The following morning after a lie in and a bath, Jane dressed and went downstairs to see if there was still food from breakfast left to be had. She found only Thor in the dining room sipping on coffee.

"Am I too early or too late?" she asked as she sat down beside him.

He smiled at her. "Too late. I had Cook hold a plate for you downstairs. Let me ring for it."

She smiled. "Thank you, Thor."

"How do you feel?" he asked and went to the bell pull on the wall.

She sighed. "I'm not sure."

"My Lord," the butler said as he entered the room. "Lord Steve Rogers is here to see you."

Jane started, and felt her appetite leave her.

"Send him to the study," Thor said and stood, already looking stern. "Stay here, Jane."

She swallowed hard and nodded.

"Do you know your answer today, Jane?" he asked. She shook her head, eyes wide with worry, and Thor nodded. "It will be all right, dearest," he promised and left the room.

Curious, Jane got up and went to the door, peering out. She wanted to see how Lord Steve looked. Was he hopeful? Nervous? Determined?

She saw nothing. She went back into the dining room and sat down. She stared at her plate and felt no desire to eat any of it anymore.

"Jane."

She looked over at the sound of Loki's voice and she attempted a smile. "Good morning, brother."

Did she imagine his wince? "Good morning." He sat down beside her and placed a hand over hers. "How does the morning find you, Jane?"

Her eyes welled up in tears as she stared at his hand over hers.

"Jane, darling, what is it?" Loki asked concernedly. "Is it…Thor told me about Lord Steve."

She nodded. "You were right, Loki. I never should have kissed him."

"What will your answer be?"

"I do not know what I shall do," she admitted. "Mother likes him and I think Thor does as well. They are in the study now as we speak."

Loki looked at her. "Pardon?"

"Lord Steve is here. He's speaking with Thor."

His face turned into a veritable thundercloud. "He didn't waste any blood time, did he?" He gripped Jane's hand and she looked at him. "If you don't want to marry him, Jane, you don't have to. If Mother and Thor don't like it, then too bad. I will take care of you, you needn't worry about anything, dearest. If you want to never marry, you can. I'll purchase a home for us and you'll never want for anything."

A sob escaped Jane. "That does sound quite nice. If not unrealistic. You know Mother would never allow me to become permanently on the shelf."

"I love Mother, Jane, I do, but I don't care what she wants. All that matters is what you want—"

"Jane. Lord Steve would like a word," Thor said as he entered the room. He was wearing his I am the Lord of the Manor face. He looked all sorts of stern and severe.

Jane nodded and swallowed hard, feeling as though she was heading for the gallows.

Loki gripped her hand tighter. "Remember what I said."

She stood and looked at Thor. "And what is the verdict then, Thor?"

Thor smiled gently down at her and tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. "Whatever you want to do, Jane. I leave this in your very capable hands. Whatever your decision I will support you."

Jane felt some relief at that, but only some. She knew what Mother would want. She looked down at Loki who said, "You can say no."

She could. She could live in that house Loki wanted to purchase for them. She could stay on the shelf and long for her brother in ways she should not. She could watch him marry Darcy, or some other woman, and be a nanny to his kids. It would kill her.

Or she could marry Steve and hope that in time, she could fall in love with him. He was a good man. She could do it.

Heaving a deep breath, Jane made her way out of the room.

xxxxxxxx

"Did that peacock come here to ask you for Jane's hand in marriage?" Loki asked Thor, barely able to keep the sneer out of his voice.

Thor sat down at the dining room table and looked at Loki. "I'd hardly call him a peacock."

"Did he ask you or not?" Loki demanded in exasperation.

"Loki, calm down. I understand that you are protective of Jane, but it is getting a little ridiculous. You act more like—" Thor shook his head and picked the newspaper back up. "Just calm down."

"Just tell me what was said, please," Loki said, trying his best to sound calm.

Thor looked at him again over the newspaper and arched a brow. "I don't think you've ever said 'please' to anything before."

xxxxxxx

When Jane entered the study she felt as though her heart was going to leap out of her chest. She feared Steve asking her to marry him again because she feared having to come up with an answer. The part of her that had all these feelings for Loki commanded her to say no, which then brought her to her next problem: Loki was her brother.

She felt at war with herself between doing what was right and giving in to what she knew had to be wrong. Granted, even doing what was right was fraught with perils as well.

No. She would tell Steve no then.

Jane opened her mouth to stop him from speaking, to stop him from asking and Steve held up a hand. "I'm not going to ask you to marry me," he said.

Relief flooded through her and she pressed her hand to her heart. She felt oddly winded. "You're not?"

"No." He gestured to the settee beside her. "Will you have a seat please, Jane?"

Jane sat and looked up at Steve expectantly.

xxxxxxx

"Well?" Loki persisted.

Thor sighed and rolled his eyes. "He asked permission to court Jane, that is all."

Loki stared at his brother. "Court Jane?"

"Yes, court Jane."

"What did you tell him?"

"That it was up to her."

xxxxxxx

"I realized my error in asking for your hand in marriage, Jane," Steve said as he stood before her. "We are friends, yes, but our time spent together at the balls we attended were spent at first with you trying to garner Lord Erik's attention, and me trying to garner Lady Margaret's. We shared a few kisses, but on the pretense of practicing rather than admitting or perhaps for you, even being curious about any real interest."

"I'm following you," Jane said slowly, her hands folded in her lap before her. "What exactly is it that you are saying?"

"I came here today to ask your brother –and you, of course – if I could have permission to court you."

Jane blinked. "Court me?"

Steve nodded. "Court you."

"So this is all up to me then that's what Thor said?" Jane asked.

"Yes. So? What do you say?"

xxxxxxx

Loki did his best to act normal. To not pace while he waited to hear what Jane's answer would be to allowing Steve to court her. It was better than marriage, yes, but…God damn! This was hard. He'd never felt so violent, as though he could lay destruction to the house with his bare hands at the very thought of losing Jane forever.

Not that he had her…or could have her. Not the way he wanted. He'd meant what he'd said though, about purchasing them a home where they could live out their days. It would be enough for him just to have Jane close by. That's what he told himself anyway.

Would it be enough for her though?

He heard voices in the foyer and got up to see if it was Jane and Steve. It was. He stood in the doorway, impatiently waiting. Jane was smiling and so was Lord Steve.

Once Lord Steve had departed and Jane turned and saw Loki, her smile fell. "Well?" Loki asked.

"Loki, leave Jane be!" Thor called out from the dining room.

"I've agreed to let him court me," Jane said.

Loki considered going after Lord Steve, warning the young buck away from Jane. He even considered threatening him.

I could threaten him…

"Jane?" Thor asked from behind Loki. "What did you say?"

"She's allowed him to court her," Loki answered for her.

"And you are certain this is what you want?" Thor asked.

Jane nodded, but she didn't look certain at all. Or perhaps that was just Loki's wishful thinking.

"For what it's worth I think you made the right decision, and I am duly impressed with Lord Steve coming to ask me if he could court you," Thor said.

Jane smiled, though it was forced. Loki knew Jane's smiles well, and this one was fake. "If you'll excuse me, I need some air," she said.

"Of course, dearest," Thor said and Jane all but ran to the door.