“Worse than a rodent,” Yasmin said somewhat breathlessly. “Something beneath notice.” She returned to her earlier point. “People are already obsessed with the fact that you and I were paired for the scavenger hunt. If you begin courting me, we shall be the only subject of conversation. Your sister will be ignored, and you would be paying attention to me, rather than her.” She shook her head. “Her loving brother should usher her into society as a betrothed woman—and make certain that she does nothing rash.”

“Now that the betrothal has been—” Giles broke off, his eyes narrowed. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”

“No, of course not!” Yasmin protested. “What could you mean?”

He blinked. “You’re not a very good liar, are you?”

Yasmin bit her lip.

“That wasn’t your condom,” Giles stated, working it out for himself. “It was Lydia’s, wasn’t it?” His spine stiffened. “My sister was planning to sleep with Turing. Or with Pepper.” His voice was biting.

“Planning is not the same as doing,” Yasmin offered. “You won’t need to repair the family name on her account.”

“Because you saved the family name by picking up that condom,” he said. “I owe you so much.”

She rubbed her cheek against his chest. “I couldn’t let you see it. Or Turing, for that matter.”

“He might have gossiped,” Giles agreed. His eyes were dark with fury. “Lydia has said despicable things about you.”

That was no surprise. Yasmin sighed. “Giles, you’ll have to become accustomed to that sort of comment. I already told you there was a scandal in my past.”

“She claimed you were a light woman who had slept with any number of men.”

“That was not true.”

“All the time she was carrying a condom in her purse.” Giles pulled back, strode a few steps, and swung around. “My sister actively tried to ruin your reputation, even though she herself was debauched.”

“That is taking the very worst interpretation of the condom,” Yasmin said uncomfortably. “Lydia is very young.”

“Hardly an excuse for breaking every principle that she was taught in her life!”

“But was she taught those principles? You just told me that your mother freely interpreted her marriage vows,” Yasmin pointed out. “As did my mother, I hasten to add. I don’t mean to be critical.”

“Lydia is a young lady.”

“So was your mother when she married your father shortly after entertaining a lover. As is my mother, who took a lover during marriage. It’s quite likely that Lydia does not agree with the strict rules governing society. I’ve observed that women in our situation—those whose mothers were less conventional—often follow in their mothers’ steps.”

Giles took a step toward her. “Is that what led to the scandal you mentioned, in France?”

She nodded. “Something like that. To return to the next few months, I can imagine a number of ways by which Lydia could destroy her future. She needs her older brother at her side, making certain the engagement succeeds. I do believe she will be happy with Lord Pettigrew.”