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She nodded, and Mr. Branok ducked his head, rubbing his hand at the back of his neck. “Well, I did not simply lose a desire to join. I found a desire for retribution. In an act of solidarity—and I admit a hearty helping of pride—I took it upon myself to write a series of articles about the clubs in London, likening them and their members to a murmuration of starlings. Territorial. Ravaging all in their wake. Mimicking other birds and having no individual thoughts of their own. Screeching loudly so no other sounds can be heard. That sort of thing. I admit, it was childish, but it did the trick. I was blackballed from every club. Not soon after that, Lord Blackstone sought me out.”

He looked down at Lark again, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. “Had I known it would ever lead you to think less of me, I assure you, I would have stopped myself from publishing the articles. But I cannot regret doing so. Not when it led me to the life I’ve been able to lead thus far.”

He finished, and Lark stared up at him. Was that it? Was that all he had done?

“Are you so very appalled?” he asked with a sort of wince.

To her own surprise, Lark laughed. “Appalled? Certainly not. I’m intrigued. And, frankly, I should like to see a copy of these articles myself.”

Surprise registered across his features, then a grin spread upon his lips. “I may or may not have kept a few for posterity’s sake.”

She laughed, relief overcoming her. “That is truly all you did? No vicious rumors spread, no cruel untruths said about any individual?”

Mr. Branok pulled back. “Of course not. The articles were entirely in metaphor. I shared no lies and mentioned no names, only clubs in general. The worst thing I said was that starlings were known to suck the eggs of other birds, likening the clubs to sucking the lives from gentlemen before they could even begin to participate in the club.” He gave an awkward sort of smile. “I took the metaphor a bit too far in that regard, I suppose.”

But Lark’s smile only grew. She knew it. She knew it. She knew the rumors had been untrue, that Mr. Branok could never do anything so unkind.

A lightness continued to fill every inch of her, an airiness lifting her heart to soaring.

“So,” Mr. Branok said, peering into her eyes through the darkness, “you are still willing to associate with me despite all of this?”

She beamed. “More than willing, sir.”

“Even if your uncle does not approve?”

“Especially if.” Uncle Francis would simply have to take her word for it from this point forward. Mr. Branok was in her life to stay.

“Excellent,” Mr. Branok said. Then he sobered. “However, there is still one matter we must resolve.”

“What matter is that?”

“That of our challenge ending early.”

Her stomach dipped. “Oh, I see.”

All at once, her joy and elation dissipated like smoke in the air.

India. She’d forgotten about India.

He would be gone in four days’ time, and she would be left alone again.

How could she have been so stupid? Here she was, thrilled to be talking with Mr. Branok once more, to be back in her fantasy world the excursion had provided for her…only for the gentleman to be stripped from her presence again in less than a week.

How had she allowed herself to become so wrapped up in this relationship that she couldn’t even think straight? That she couldn’t protect her heart enough to shield what would inevitably damage her more than anything—being physically and emotionally separated from Mr. Branok?

She knew the reason. Her heart knew the reason. But she couldn’t admit to loving the man aloud. That would only make saying goodbye more painful.

This was why she never should have allowed herself to fall for him. This was why she’d wanted to remain single. All of this heartache, this regret, could have been avoided had her heart simply behaved.

“Do you still wish to cancel the challenge?” he asked.

Lark turned away, grateful for the darkness that provided her emotions time to settle. Yes, she loved the man. Yes, she longed for a perfect world in which she could marry him, and he could marry her—where both of their dreams could be fulfilled and carried out without issue.

But such a world did not exist.

A world in which their friendship continued, however, did exist.

With a deep breath, she faced him again. “We can continue the challenge and see who is victor on the day you leave…on one condition.”