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Without another word, he simply stepped back and quirked an expectant eyebrow at her before stomping out of the ballroom.

It was her greatest relief to say to Lord Colton, “Please excuse my horrible manners, My Lord. I am suddenly feeling faint…”

And before he could even eke out another word, she dropped his hand and picked up her skirts to follow Hudson out the open doors.

Hopefully, Lord Colton wouldnotforgive her this time.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Infuriating. Simply infuriating.

Not to mention extremely difficult to understand and the most ill-tempered man to boot!

Scarlett hiked her skirts up her ankles as she stomped after Hudson to the gardens. Any other night, she might have appreciated how the gentle moonlight bathed everything around her in a silvery, ethereal glow, intertwining with the shadows.

A most perfect setting for a tryst, except that she was most definitely not trysting with the man. And after what happened at the tower? She would be insane to even think about it.

Which was why she was now convinced that she was at least a little mad to follow him out of the ballroom.

“What do you want?” she demanded, huffing just the slightest bit.

They were far enough away that no living soul could hear them. If it was privacy he wanted… well, he had it now. She was not going to take one step further than this extremely romantic gazebo.

“I told you not to test my patience, little cat,” he growled at her, his eyes narrowed as if he had been the one compromised.

Scarlett lifted her chin in defiance. She would not cower before him, nor have him bend her to his will. She had hadenoughof it.

“And in what way have I testedyourpatience, Your Grace?” she flung back at him with every bit of biting sarcasm she could muster. “You wanted me out of your hair, did you not? Well, after this ball thatyour motherso graciously arranged for me, after finding a match that I can live with for the rest of my sorry existence, I will gladly do so! In fact,” she added with a cold smile, “I cannot wait to do so!”

That was a lie. Every fiber of her being simply screamed at the thought of leaving him. Of another man’s hands touching her the way he had.

But she did not have a choice in the matter—he’d already made it for both of them.

“Ifthatis what you call a good match, then you must be joking,” he scoffed.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Thank you for your great concern, Your Grace. Unfortunately, I have never pretended to make exceptionally astute decisions when it comes to marriage—not that you should concern yourself with it.”

She saw him flinch slightly and bit back the triumphant smile that hovered at the corners of her lips. Oh, she could be extremely petty when she wanted to be, and right now, he absolutely deserved every biting remark.

“Oh, but I am very concerned, my dear,” he said in a low, silky voice that ignited every single one of her nerves. “In fact, I find it rather infuriating, but here we are.”

Infuriating? She should be the one infuriated with his meddling!

And then her eyes widened in realization.

“You do not want me,” she murmured.

His gaze softened slightly. Or was that simply her wishful thinking?

The next moment, his eyes were biting cold once more.

“That is correct,” he replied smoothly.

Scarlett narrowed her eyes at him. “You do not want me, but you do not want others to have me? Your Grace, you must be mad!”

Madder than her, even, if such a thing was even possible.

Or perhaps they were simply two deranged people who managed to find each other against all odds.