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Amber sighed, crossing her arms. “You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Just because I’m a man?—”

“That isn’t what I meant,” she cut in, shaking her head. “Please, give me a moment to explain.”

He sighed, “Very well, but make it quick. I don’t want people to notice we’re both gone.”

She lit up. “Thank you for giving me a chance to explain. Now, where to start?”

“Preferably at the beginning.”

“I’m afraid it isn’t that simple.”

“Best make it quick. As I said, I would hate for anyone to notice our absence.”

“Quite right, best just to stick to the most important details for the moment, I suppose. I will start with the plan itself then. I don’t think anything outside of that is strictly necessary.” Amber took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts for a moment before she spoke. “I think it is fair to say that you are a good upstanding man from a good family with a good reputation.”

He nodded, and she continued.

“So, if you agree to my plan, then when we get caught, it would be obvious to anyone what your next move would be.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that right? Then go on, tell me what I will obviously do.”

“I was planning on it. As I was saying, it is obvious that you would do what any decent man in your position would do. You would offer to marry me to clear our reputations.”

Amber could see the anger boiling inside him at her words. She needed to move fast before he stormed off. “I thought you said you would never want to marry someone like me.”

“I don’t. More than that, I don’t believe I ever intend to marry.”

“Is that right?”

“It is. Is that so surprising?”

Christopher studied her with something she couldn’t quite place on his face.

When he didn’t say anything, she continued, “So, you will ask for my hand, then I will refuse you leaving your name intact and mine in ruins…”and then no one will ever want my hand again.

He shook his head. “But why? Why would you want that? Have you thought about the consequences of doing something like this?”

“I assure you, I have. If I’m honest, it’s all I’ve thought about the past few days.”

“But what do you get out of this?”

She turned away. “Don’t worry about that. It’s….” she trailed off, thinking for the right world. “… personal.”

“Personal huh?” She could see him thinking, trying to put the pieces together. It was fairly likely he could figure the basics out. After all, Amber had already told him she didn’t wish to marry.

Regardless of what he had or hadn’t figured out, she nodded. “Exactly. You don’t need to worry about that. All you need to know is that I’ve thought about this, and I know this is what I want.”

“But why? I don’t understand.”

“And that’s all right. Like I said, you don’t need to. All I need to know is if you’re willing to help me or if I need to try and find someone else.”

“If I say no, you’re just going to ask someone else?”

“Of course. Like I told you, I am determined. I will do whatever it takes to make this happen.”

Christopher hesitated. On the one hand, he knew what he should say. What she was asking for was wrong, dangerous.