Finn didn’t blink. “I am.”
Derrick would have my head if he could hear this conversation.
“You have no right to tell me who I may and may not see. I’ll make up my own mind about Lord Wrexley.”
“By the time you do, it’ll be too late.”
An angry flush rose to her cheeks. “You do him an injustice.”
Finn’s temper flared in response, because he knew she was angry on Wrexley’s behalf, not her own. “I’m trying to help you—”
“I don’t want your help. We’re no longer betrothed, and never shall be again, so you may consider your obligations toward me to be satisfied, Lord Huntington. I thank you for your concern. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“No, I won’t excuse you. Not on any count. You haven’t any choice but to accept my offer. Your future, your grandmother’s wishes—”
“Accept a man who will demand utter propriety of his wife, even as he indulges in every kind of debauchery himself? I know a proper marchioness would overlook such a thing, but I can’t.”
“You’d rather have a man who doesn’t care if you ruin yourself, as long as he gets his greedy hands on your fortune?”
Her face drained of color, but she shook him off and turned away without another word. Finn went after her, determined to make her listen, but when they came around the side of house, he saw Lady Tallant and Lord Derrick standing on the terrace.
“There you are, Miss Somerset.” Lady Tallant took in Miss Somerset’s disheveled appearance with a raised eyebrow, then turned a curious look on Finn. “And Lord Huntington. Good afternoon.”
“Lady Tallant.” Finn bowed.
“Come along, Miss Somerset. Lady Hadley was asking for you.”
Miss Somerset didn’t look at him again, but disappeared through the terrace doors behind Lady Tallant.
Lord Derrick hung back. “You don’t look pleased, Huntington.”
“I found Miss Somerset alone with Wrexley on the green just now. They were running races, and she was—”
“Let me guess. Running straight into Wrexley’s arms?”
“Among other things. He wants her, Derrick.”
“Yes, I’m afraid there’s no question of that, but it won’t matter what Wrexley wants if she agrees to have you back.”
“She didn’t agree. She’s refused me a second time.” Finn dragged a hand through his hair, then let it drop to his side. “Perhaps you were right about that wager, Derrick. Perhaps it was cursed.”
“Don’t say Lord Wrexley told her about the wager?”
“Oh, no. It’s a great deal worse than that. That day, in Lady Fairchild’s garden? She overheard me arguing with Lady Beaumont.”
Derrick’s face fell. “Bloody hell. How bad is it?”
“It was Lady Beaumont, Derrick. On her best day she’s a poisonous viper. I’m sure you can imagine how bad it was.”
“Christ, Huntington. This changes everything. She’ll never accept you now.”
“She will.” Finn’s voice was hard. “I can’t just let him have her, Derrick.”
“You may not have a choice. You can’t control everything, no matter how much you might wish to.”
Finn let out a harsh laugh. “So you suggest I let Lord Wrexley control it, instead?”
“I know you feel responsible for Miss Somerset, but—”
