Page 38 of A Dare too Far

Sharpton’s voice, drowsy and oily. “No one’s in here. Come along.”

The door rattled.

Jane and Lillian ran for it, hiding behind a bookcase.

Jane pushed a few books to the side, just enough to see into the larger room. The door burst open, and Sharpton slammed through, his arms and legs tangled with a woman.

With Christiana.

Jane gasped and covered the sound with a sharp slap of her hand over her mouth.

Lillian’s eyes had all but left her head and rolled down the shelving.

Lillian grasped Jane’s free hand and squeezed.

Jane’s stepmother wrapped her legs around Lord Sharpton’s waist, and he fell into the chair Jane had so recently occupied.

They kissed, no, they devoured one another.

Then Christiana leapt from Sharpton’s lap as if burned. She pressed a trembling forearm over her swollen mouth and turned from him, her shoulders heaving.

Did she cry? Jane had never seen the other woman cry.

Christiana swung back around, her head flung back in a guttural, uncontrollable laugh. She raised a shaking arm to Sharpton. “You behave yourself, sir. None. Of. That.”

“You were quite active inthatas well, Chrissy.”

“A mistake. I’m married now. There will be no more mistakes.”

Lord Sharpton crossed his arms over his chest. “Why bring me here then?”

“You must marry too,” she chided. “And the girl’s got a delectable dowry.”

“I’d rather have you than a plain chit with a mountain of money.”

“You cannot have me. Now stay there while I go findmy husband.” She winked at Sharpton and sashayed out of the room.

Sharpton leaned toward the fire and stared into it for several breathless minutes. Then he rose silently and left.

Jane collapsed onto the floor, and Lillian joined her. They still held hands.

“Jane,” Lillian said. “Jane.Jane.”

“Please desist repeating my name like that. It’s disorienting. Am I the Jane you speak of? I must be because I’m the only Jane around. But then why do you keep calling me?”

“Because you do not answer and because of what we just saw. That was… that was yourstepmother.”

“And a man supposed to be my suitor.”

“At least they do not appear to still be lovers.”

“Not lovers? Then is that how friends or siblings treat one another?”

“That’s only kissing. Heated, passionate kissing. But only kissing. If no one catches you, you can kiss and remainunruined. But from what Christiana said, it seems they no longer share a bed.”

“Yet they used to, didn’t they?”

Lillian tugged on her earlobe. “I’m sorry.”