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Selena grimaced but settled back on the bench.

The muscle in Richard’s cheek ticked as he tensed his jaw. “Fine,” he ground out. “I—”

“Did you know?” Jo interrupted him, not able to control herself.

“What?”

“You know what I am asking!” Jo cried. “Did you know you were going to be betrothed to her when we… during our affair.”

He swallowed. “Yes.”

Jo’s hand shot out, and before her thoughts caught up with her actions, she smacked his cheek.

Richard turned sideways, his cheek turning red. Jo watched him, her eyes wide.

Selena gasped.

Richard slowly turned back to Jo. “I suppose I deserve that,” he said calmly. “I should have told you about my plans to marry. I am sorry.”

Jo stared at him for one full minute, not quite able to gather her wits to retort. Finally, she said, “And that’s it? I should just forgive you?”

Richard let out a breath. “Our understanding was always just for the duration of the party. I never thought that it would go any further. I never thought that we’d… develop an attachment.”

Jo stiffened. “In our understanding, you never mentioned that you were betrothed or I would have never agreed to it.”

“I wasn’t!” he cried, ran a hand through his hair, and turned away. When he turned back, his eyes were wild. “I made an arrangement with an old family friend. I signed the papers the night that we… that night when I broke our affair.”

Tears burned at the back of her eyes. “You made me feel worthless that night, Richard. Instead, you could have told me the truth.”

“I know,” he gritted out.

Jo swallowed. “Well, I wish you luck in your marriage. Because God knows your wife is going to need it.” She wrapped her arms around her belly, feeling cold and slightly ill. She turned away, waiting for him to leave.

“This doesn’t have to be the end for us,” Richard said from behind her.

“Oh, no,” Selena whispered from the bench.

Jo whirled around on him. “What did you say?”

“It doesn’t have to be the end,” he repeated foolishly. He stretched out his arm toward her and took a step. “We can continue—”

“Don’t you finish that sentence!” Jo warned, tears now freely rolling down her cheeks.

He swallowed. “Jo, there is no other way for us. Surely you know I can’t marry you.”

More tears slipped from her eyes and trailed down her cheeks, but everything inside her burned. “I never asked to become your wife. But I did ask you not to insult me with the offer of becoming your mistress!”

Her skirts rustled as Selena stood and walked toward them.

“I am a viscount, Jo! I need a respectable wife.”

Jo reared back as though he’d hit her. And she’d rather he’d hit her than say those words. “I might not be considered respectable in your circles, but I do have self-respect. I am not going to be a mistress to a married man, my lord. No matter what you say.”

Selena appeared at her side and hugged her by the shoulders. “I think it is time for you to leave, my lord,” she said firmly.

Richard looked from Jo to Selena and back again. “Don’t just dismiss it,” he said again.

Jo let out a hysterical laugh. “I thought you were different,” she said sadly. “I thought you were better than that. My mistake.”