Page 46 of The Earl’s Hoyden

If only she could be as strong as Jillian, who did not care what she said, nor to whom, Hannah would approach Lucien over the matter rather than let his rejection wither her spirit.

And what was stopping her?

Nothing.

Nothing stopped her from marching across the ballroom until Lucien had no place to go and confronting him with the truth of her anger toward him. Decision locked thoroughly in place, she set across the room like a warship locked on its target.

As she drew closer to Lucien, he skirted away. She pursued.

Finally, when they were nearing a wall, he turned to face her. “Ah, Miss Bexley, what a lovely surprise.”

“My presence before you is no more of a surprise than you are a gentleman,” she whispered in a low voice to keep from being overheard. It was not her intention to dishonor him but to explain how rude his actions were and that she would not tolerate his indifference.

She would never command the love and adoration that others did in life, but she at least deserved better than how she was being treated.

“You saw me heading toward you, and you attempted to run away from me.” There was a wounded note in her voice she hadn’t the time or energy to mask.

His shoulders sagged. “Forgive me, Miss Bexley. It isn’t as it appeared.”

“You mean you were not trying to escape having a conversation with me?” She frowned as she imagined how she could have been wrong when it seemed so obvious that he was avoiding her.

“No, I was.” He lifted a shoulder. “Only it isn’t why you think.”

“I know exactly why.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“I’m so glad you understand,” he replied, appearing visibly relieved.

She stepped closer, brutally aware of how many eyes would be on them if she went too near. “You used me. You feigned friendship to obtain the skills necessary to become popular among the ton. Now that you’ve achieved your goal, you have no need for me.”

He gaped at her. “No, you have it all wrong.”

She scoffed. “I don’t think I do.”

“Come outside with me a moment and allow me to explain,” he replied. “I do not want to speak in here, not with such gossips in proximity.”

No doubt, he didn’t want people to know exactly how immoral he was in his pursuit of an elevated reputation. Suddenly, she was immensely pleased she had placed Lady Alison at the top of the list. The two so richly deserved one another.

“Please, Hannah,” he said softly.

She sucked in a sharp breath and glanced around to confirm no one had witnessed him calling her by her Christian name.

“Very well,” she agreed. “But only for a moment. I’ll go first. You follow.” Without waiting for him to respond, she turned on her heel and left him standing where she had cornered him.

Whatever he had to say ought to be entertaining if nothing else. How did he truly plan to justify his actions after he had used her through feigned friendship?

It took Lucien slightly longer than anticipated to join Hannah on the terrace. The night was as cold as the last time he had been alone at night with Hannah, and it made the memory of her so rich in his mind that he could not help but relive the moment in his imagination.

The sweet scent of her, the intoxicating taste of her lips, the desperation for so much more than a kiss, the simple intimacy. He enjoyed her company immensely and hated the week they had spent apart.

Even returning the book that she’d sent over with her card unopened had required exceptional willpower. He’d held that letter for the better part of a day, even trying to stare through the heavy cardstock to read the words inside without opening it and breaking the seal.

No matter how much he wanted to keep the gift and read the note, to do so would only encourage her friendship further. It was better to break off his acquaintanceship with her.

For her sake.

Except that the open hurt in her eyes, the way it left a slight tremor in her voice, cut him to the quick. He realized he had to be honest with her, not only about what her father had said to him but about his feelings for her.

Lucien’s attempts to reach the other side of the room to the terrace doors were met with constant interruption. Half of them were women whose names graced that damned list Hannah had penned in her careful script for him. All of them were women he decidedly did not want.