“Well, at least she said she won’t fetch you until Sunday, which means you can still come with us to the Merriweathers’ ball on Friday evening. You are still planning to attend, aren’t you?” Meredith pressed, eyeing her carefully from the side.
Her friend had spent the better part of the last fortnight begging Clare to attend just one social event. She had finally capitulated, but she was hardly looking forward to it. Being gossiped about all evening was not something she relished.
“I’ll go,” Clare allowed, feeling entirely numb inside.
“Excellent.” Meredith watched her closely for a moment longer, as if she still wasn’t quite convinced. “You’d tell me, wouldn’t you?” Meredith pressed. “If youweren’tall right?”
God, the guilt was unbearable.
Clare nodded too quickly, too forcefully. “Yes, yes. Of course.”
Meredith still looked doubtful, but she let it go. “Very well then. We’ll see you at dinner?”
“Of course.” Clare somehow managed another smile.
Meredith lingered for only a moment before slipping out the door. The second it clicked shut, Clare’s entire body sagged.
She lowered herself to sit hard on the bed, her limbs boneless, heavy, exhausted.
She was the worst liar in the world.
AndMeredith knew it.
Maybe she hadn’t figured it out yet—maybe she wouldn’t until it was too late—but deep down, Clare knew her friend could see right through her.
And that was almost as unbearable as the thought of leaving Ash behind.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Ash spent the morning riding through the park, but the crisp air did little to clear the chaos in his mind. He had woken up feeling like a man on the verge of something disastrous.
Clare had sent him away and refused to see him again. And instead of brushing it off, instead of moving on like he always did, he had barely slept. His thoughts were consumed with her—her laugh, her sharp wit, the way she fit against him as if she had been made just for him.
And that was the problem.
He wasn’t supposed to feel like this. He wasn’t supposed tocare.
So what the hell was wrong with him?
By midday, he found himself in Southbury’s study, scowling into a glass of brandy. Southbury leaned back in his chair, watching him with his usual infuriating calm. “You look like hell.”
Ash tipped his head back and groaned. “I feel like hell.”
Southbury lifted both brows. “Let me guess. This has something to do with a certain scandalous young lady?”
Ash cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “I’m going to ask you something, Southbury. Something shocking. But I want you to react in your normal, steadfast manner and becompletelyhonest with me.”
Southbury looked slightly concerned, but he nodded. “Go on.”
Ash let out his breath in a pent-up rush. “How did you know when you were in love?”
To his credit, Southbury didn’t even blink. “Ah. So that’s what this is about.”
“Just answer the damn question,” Ash grumbled.
Southbury exhaled, setting down his glass. He bit his lip and contemplated the question for a moment. “It wasn’t one thing. It was everything. I couldn’t get Meredith out of my head. I hated the thought of any other man having her. And, most of all, I knew my life would belesswithout her in it.” He paused, then arched a brow. “Sound familiar?”
Ash ran a hand through his hair, his pulse hammering.
