The Heiress Effect (Brothers Sinister #2)

“You’d think,” her aunt was saying from the clearing, “that a little thing like a woman’s affection would be a simple thing to capture. I’ve given you every opportunity, Dorling, and you haven’t yet managed to pull the thing off. What is wrong with you?”


“It’s not me. It’s your blee—your recalcitrant niece.”

Jane couldn’t see Dorling’s expression, but she could imagine it. The Honorable George Dorling thought a great deal of himself. He’d importuned Annabel before Jane had arrived and had presented a wealthier target. He had the usual rumors attached to him—a baron’s second son, sent down from London for raking and gambling.

“Well, hurry it up,” her aunt advised. “This whole thing makes me feel dirty as it is. I told my brother I’d see her married, and so I shall. If you can’t help, I’ll find someone who can.”

“Yes, yes,” Dorling said lazily. “Do have a little patience. It’s a delicate matter courting your niece. Is it any surprise that she thinks I’m after her money? She has so much of it to recommend her, and so little of anything else.”

Jane’s mouth curled in a reluctant smile.

Dorling wanted her money. Her aunt wanted her gone. It was hardly a surprise that they’d formed an alliance. It wouldn’t do any good, of course—Jane had no intention of marrying anyone—but at least it gave her aunt a purpose. She was thankful for small favors.

“This is unacceptable,” her aunt said, cutting through Jane’s amusement. “My brother has everything in readiness. He can’t act until you take care of the girl.”

Jane’s breath caught. Whatever could she mean, her uncle had everything in readiness? That Jane needed to be taken care of?

“I will,” Dorling said, “just as soon—”

“There is no time,” her aunt scolded. “He’s more and more worried about her sister. She’s been acting oddly.”

Unhappy was the word Jane would have used. Emily wasn’t allowed out, and her uncle exercised more care now in making sure she did not slip away. It was small wonder that her sister wasn’t her normal self.

But Aunt Lily wasn’t finished. “If the doctors corroborate his fears, he’ll have her sent to the Northampton Lunatic Asylum by June. It’ll be the best thing for her, poor girl. You need to act now.”

Jane couldn’t help herself. She gasped aloud—and then, when she realized what she’d done, she clapped her hands over her mouth. Sent to an asylum? Emily was angry, not mad.

And yet the last time Jane had visited, Emily had mentioned doctors who had come only to ask her questions. Odd questions. They’d shrugged it off, thinking nothing of it. But if Titus were thinking of lunacy, those physicians had been examining her mind, not her body.

It was a warm, sunny day, but Jane suddenly felt cold all over. If Titus had Emily declared mentally unfit… It would be awful.

She’d made a mistake. She’d simply accepted the legalities of the situation. She should have absconded with her sister months ago, and never mind the fact that it would have been a crime.

The chill that traveled through her had nothing to do with the weather.

“Don’t worry,” Dorling said. “Once she’s mine, she won’t have any way to kick up a fuss.”

The cold that had worked its way into Jane’s fingers seemed numbing. She had thought that her aunt only wanted her married off. But the truth was far worse than that. Now she could see the plan. If Jane married, she would no longer control her fortune. All those threats she’d made to Titus were worth nothing if she could not act. They meant to make her helpless, to strip her of all support. She would be alone.

“We could end this tonight,” Dorling said, “after the assembly, if you’d just let me into her room like we talked about before.”

Jane had been cold before. She was ice now. She couldn’t move. She didn’t want to believe her ears.

“And I told you,” her aunt snapped with some asperity, “I refuse to feel dirtier about this than I must. It’s a filthy business as it is. I won’t countenance rape, not for any purpose.” There was a pause. “Besides, I doubt she cares for her reputation that much.”

Jane clutched the trunk of the tree and silently thanked her aunt. She was rude and awful, yes, and she was conspiring against her. But for that, Jane could have kissed her.

“I won’t need that,” Dorling said. “I can be very persuasive. Trust me on this.”

No. Don’t trust him with anything. But Jane didn’t get a vote.

“I…well…” There was a long silence.

No, Jane wanted to scream. Don’t hesitate, not on that front either.

“I’d need your promise,” her aunt said slowly. “Your promise that you’ll persuade only.”

Jane couldn’t bear to listen to the details. She didn’t want to know what they would plan. Slowly, as quietly as she could, she backed away from the clearing.

Every snap of a twig, every rustle of leaves, made her imagine enemies coming for her. By the time she reached the city streets, her hands were shaking.

She had to get out of this place, had to go find her sister. Damn Titus’s guardianship—she should never have respected it. He couldn’t put Emily away if Jane made off with her first.