“Lord Harcourt,” her father said, stepping forward. “This is incredibly unorthodox. How could we ever explain that you were publicly meant to marry Anne and now you are linking yourself to Thomasina?”

Harcourt’s lips thinned. “I am not arguing that there will not be a scandal at such an action. I abhor that it has come to this, but it seems like it would be an easier thing to explain than that Anne ran away a week before our nuptials with some man whose full name you do not even know.”

Mr. Shelley stroked his chin and Thomasina could see that he was considering the request. Already looking for ways to make it work for his own plans. He wanted a connection to Harcourt’s title as much as Harcourt wanted his money. They were the match, in truth. It had nothing to do with her or Anne or Juliana.

But as she watched them talk, hardly hearing their words, hardly hearing Juliana’s interjections that they should not be hasty or punish Thomasina for Anne’s bad behavior, she couldn’t help but watch Harcourt. He was so very handsome. Before this, she had liked him so much. Too much. His face had haunted her dreams, waking her with the sheets twisted around her and her body tingling.

And tonight…tonight when he had held her so close, when his mouth had swung toward hers on the terrace, she had hated herself for wanting to take what should be Anne’s. Now she was being offered the chance to do just that and no one could dare hate her for it.

“I’ll do it,” she said, but her voice didn’t rise above the din of the other’s conversation. She cleared her throat and said it louder and with more conviction. “I’ll do it, do you hear me?”

That stopped them all and three faces turned to stare at her in shock. Well, her father and Juliana looked shocked. Harcourt looked…dangerous. His gaze swept over her and a tiny smile tilted the corner of his lips. She’d never seen such an expression on his usually serious face before. Like he was…wicked.

She shivered as sensations she couldn’t control raced through her body and fought to keep her expression calm.

“Thomasina,” Juliana said, stepping up to take her hand. “You do not have to do this. Anne’s mistakes are Anne’s.”

Thomasina squeezed her sister’s fingers and held her gaze for a moment, for she knew Juliana would sense her peace with this decision if she allowed it. That was one of the lovely benefits of being triplets, that connection of the heart they shared. Juliana’s expression softened.

“I did play a part in this,” Thomasina said. “Lord Harcourt is right about that. So I must atone for what I did. If I do not, all of us will suffer for Anne’s bad decisions. This will make it easiest for everyone.”

Harcourt stared at her, his eyes searching her. Then he shook his head. “Always so pleasing, Thomasina.”