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Benedict mentally checked the invisible suit of steel he wore to protect him from their endless taunts The next few minutes would be unpleasant, to say the least
“Why would I want you,” he agreed, “when you’re betrothed to Lord Murray, and you have already ?” He couldn’t wait to hear Worthen explain that his beloved baron had failed to step up to the mark
But it was Cassandra who spoke “Timothy cannot marry a woman with a soiled reputation His mother would never allow him to commit social suicide”
“Then Murray doesn’t know a thing about love”
“His love careed with an air of indifference despite the fact her red-rimmed eyes bore the evidence of shed tears “In the face of adversity, some people lack the heart to stand by their convictions”
“Well, you would know”
She took the verbal hit with equanimity “Those who sow inconstancy reap it Is that not how people learn and grow?”
“Education is all well and good as long as no one is hurt in the process”
“Cease with this nonsense,” Worthen interjected “I’ve heard enough pathetic talk to last a lifetihter or not?”
“No”
The earl looked flabbergasted His cheeks ballooned His eyes bulged, and he gasped like a fish out of water “I told her all efforts to plead to your sense of honour were futile”
Cassandra hung her head It took a racefully to her feet She closed the gap between them, captured Benedict’s hand and stared deep into his eyes
“Where you’re concerned, I don’t deserve a second chance” A sad sigh left her lips, though his body struggled to cope with the sudden surge of awareness that always accoht to refuse Had Timothy kept his oath, I would have married him and pushed all memories of the past aside” Water welled in her eyes, and she sed hard “Thank you for your assistance this uest”
She released his hand, and he alroaned at the loss But he could not trust her motives, couldn’t trust her word He could not live with seeing her every day, couldn’t risk joining her in bed And yet his thoughts turned to her welfare The earl must have exhausted every other suitor Benedict must be her last hope What would she do now? It shouldn’t matter to him But it did