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“But I feel I must inform you of the troubles associated with drinking coffee.”

Jane took another sip to fortify herself, then set the cup down, forcing her smile to remain fixed. “You refer to the fact that it is a gentlemen’s beverage and not considered acceptable in social circles for a woman to drink it?”

“Well … no. That is too fine a point of etiquette for me to comment on with any knowledge. I was referring to the other issues.”

Jane frowned, her eyes narrowing as she tried to make sense of Aurora’s words.

Aurora sighed, setting her fork down with a soft clink against the china. “It is just that Tatiana mentioned you have trouble sleeping at night.”

Jane blinked, surprise flickering across her features. “That is correct.”

“Did the trouble start around the same time as …” Aurora gestured delicately to the cup on the table. “Perhaps when you began to drink coffee?”

Jane folded her arms, leaning back in her chair as she contemplated the timeline. “I arrived in London. Then I tried coffee the following morning for the first time.” She narrowed her eyes, tracing her memories with weary difficulty. “Yes. That was the first night I could not sleep. Why?”

Aurora leaned forward slightly, her expression turning wistful. “When Barclay was a young man doing his studies, there would be nights he needed to … not sleep. To stay awake to study or complete a design overnight. When that happened, he would drink coffee. Pots of it.” She smiled gently. “He told me that the coffee kept his mind and body alert and allowed him to work through the night.”

Jane glared down at the cup, her thoughts racing as she pieced together the chain of events. She recalled when the trouble had begun—how she had started having difficulty sleeping, waking restless and unrefreshed. Then came the habit of drinking coffee in the afternoon to lift her spirits and stave off the weariness. That small comfort soon transformed into an evening ritual, the dark brew her salvation when her eyelids threatened to seal shut of their own accord during dinner.

“Blast!” The word burst from her lips before she could catch it. Jane gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Her twin brothers, Oliver and Max, were little terrors with a colorful vocabulary of uncouth words they liked to parade about when their parents were safely out of earshot. Jane knew all manner of expressions that were unfit for polite company, but she rarely used them. It seemed her lack of sleep had chipped away at her restraint.

Aurora’s eyes danced with amusement, and she waved a hand in dismissal. “It is all right, my dear. We are all family here.”

Jane expelled a breath she had not realized she had been holding. “I think you are right! The coffee is causing me to stay awake. I have never had trouble sleeping before. In fact, my family always expressed their envy that I could sleep anytime and anywhere!”

“What do you plan to do?” Aurora asked, arching one elegant brow as she sipped her tea.

Jane hesitated, then looked earnestly at the older woman. “What would you suggest?” she asked, genuinely eager for her input. How she missed having Emma or her mother to confide in. Aurora made her feel at ease—a steadying presence amidst the chaos of emotions she had been battling. More than that, she admired Aurora’s forbearance in weathering years of censure to protect her family. How many women in her position would have simply handed their child over to strangers for the sake of reputation? Jane respected her deeply for it.

Aurora set her teacup down with a soft clink of china. “I would recommend you stop drinking it if your sleep is so poor.”

Jane bit her lip. Of course, it was the most sensible course of action. How else was she to confirm that coffee was the culprit unless she abandoned it entirely? The very thought filled her with dread—her beloved brew had been the only comfort she had found this gloomy day. But she nodded resolutely. “I shall do that, then. I thank you for advising me.”

Aurora’s expression softened with understanding. “I must warn you, when Barclay stopped drinking coffee, there was some trouble.”

Jane’s eyes widened. “What kind of trouble?” she asked, already feeling a flutter of anxiety at the idea. Her hand reflexively tightened around the handle of her cup, as if it might disappear at any moment. Giving up coffee was already a daunting prospect—must there be more to endure? She shivered slightly, the unease settling in her bones.

“Barclay complained of experiencing the most dreadful cravings when he stopped drinking it,” Aurora confessed, her eyes softening with the memory. “He also suffered headaches for several days, which only improved with a small amount of coffee. To hear him speak of it … it put me in mind of the troubles some people have with laudanum—though, of course, to a much lesser degree. I felt it worth mentioning, in case you notice any effects.”

Jane dropped her head into her hands, groaning softly. “What have I done?”

Aurora reached out to pat her hand. “Do not trouble yourself. My mother was from Florence, and she told me it was commonplace for young men there to become reliant on coffee. It is a potent brew, after all.”

Jane raised her head, eyes wide. “How long will it take to recover?”

Aurora considered this, her gaze thoughtful. “Only a few days after you stop drinking it. But do expect some headaches and perhaps a touch of ill-temper as a result.”

Jane’s shoulders slumped in resignation. “Thank you for telling me.”

“It is nothing. I felt you ought to know,” Aurora said gently.

Looking down at her cup, Jane steeled her nerves and pushed it away, the porcelain scraping slightly against the table. Then, she pulled her plate back toward her with determination and forced herself to take a bite of the eggs that had grown cold in her distraction.

“How have you been enjoying your stay so far?” Jane asked, eager to shift the conversation to less troubling topics.

Aurora’s face brightened, her features softening with genuine pleasure. “Excellently! The earl and the countess are so gracious. It has been wonderful to enjoy such exalted company.”

“I am so happy to hear that.” Jane hesitated, her hands nervously smoothing over her napkin. “I do not wish to be indelicate, but I think it is quite unfair for a lovely lady such as yourself to …” She paused, struggling to find the right words.