His eyes hardened. “My sister will be loyal to her husband. She has always been loyal to family. Don’t you see? She played that trick with Napoleon’s hat because she is convinced that you are the wrong wife for me. Convinced that you will sully the family name, but even more, that you will make me unhappy. She’s just trying to protect me.”

“It must be nice.”

“What?”

“To have a sibling to defend oneself.” Yasmin managed a faint smile. “We can look forward to marvelous Christmases.”

“Once we are married, Lydia will behave.”

“Actually, I intend to rethink our betrothal while in the country,” Yasmin said. “I deserve someone who will love me as I am.” She was proud of her assertive, calm tone.

Did Giles pale? No.

She couldn’t fool herself that he looked particularly distressed, perhaps no more distressed than any man whose mistress decides to leave his side.

“Please don’t do that. Don’t leave London.”

“Tell me it won’t be easier for you if I am nowhere to be seen? If men aren’t clustering around me and asking me to dance?”

“Easier for me?”

Yasmin folded her arms over her breasts. “Easier for you. You needn’t lean against the walls and rage inwardly about your uncouth fiancée flirting with men.”

His jaw tightened, but he came out with the truth. “Perhaps.”

“Marvelous,” Yasmin said, hearing the flatness in her own voice. “We are in agreement, then.”

“I don’t want you to go.”

“You have had rather too much of what you want, Giles. You’ll likely have your scandalous countess back in the fall. I don’t think my grandfather would agree to a broken engagement, given the rashness of our behavior under his roof.”

“My reluctant countess,” Giles said, his lips twisting.

“That too. I would be grateful if you would leave now.” She walked over to the door and stood there, waiting for him to dress.

Giles pulled on his clothes, walked to her, and stopped. After a long moment, he bowed over her hand.

“I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at Carlton House.”

After his footsteps went down the stairs, Yasmin sank to the floor, her back against the door.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The Prince Regent’s Reception

Carlton House

Thankfully, Yasmin did not have to wear hoops to Carlton House, as she would if she attended one of the queen’s drawing rooms. Instead, she put on a favorite gown she had last worn at the French court, cream colored with magnificent gold trim and a high-standing Medici collar, adorned by the Portbellow diamonds.

Her grandfather looked every inch a duke in a dark violet coat studded with emeralds, his wide cuffs thick with embroidery.

“We shall be the most elegant personages in the room,” he observed with satisfaction. “I gather from my correspondence that Lord Pettigrew will introduce his fiancée to the Regent this evening. Let’s hope the sour-faced puss hasn’t learned that you left the ball with her brother last night.”

“We must remain far away from her,” Yasmin said, taking his arm.