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stop. Think of your reputation.”
    Gemma arched an eyebrow at him and laughed. “When you have a care for your reputation,
     you may speak to me about mine.”
    “It is different.”
    “It is the same, I assure you. Tell me why you are allowed, even encouraged, to gallivant
     about, lifting skirts, and I’m subjected to gossip if I even speak of a desire to
     engage in—”
    Colin swore, effectively cutting her off. He had no intention of listening to what
     her ideas of engaging activities were. “You will engage in nothing but knitting!”
    “Is that a new type of seduction strategy I am unaware of?” Anthony asked as he slapped
     Colin on the back, but Colin was not distracted.
    He pointed a finger in Gemma’s face. “You will end up ruined and stuck with a man
     who has more mistresses than horses!”
    “Not a terrible life…” Anthony added. His wife swatted him on the arm and rolled her
     eyes.
    Gemma’s eyes gleamed with fury. “At least I will not be a spinster.”
    Guilt nagged at Colin’s conscience. “Sweetheart, you already are.”
    Gemma reared back as if slapped. Colin stood firm. Granted, he should not have said
     what he had, but his anger had spoken for him. To be honest, he was more hurt than
     angry. Why had Gemma only recently developed the need to rebel?
    “Why, Gemma?” He spoke without thinking. “Why are you so bent on destruction now?”
    With tears streaming down her cheeks, Gemma stepped toward him and answered in a calm
     voice. “I believe you should look in the mirror and ask yourself that question, Sir
     Wilde. I imagine our answers would be very much the same.” Her final words delivered,
     she spun on her heel and stormed back inside, leaving the lot of them floundering
     in her wake.
    “What the devil just happened?” Ambrose asked, breaking the silence.
    “I…” Colin scratched his head. “Does she mean she is as hurt as I? Impossible.” He
     began to pace. “It is impossible, and do you know why?”
    Anthony opened his mouth to speak, but Colin interrupted him. “Because she hurt me.
     She rejected me. She chose her family over me! And all because I had a lesser title
     — because her brother asked her to leave it be! Do you know how many times I wrote
     her? And the final time I tried to speak to her, Hawke told me she never wanted to
     speak to me again, that she had moved on.”
    Anthony cleared his throat. “Clearly, that is not the case. Tell me, have you asked
     her?”
    “Asked her?” Colin repeated.
    “Yes.” Anthony rolled his eyes. “It is called talking. Blokes do it from time to time,
     and apparently the ladies love it.”
    “I know all I need to know,” Colin answered. “She chose a life without me; therefore,
     I have chosen a life without her.”
    “What was that bit of advice you gave me not long ago? Oh, yes. Wilde, perseverance is a virtue .”
    “This is not the same.”
    “You’re right, of course. This time it is about you. Always a tougher pill to swallow
     when your advice is turned back on you, my friend.” Anthony gestured toward the doors
     with a nod. “May I remind you, anything worth having comes at a dear price. At times
     at the expense of one’s pride.”
    “I have no pride left,” Colin said, staring after Gemma’s cold trail.
    “Then what have you to lose?” Lady Maddox asked.
    ****
    It was working far better than Gemma had thought it would. She turned to glance over
     her shoulder just as Colin stepped through the doors. He was coming after her. She
     suppressed a triumphant smile. It wouldn’t do to let the poor fellow think she had
     laid the trap for him. His eyes met hers, and he paused for a moment, running his
     fingers through his wavy hair as though trying to work up his courage.
    “Gemma, where have you been?” Hawke appeared beside her, taking her arm in a rather
     tight grip.
    “I’ve been talking with Lady Maddox on the veranda.”
    “Odd. I don’t see her anywhere around.” His