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“How does that work, given that you are working on this plan together? Surly that must mean he listens to you at least a little bit.”

“You’re wrong. He doesn’t. Why would he?”

Rose shot Amber a disbelieving look.

“I mean it!”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“But you were thinking it.”

“I didn’t realize that you could hear my thoughts. Is that something I need to worry about in the future?”

“Only when you think about them so loudly.”

Rose rolled her eyes. “You still haven’t given me any examples.”

Amber looked away. “It’s hard without telling you what we’re trying to do.”

“Why are you so worried about me knowing? I don’t think I’ve ever known you to be so cautious.”

“This plan, its risky. Incredibly risky. It isn’t safe to involve you.”

“If it’s so risky, should you be doing it?”

“Probably not, but it isn’t like I have much of a choice.”

Rose gave her shoulder a sympathetic squeeze.

“I think I need to try and get some sleep.”

“Of course. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Alone in her room, Amber fell back on her bed with a sigh.

Only a few rooms away, Christopher laid back on his own bed, mind swirling with thoughts that had nowhere to go.

If he went forward with Amber’s plan, there would be consequences. Nothing that mattered much for himself, of course.

So no respectable woman would be willing to marry him?

That suited him just fine.

If anything, it might be nice to have all of those mothers pushing their daughters off his back.

But his future wasn’t the only one on the line.

Felicity.

This would be so much easier if she were already married. Then he wouldn’t feel so torn.

He shook his head. He didn’t know why he cared so much; Amber was just some girl he’d met a few days ago.

So why couldn’t he stop picturing her with that man?

The way he treated her made Christopher feel sick just thinking about it.

It wasn’t rational. It didn’t make any sense, but he knew he couldn’t let her marry him.