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Ethan chuckled as he raised his glass of brandy. “I have not forgotten that particular aspect of my betrothed, old friend.”

In fact, he could very well recallallaspects of Lady Phoebe Barkley.

Including that incredibly tempting figure of hers.

Particularlythat.

“Do not worry, Hudson.” He grinned. “I shall make sure that the young lady does not suffer as my Duchess.”

“You would do very well to remember that, old friend.”

Hudson drank the remainder of his brandy, giving Ethan one last final warning glance before shuffling out of the study.

Alone in his study, Ethan drank the rest of the brandy in his glass.

He had not lied to Hudson.

Once they married, he would make sure that Phoebe would want for nothing. If she so chose, he could show her pleasure beyond her wildest imaginings. As his wife, he would make sure that she had everything that his status could afford.

Except for his heart, of course. That was out of the question.

He was not quite sure he even had one.

So this is what the aftermath of a scandal is like.

Phoebe stared out the window of the parlor as the last of the wedding guests filed out of Sinclair Estate, bringing with them the titillating news of her scandalous declaration of love for Ethan Audley.

She was ruined now, there was no doubt.

Her papa had retired to his rooms, and Alice and her mama had followed him.

Phoebe was much too ashamed to face him.

“There you are.”

She raised her head to find her brother-in-law walking towards her, smiling as if the entire world had not just come crashing down around them.

“We did not see you after breakfast,” he remarked casually.

Breakfast. The word made Phoebe shudder slightly.

Who still had the stomach to eat after everything that happened? After everything she had done?

“Your sister is worried about you.”

“I know,” Phoebe groaned in agony. “I am so, so sorry…”

Sorry for inviting scandal upon their name. Sorry for upsetting her papa’s carefully thought-out plans for her. Sorry for making everyone worried…

But she was not sorry to have put an end to Miss Delaney’s scheme.

“Ethan means to make a proper proposal today.”

Phoebe shook her head. “No. No, he cannot.”

She did not want a proposal. She did not want to get married.

She wanted very much to be left to her own devices. To pursue all the things she could not as a proper young lady.