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Evie stomped furiously all the way to the study.

If Daniel ever noticed it, he made no mention of it. He simply held the door open for her and then closed it once she was inside.

“Are you sure this is appropriate?” she chastised him, crossing her arms over her chest.

He merely shrugged his broad shoulders. “In your opinion, I have already done something so grossly inappropriate. What does it matter if I add one more to my list of transgressions?”

I knew it! He is hardly repentant for his folly! How am I going to deal with the consequences of his actions if he simply refuses to cooperate?

“Well then, out with it,” she muttered through gritted teeth. “Why did you make such a preposterous claim before Lord Sidmouth?”

He frowned darkly. “You keep mentioning him in my presence. Tell me then, do you like the man so much?”

“I did not say that,” she shot back defensively.

“And you surely would not,” he affirmed. “Once you learn of the more preposterous claimsLord Sidmouthmade.”

Doubt seeped into Evie like a devious snake, slithering down her spine like a cold chill.

Lord Sidmouth was the leader of a group of young gentlemen who may be rowdy at times, but generally enjoyed a good reputation amongst theton.

But there are also a great many who enjoy a good reputation simply because they have not been caught yet, a small voice in her head reminded her.

“Why? What do you know of Lord Sidmouth?” she asked Daniel breathlessly. She took a step closer to him, close enough to see his vibrant green eyes turn a dark, stormy shade. “What are you hiding from me?”

“Nothing,” he muttered harshly. “What need have I to hide such things from you?”

In the space of a few breaths, his cold wrath seemed to radiate from his body to fill the entire room. His lips thinned into a forbidding line, as if he meant to contain his rage.

Strangely enough, Evie did not fear him. She knew that his anger was not directed at her.

Quietly, she took one more step towards him and laid a gentle hand on his arm.

“Daniel,” she told him quietly. “You must learn to trust me to deal with my own problems.”

“It is not that I do not trust you. It isthemI do not trust.”

She smiled a little at that. “Then you must trust that I am capable of handling things my own way.”

He drew in a harsh breath, and she could see the conflict in his eyes. For all the world, he seemed so cold and unperturbed by anything and anyone around him, but there were times when she truly believed that it was nothing more than a façade.

That Daniel cared far more than he showed.

“What will you do if you find out that Lord Sidmouth wagered that he would be the one to win your hand in marriage?” he bit out coldly. “That amongst the dandies of theton, he would make the most successful match because as of this Season, there is no one whose dowry matches yours.”

Evie sucked in a harsh breath.

I knew there was something amiss with him! It seems that he is nothing more than a charming snake, after all!

“That is disgusting!” she seethed.

“Exactly my sentiments.”

“Yes, but you did not have to do something so drastic!” she told him in exasperation. “You should have said something else—anything!Oh, whatever are we going to do now? Colin is going to kill you!”

“He can try.”

Evie was wringing her hands fretfully, but when he made such a statement, she could not help but stop to glare at him.