked carefully.

"I am. You should not have come here." Jane shook her head, a hint of frustration clear in her voice.

"You must have known I would try to find you." Somehow, finding her sister unharmed and apparently unrepentant rubbed her the wrong way, and her temper sparked. "Surely you are aware of how your actions will reflect badly on the whole family if found out. I have come to bring you home before anyone notices your absence. We can still salvage this."

"No." Jane walked around the large desk and came to stand before her. They were of equal height and their eyes locked in battle. "I am not coming home."

"You are," Mary bit off. "Because I will not have you ruining the family on my watch."

"It isn't your watch though, it's Aunt Lucy's."

"We both know Aunt Lucy doesn't watch anyone or anything unless it's a handsome man. Please come with me now. We can leave this place." She reached out to take Jane's arm, but the younger woman stepped back.

"You don't understand. Archie and I are soul mates, and I'm staying with him."

A chill travelled down Mary's spine. Maybe it was too late after all. "What are you saying? Has he compromised you?"

Jane rolled her eyes at the question. "He loves me."

"That's not what I asked." Mary crossed her arms over her chest as if to ward herself from the inevitable truth.

A slow smile spread over her sister's face, softening her features and making her blue eyes glitter. "We're married. We went to Gretna Green before coming here."

"I... You..." Words failed Mary. Jane was married? To Hayes? A marriage at Gretna Green wasn't ideal, but at least her sister wasn't living in sin. She groaned. "You could have mentioned this earlier."

"I could have," Jane allowed. "But this was much more amusing."

Mary wasn't sure she appreciated her sister's humour right then. "How long have you known I was here?"

"I saw you the first day when you arrived. Who is the gentleman you're with? I can recognise you easily, but I do not think I have met him."

"Mr Osborne. I believe I have mentioned him to you."

"Yes. The one who's been hopelessly in love with your friend Miss Newton for years?" Jane smirked. "What is he doing here with you?"

"He came to help me find you."

"I believe he has done a lot more than that." There was no mistaking the amusement in her sister's voice. Mary's cheeks heated, which only annoyed her. Jane had no right to make her feel embarrassed when she was the one who had run away with a man in the first place!

"This is all your fault!" she snapped and in a fit of anger, she swiped her hand out and knocked over one of the statues on the desk. It fell to the floor with a clattering sound. "If you had not run away, I never would have had to go here! None of this would have happened. My life would have been easier had I not been forced to go on this trip with John. You do not know what has happened. This was never what I wanted. But as always, you think of no one but yourself."

A sound behind her made her whirl around. John stood in the doorway, his hand on the doorknob, the look on his face stricken.

"John," she said, but her voice was little more than a whisper.

"I beg your pardon," he muttered. "I heard a commotion and wanted to make sure everyone was safe." His eyes evaded hers as he swallowed. "I did not realise you felt that way. I never intended to make your life harder."

With a nod to Jane, he stepped out and closed the door behind him. Mary stared at the closed door. An aching knot in her stomach made her wince. She had never meant for him to hear any of that. Wasn't even sure she truly felt that way. She'd been angry and lashed out at Jane.

She didn't wish none of this had happened. Even if she ended up with a broken heart once all was said and done, she did not regret learning to love. Having gotten to know how it felt to love someone so deeply. So profoundly.

"Maybe you should follow him," Jane suggested, interrupting her thoughts.

"In a moment." Mary sighed. "What am I to do with you?"

"Nothing," Jane said. "I am with my husband. Once Mother and Father return home, we will visit and tell them everything."

"I suggest you send them a letter to warn them beforehand."

"That might be a wise choice. But Mary?"

"Yes?"

"Why is Mr Osborne looking through Archie's correspondence?" There was a shrewd look in Jane's eyes that Mary didn't recognise. When had her sister grown up without her realising?

"The agency I hired is also looking into your husband, for I don't know what reason." She felt comfortable saying that much, but would not mention that John worked for the War Office.

"It would not surprise me if they have been tasked with investigating his involvement with the male suffrage movement in the north. He's helping them with the arrangements for another protest. Eventually, the government must pay attention to what is being said. Archie has family up there and he says it's dire, but no one does anything." Jane's voice had grown heated as she spoke, her movements animated.

