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“I—” He opened his le him Why had he asked her to marry him? There were a hundred reasons, a thousand He tried to remember just what it was that had pushed the idea into his mind It had come to him suddenly—he

remembered that But he didn’t recall exactly why, except that it had see to do

Not because it was expected, not because it was proper, but just because it was right

And yes, it was true that it had crossed his ame with his father, but that wasn’t why he’d done it

He’d done it because he’d had to

Because he couldn’t i it

Because he loved her

He felt himself slide, and thank God the desk was behind him, or he’d have ended up on the floor

How on earth had this happened? He was in love with Hyacinth Bridgerton

Surely so about this

“I’ll go,” she said, her voice breaking, and it was only when she reached the door that he realized he must have been silent for a full minute

“No!” he called out, and his voice sounded impossibly hoarse “Wait!” And then:

“Please”

She stopped, turned Shut the door

And he realized that he had to tell her Not that he loved her—that he wasn’t quite ready to reveal But he had to tell her the truth about his birth He couldn’t trick her into e