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“Let’s stay like this for a while. You can talk with me this way,” he suggested, proceeding to nuzzle her neck in an arousing manner.

“Alex, I really want to apologize for the embarrassment I caused you inside the hall,” she said in a small voice. “It was improper of me as a duchess to lack the ability to hold my tongue?—”

“And soup—” he added with a laugh.

“Alex!” she scolded.

“What is it?” he asked, placing his chin on her head.

“I’m trying to apologize for embarrassing you.”

“Oh, but, darling, you didn’t embarrass me,” he observed, chuckling. “Darling, you were simply magnificent.”

“If you are angry with me, I would prefer you show it. You are scaring me. I expected you to explode with rage because I ruined your carefully concocted plan with my outlandish behavior. What has happened?”

“Well, you did nothing I have not imagined doing a thousand times over. The coward deserved it, and you just administered justice, that’s all.”

“Besides,” he continued, “it was immensely satisfying to see somebody put Nathaniel in his place. You should have seen his face when you threw the soup. It was priceless, really.”

His laugh eased the discomfort she was feeling, but it hadn’t completely abated. She knew she had set the tongues of the ton wagging.

“I guess he never imagined that the proper Duchess of Blackhill would do that. In his defense, though, I was thoroughly surprised myself,” she said, laughing with him.

“Well, you did good today, and your acting was so believable, I am sure everyone has the established opinion that we are a love match. Well done, darling.”

And just like that, the amusement and light-heartedness disappeared and were replaced with such profound disappointment that her chest ached with it.

So Alexander really thought that she had feigned her feelings for him. She had thought that they were getting to know each other, but it seemed they were no better than strangers to each other if he truly believed she could feign such deep emotions on a whim.

It really hurt to think that he thought she was that duplicitous in character to be able to feign deep emotions she didn’t feel. She knew that he didn’t love her, but over this time, she had thought that he had at least developed a tender spot for her, but it seemed she was wrong, and she had just had a one-sided love affair with him.

Unfortunately, she knew how one-sided love could turn into resentment and ruin happy memories, so it seemed it was time to let go, even if it felt as painful as severing a limb.

Gradually, she pushed at Alexander’s arms until he loosened his embrace and turned her to look at him, his brow furrowed in concern.

“What is wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong,” she said, forcing a smile even though she desperately wanted to weep. “I just realized that the three nights we agreed on are over.”

For some time, his expression remained one of confusion until she saw the moment the memory dawned on him, and the look of confusion cleared.

“Yes, I believe so,” he answered tentatively.

“I wonder if you have forgiven me, since I have kept my part of the bargain.”

“Yes, I forgive you.”

“Good,” she said, forcing a cheer in her voice that she didn’t feel. “I guess this is the point where we part ways to enjoy our independent lives happily.”

A shutter dropped over Alexander’s expression, and just like that, the Ruthless Duke returned once again.

“I believe so,” he said, chillingly polite.

The dull pain in Helen’s chest drove home to her how much she had hoped that he would prove her wrong and suggest they change their plans, but it seemed they had different plans in mind when they thought about the future.

“I’ll inform the driver we are to leave now.”

“All right,” she agreed, watching him walk away, each step ripping her heart from her chest.