Mary shook her head in amazement. "I never knew you were interested in politics."

"There is a lot you don't know about me," Jane said with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "You've always had your passion for horses and your friends, and I have had mine."

"Oh." Guilt bubbled up inside of her as she realised her sister was right. They had always had separate interests and had never been overly close. Maybe she should have taken a more keen interest in her younger sister.

"Don't look like that." Jane lifted her hand and waved it in the general direction of Mary's face. "That crestfallen look. It's nobody's fault. We're just different people. And I'm happy here. With Archie. He is exactly who I need in my life."

Taking the steps separating them, Mary took her sister in her arms and squeezed her hard before taking a step back to meet her eyes. "I'm glad you're happy, but please be careful. This thing he's involved in... These people. I don't think the government is too happy about it."

"Good," Jane bit off. "Then maybe they will listen."

Mary hesitated for a moment. "Jane, I must ask... About this... these parties?"

Amusement softened her sister's features. "Yes?"

"Do you participate?"

"You mean like you have done the last few days?" Jane chuckled. "I've seen some of it. You've looked so uncomfortable. Archie enjoyed torturing you on my behalf, I think."

Mary's eyes widened. "You asked him to test us?"

"Yes, it was far too tempting not to." Jane laughed again. "There are secret passageways in this old house and places where one can look through the walls. So I have been able to follow some evenings."

"Oh, that is mortifying."

"It was rather amusing, really."

Mary rolled her eyes. "I'm glad to have provided you with such wonderful entertainment," she muttered.

Jane smiled. "Don't be cross. I'm sure you would have done the same had you been in my shoes."

She couldn't argue there. Being able to spy on people without them knowing sounded quite fun. She glanced back at the door as she remembered the look on John's face as he left. Her words had hurt him more than she had ever expected. And she hadn't even meant them. Not really.

"You should go to Mr Osborne," Jane said, apparently able to tell what she was thinking. "I suspect you have some explaining to do."

Mary nodded. "I think I do."

"Will you be leaving now?" Jane asked.

"Yes, I expect so. I came here to retrieve you and you're not coming, so there is no reason to stay. While it's certainly been... interesting. This is not for me or John." Mary made a wry face. "Are you certain you do not mind what your... your husband is up to here?"

"Archie hasn't been with another woman since we met." Jane smiled, and it was apparent from the warmth in her eyes that she truly did care for Hayes. "This is all just a bit of fun, and it distracts them from his other interests."

"Just be careful."

"I will be."

Mary nearly jumped when one bookcase swung open, and Hayes stepped inside. Looking between them, he gave a lopsided smile. "Apologies. I thought you'd be done by now."

"Nearly," Jane said and reached up to place a kiss on his cheek as he came to stand next to her.

"I suppose I ought to welcome you to the family." Mary gave the tall man an appraising look.

He made a face. "I wanted to do it the old-fashioned way and ask Jane's parents for her hand and all that, but she refused to wait until their return." His lips spread into a goofy smile. "And I cannot say no to her."

Turning his head to his new wife, the two stared lovingly at each other. Mary nearly groaned. They were so obviously in love it was almost sickening to watch. But at least she was secure in the knowledge that her sister was happy and safe.

"A letter letting me know you were not abducted or lost might have been helpful," she pointed out. "You had me worried."

"You're right. I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?" Jane took Hayes's hand in hers, and Mary sighed.

"How can I not when you are so clearly in love?" She met Hayes's eyes. "Do take care of my sister."

"I will," he promised. "And I hope you can forgive me for pushing you and your companion together. It was too tempting not to do anything."

"So I gather." Mary shifted from one foot to the other as she threw another glance at the door. Where had John gone after he left? Was he back in their room? Gone all the way back to London?

"Go after him," Jane urged. "Tell him what you need to."

She nodded, even if she wasn't entirely sure what that was. But she needed to wipe that pain from his face. After another quick embrace with her sister, she hurriedly left the library to find John. Only to nearly collide with his chest in the hallway.

~~~~~~