And that was not something he could allow.
“Er,” Miss Collette Jones stood stiffly, looking as taken aback by what she’d walked in on as Greys was.to have been interrupted. “Bethany says not to worry about the ribbon. She says you can purchase another from Madam Chantal.”
Diana lifted her chin, waded away from him, and then smoothed her gown. “I have it right here.” She held the offending ribbon in the air. Greys didn’t remember giving it to her.
He’d acted foolishly and with little regard for her virtue. Greys scrubbed a hand down his face.
“I’ll speak with your brother in the morning.” He cleared his throat. He’d sealed his fate. Was that what he’d meant to do all along?
Hell no. He simply had no restraint where Diana was concerned.
“No!” Diana whipped around, looking horrified. “That won’t be necessary.” She shifted her gaze over to her sister. “Will it be? Collette? Lord Greystone and I merely—we accidentally.” She stiffened and lifted her chin. “Nothing happened here that our brother need know about.”
Her sister glared at her and then frowned but slowly nodded. Mouth pinched, she turned toward Greys. “A visit at this point would be precipitous, My lord.”
But she was wrong. He should never have taken matters so far already. A giant fist squeezed his heart.
“Honor demands that I do.” His voice sounded tight and stilted.
“No.” Diana glared at him. “It doesn’t.”
“Yes,” he returned. On this matter, anyhow, he would be more stubborn than even her.
“I’d suggest, my lord,” her sister spoke from over her shoulder, having already taken Diana’s arm to lead her away. “That you take the gift my sister is offering you.”
And why the hell did this particular gift feel more like a punch in the gut?
Diana bent down to scoop up those ridiculous slippers of hers, and the two ladies padded out of the room without another word.
Greys stood frozen in the water, stunned in the wake of their departure.
Because Chaswick’s two sisters showed as much strength and nobility—perhaps more—than even the most well-bred of the debutantes amongst the ton.
