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“What do you mean, no?”

“I’ve seen the way he follows you with his eyes. The look in them. That is not the look of indifference”

“What then?”

“The kind of passion that will drive a man to sacrifice everything for the woman he loves, even his own life.” Something in Lannister’s tone made the words believable. As if he knew what he was talking about.

Ava’s heart leaped at these words. “You are giving me hope when I had convinced myself to have none. It is cruel!” She wiped tears from her cheeks. “He has offered for the countess.”

Lannister clasped her hand tightly. “I am telling you what I have seen. I am not mistaken.”

“But if that is true, why has he asked the countess to marry him? If he has changed his mind about marrying, why hasn’t he approached me? Told me how he feels? He must know how much I care for him. I never made a secret of it.”

Lannister shrugged. “I don’t know his reasons for holding off. He obviously thinks they are sufficient. But as for him knowing your feelings—my dear, you are an incorrigible flirt. He is accustomed to seeing you play one suitor against another over the past year. How is he to know what is real and what is not, when half the men in the ton are dazzled by you?”

“But he must know he is different; I don’t flirt with him.” Even if he gave me the chance.

“No and you are not friends with him either, as you are with me.”

“We used to be,” she said wistfully. “Then everything changed after Devonshire House, when he made it clear I was just a little girl to him. And it got even worse after the Bellingham ball.” She sighed. “I thought he finally saw me as a woman when he kissed me. But ever since then, he has been positively avoiding me.”

“He doesn’t look at you like he thinks you are a little girl, I can assure you of that.”

“But why must he marry that woman now? He has always maintained such a set against marriage.”

“I suspect because of your imminent engagement to Haldane.”

“But I’m not going to be engaged to Haldane! I told Robert I would think about it, meaning to let him down gently. I should have refused outright! Rob must have taken that as my consent and told Ravenshaw it was settled.”

“Presumably, yes.”

“So, he was laboring under a misapprehension when he asked her?”

“It would seem so.”

“Then I must tell him it is not so! Oh, why did I lead him to think it was settled when I spoke to him before? My stupid pride! My only instinct was to cover up my humiliation!” She clasped her hands. “If only he had not already left London! He must be almost in Northumberland by now.”

“You could write to him?”

“I suppose . . .” She chewed her lip and shook her head. “No. Things have progressed so far with the countess that he will feel he cannot back out now. I know such things are of importance to gentlemen, and Ravenshaw is every inch a gentleman. I must see him in person to persuade him.”

“Then you will have to wait until he returns.”

Ava sprang up agitated. “It may be too late by then! The countess may write to him giving her consent. I must go to Northumberland and see him.”

“Ava, you can’t do that!” Lannister eyes widened in shock.

She shrugged. “I can ride. It will take me what, three days?”

“Are you mad? You can’t ride all the way to Northumberland on your own!”

“I can. I am perfectly capable of doing that.” Ava jutted her chin stubbornly. She was an excellent horsewoman, Jerome had always said so, and no better judge of horse riding could be found than the Marquess of Ravenshaw. He was a bruising rider and a member of the Four Horse Club.

“But think of the scandal, my dear girl! Troubridge would have an apoplexy! And rightly so.” If even Lannister thinks my scheme too wild . . . She sank down on the seat beside him again, momentarily defeated.

“It is too dangerous by far for you to make a such a journey on your own. Particularly on horseback.” Lannister went on.

“Urgh!” Ava drummed her heels in irritation. “It is so frustrating to be a female!”