God’steeth!It’snot what it looks like.
Lucywas still sound asleep next to him on the floor, nestled against his chest.Theirpallets had started several feet apart, but somehow, during the night, they had moved closer together—probably for warmth.Theywere lying in the center of a cocoon of sofa pillows, sheets, and blankets, withAshecurled up between them.Tomake matters worse,Lucywas wearing his clothing.Atleast she’s dressed.Asweat broke out across his forehead, and he fought to calm his racing heart. “Iassure you, gentlemen.It’snot what you think.”
“Whatin the world were you thinking?”Lathamsaid a few minutes later in the kitchen, his voice barely below a shout.
“Quiet, or you’ll wakeLucy,”Rowansaid, combing his hands through his hair.
“Haveyou lost your mind?”Slicesaid. “WakingLucyis the least of your problems.”
“Whatthe hell happened?”Lathamgrowled.
Rowanquickly explained everything—how he’d caughtLucystealing the fox, how the snowstorm had come upon them with such ferocity that he’d had no choice but to bringLucyto his manor house, which was closer thanLatham’s, how they’d had to make do, roughing it to keep warm…”
“You’vejust given thetonyet another scandal and yet another reason for those harpies to keep calling herUnluckyLucy,”Nelsonaccused, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Canyou stubble the sarcasm?Lucy’svery sensitive about that cruel moniker,”Rowanbit out.
“Oh, is she?”Nelsonarched a brow.
“Yes.Sheis.”Rowanwas angry with his friends but even more angry at himself.
“Look,Rowan.Youknow as well as we do what this means.You’llhave to marry her,”Lathamsaid. “Andyou’ll need to ask her before we head back.Lucy’sbeen through enough.”
“Iknow what she’s been through,”Rowanmuttered.
“Thenyou’ll know that when word gets out—and it will—that if you’re not already married or on the way to the chapel, then that poor girl will be completely ruined,”Slicewarned.
“What?Why?She’sa widow,” he shouted. “Noone expects that.Andshe’s not ruined.”Evenas he said it,Rowanrealized how callus it sounded.Healso knew the truth.Thecircumstances ofLucy’swidowhood were not exactly typical.
“She’sa virgin,”Lathamsaid. “Asyou well know.She’snot one of your paramours.She’snot some jaded widow or bored wife of a diplomat.She’san innocent.”
“Andyou’ve compromised her,”Slicesaid. “Shewill be ruined.Shehad no chaperone.
“Shespent several days alone in an empty house with one of the most notorious rakes inEngland,”Nelsonadded.
“Youhave to handle this before we go back,”Lathamsaid.
“Nothinghappened.Andbesides, she doesn’t want to marry again,”Rowanpersisted.Hewished he could have stopped those words before he uttered them.
Latham,Slice, andNelsonsynchronously arched their brows and looked at him with curiosity.
“You’veasked her?”Sliceasked.
“No!Ofcourse not.Itjust came up in conversation.”Rowanwanted to punch a wall but tried to keep calm.
“Look,Garrison.Youare an earl and are just entering the peerage.Thescuttle that results from this will cause problems forLucybut also you.Youmust do the right thing.Andthat means you must propose,”Lathamsaid.
“Andyou’ll need to convince her to marry you.Besides, you should think about getting married in any case.You’renow theEarlofScarborough,”Sliceadded.
“Garrison, we know this isn’t what you wanted.Youweren’t interested in getting married, at least not for a while,”Nelsonsaid. “Andit isn’t that…we…don’t believe you.Butfacts are facts.”
“Thatwoman’s reputation has withstood small tears, but this scandal will send it into complete tatters,”Lathamadded.
“Surelyyou see that you must do the right thing,”Slicesaid.
Rowanblew out a breath.Hewas coming across like the very scoundrel he was reputed to be.Hell, his reputation was well-earned.Buthis friends were right.Hecould not allowLucyto suffer because of this.Hecould not live with himself if she was ridiculed or even shunned bySocietyif he could prevent it. “Fine.I’llspeak toLucy.Privately.Youthree stay here or make yourselves useful and tend to horses.”
Rowanleft his friends in the kitchen and made his way back to the parlor.CrouchingbesideLucy, he gazed at her sleeping form.Shelooked so young, so lovely and sweet.Andnow he was about to completely upend her life.
