She had been cast out, ridiculed, treated as less than, and yet—she had not allowed it to break her.
And damn it all, Ash admired her.
And when, in all his life, had he everadmireda woman he was madly, achingly attracted to?
She was leaving England.
That news had hit him like a punch to the gut.
Logically, he understood it. She had every reason to go, every right to take back control of her own life. The same men who whispered about her behind their hands were no doubt indulging in far worse at this very moment in the private rooms of this very club. In fact, Marsden himself was often here. Ash had seen him more than once.
Clare was right. It wasn’t bloody fair.
And yet.
Ever since she had spoken the words,I’m leaving, something inside him had shifted.
He had tried to tell himself that once she was gone, it would be for the best. That he had only wanted an affair, and now he had one. That she had been clear—she would return to the club to gamble, and while she was here, they could continue this arrangement.
But God help him, it would never be enough.
He would miss her.
Andhe did not want her to go.
Worse still—he had his suspicions about how she was earning her money. She had a knack for faro, yes, but he had heard whispers of a rigged roulette wheel. And after watching her win, again and again, at what should have been a pure game of chance… he no longer believed the rumors to be just rumors.
No doubt she had decided to take advantage of a world that had taken advantage of her.
And damn him, he couldn’t blame her.
But the thing he truly couldn’t wrap his head around? She had insisted—no falling in love.
Why had she even said it?Hecertainly hadn’t been thinking about love. Hell, he didn’t even know what love was.
So why had she brought it up?
Unless…
No.
No,thatwas impossible.
She couldn’t possibly thinkshewas in danger of falling in love withhim.
Could she?
The thought was absurd. Preposterous.
And yet, as he studied her, his body still thrumming with satisfaction, his mind a tangled mess of thoughts, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was missing something.
Then Clare looked at him.
And damn it all, there was naked desire in her gaze.
Whatever questions plagued him, whatever doubts he had—none of it mattered.
Not right now.
