“You’re a good sort, Finn,” Ciaran said. “For an Englishman, that is.”
Finn shook his head, a grin playing about his mouth. “Lured Dixon into a library, eh? I’ll be damned. That took some courage. Our little Hyacinth—”
“Finn!” Lady Huntington shot him a warning look.
Finn straightened, and cleared his throat. “Oh, right. I mean, that was a very foolish thing to do, Hyacinth. It could have gone terribly wrong. I hope you’ll never do something so dangerous again.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Hyacinth was never in as much danger as Dixon was. Lachlan almost killed him. He hauled him off his feet by his cravat, and dangled him there like a ragdoll until Dixon nearly wet himself. That was a good bit of business, Lach,” Ciaran added, nodding approvingly at Lachlan.
“Did he, indeed? Thatisa good bit of…” Finn trailed off with a glance at Iris, and once again cleared his throat. “I mean, that was a very foolish thing to do, Lachlan. It could have gone terribly wrong. I hope you’ll never do something so—”
“Oh, for pity’s sake, Finn. Do you suppose my memory is that short?” Iris crossed her arms over her chest. “I recall you doing something similar to Lord Claire last summer. It must run in the family—squeezing a man’s neck, I mean.”
“What, you mean to say you thrashed Lady Joanna’s brother?” Ciaran shot Finn an admiring look. “Oh, that’s very good, that is. How did you—”
“This is all very well,” Lady Chase interrupted, putting aside her hysterics for long enough to fix them all with an irritated scowl. “But what’s to become of Hyacinth? Are her heroics to be rewarded with a lifetime of spinsterhood?”
“No. Hyacinth won’t become a spinster, Lady Chase.”
“Humph. You don’t know thetonas well as I do, Mr. Ramsey. I can assure you, they aren’t likely to forgive a scandalous library assignation.”
“Thetoncan do as they please, and so will I. I’m marrying Hyacinth.”
A stunned silence followed this announcement, then Hyacinth squeaked, “You’rewhat?”
“I was meant to protect you this season. I failed. Now you’re left without a proper suitor, your reputation is tarnished, and you’ve no marriage prospects.”
“Tarnished!Well, you’re quite the hero to take me on then, aren’t you?” Hyacinth put her hands on her hips and glared at Lachlan, as if daring him to say another word.
Ciaran glanced uneasily at her. “Um, Lach, I think what you mean to say is—”
“This all came about because of our secret,” Lachlan insisted, oblivious to Ciaran’s warning. “It made you vulnerable to Dixon. I won’t let you suffer for my mistake, Hyacinth.”
Hyacinth’s cheeks flushed a dull red. “I see. So you’ll suffer instead?”
Lachlan blinked at her, surprised at her tone. “Well, yes.”
Ciaran hissed out a low breath. “Oh, Christ. The correct answer to that question wasno, Lach.”
But he would suffer, because every single day, when he woke up beside her and basked in her smiles, a part of him would know he’d only won her because his lie had robbed her of every chance at a better husband than he could ever be. For a woman like her, to be forced to settle for a man like him was nothing short of criminal.
Finn glanced between Lachlan and Hyacinth. “Ah, Lachlan, I think what Hyacinth means to ask is…the best marriages are built on…a guilty conscience isn’t a good reason to—”
“She’s my responsibility now, Finn, and I’m not a man who shirks—”
“Oh, for God’s sakes, Lachlan!No.” Ciaran buried his face in his hands.
“Damn it, man! Do you care for her, or not?” Finn threw his hands in the air, exasperated.
Lachlan stared at Finn, baffled. “Care for her?” He’d never wanted anyone the way he wanted her. He’d never loved anyone, or even ever hoped to love anyone, as much as he loved her. Wasn’t it obvious? “Of course I—”
“You’re anass.” Hyacinth’s voice ricocheted off the wall and echoed through the room like a gunshot.
Lachlan turned to gape at her, his mouth hanging open. “I—what did you say?”
“She said you’re an ass,” Ciaran offered helpfully.
Hyacinth faced Lachlan, her hands on her hips. “You heard me. You’re anass, and I’d rather end a spinster than marry you!”
