But just as he was about to close his eyes and groan in abject misery,Clarestepped forward onto the balcony, her presence shattering the charged silence between him and Lady Julia.
Julia turned, her expression shifting from surprise to irritation. “Oh, how lovely,” she snapped. “The ever-watchful Lady Clare, skulking about where she doesn’t belong.”
Clare returned Julia’s sneer with a falsely sweet smile. “Oh, I belong wherever I choose, Lady Julia. It’syouwho seems to be lost.”
Julia’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Run along, Clare. This doesn’t concern you.”
Clare tilted her head, feigning curiosity. “No? Because from where I’m standing, it looks rather like you’re trying to force a proposal.” She glanced at Ash, who was watching this unfold, torn between astonishment, relief, and amusement. “And if that’s the case, I think I’ll stay.”
Before Julia could deliver a retort, a voice rang out from the doorway.
“Julia?” Lady Fairbanks’s sharp tone cut through the air. Lady Merriweather stood beside her, eyes widening at the sight of the three of them.
Damn.
And in that moment, without hesitation, Clare stepped forward, grabbed Ash’s lapels, and pulled him into an open-mouthed kiss.
His body went rigid for a fraction of a second, then his hands caught her waist, steadying her. The world faded, the scandalized gasps from the doorway barely registering.
When Clare finally pulled back, her breath was uneven, but her triumphant smile was firmly in place as she turned to Julia. “Well,” she whispered smoothly, “I do believe that settles it.”
It took Ash another moment to catch up, but when he did, the realization hit him like a blow.
Clare had just ruined herself—again—to save him from being forced to marry Julia.
There was no turning back now.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Everything was a blur.
The moment the rumors started, whispers swept through the ballroom like wildfire. At some point, Meredith grabbed Clare by the wrist and all but dragged her out. Griffin had been close behind, throwing a sharp glare at anyone who dared to stare too long.
Meredith hadn’t allowed Ash to travel with them. She needed time to speak with Clare, she told him.Alone.
Now, in the dim candlelight of the carriage, Clare sat frozen, her pulse still pounding from the sheer madness of what had just happened.
She had done it.
She had ruined herself.Again.
But this time, it wasn’t with some worthless rake who had discarded her like an afterthought.
This time, it was with Ash.
And there was no regret.
But she’d never seen Meredith so flustered.
“What were you thinking?” Meredith asked, her pale palms pressed to her flushed cheeks.
Clare let out a harsh breath, smoothing her temples with her fingers. “I wasn’t exactly thinking.”
“Don’t worry,” Meredith said, reaching over to squeeze Clare’s cold hand. “We’ll handle this. We’ll figure something out. We’ll?—”
Griffin, seated across from them, blew out a deep breath. “Will we?” He sounded skeptical.
Meredith shot him a glare. “Nothelping.”
