Disappointed by Ethan's perceived denial of her, Gretchen plastered a smile on her face and exchanged pleasantries with Lady Henrietta, hoping Henrietta would take the hint and leave. But unfortunately, Henrietta didn't come to spend a few seconds, she came to steal Ethan's attention, and she succeeded. Gretchen stood, bewildered and furious as Henrietta managed to convince Ethan to have a private word with her.

Annoyed, Gretchen couldn't help but look forward to leaving the party and returning home to Ellie.

After standing alone for what seemed like an eternity, she decided to go in search of Ethan. She simply didn't feel safe with Henrietta around, hovering around Ethan like a bug. She searched the ballroom aimlessly, her anxiety rising with every second that ticked by.

Deciding to look for Ethan out on the front porch, she turned toward the exit and was immediately relieved to find Ethan making his way back into the room. She made to go to him, pausing in her tracks as her eyes came to rest on Henrietta Hall, clinging to Ethan's arm with a smile on her face.

Something in her snapped then —something possessive, and without stopping to consider her action, she stepped forward, crossing the room until she was coming to a halt before him.

He turned to her, a small smile immediately replacing the frown on his face.

Covering the distance between their bodies,she reached out, her hand settling on his face as she pressed her lips to his. Pulling her eyelids shut, she reveled in the warmth of his lips.

She tilted her head to the side, a soft gasp following her action; Henrietta. Good, she thought, the message was perfectly passed —Ethan was taken. Perhaps not by a prim and proper English woman with a fortune to her name, but by an American who was crazy about him —she thought, a small smile curving her lips.

Something settled on her shoulders then, nudging her back and ending their kiss.

Breathless, she raised her gaze, the smile immediately dying on her lips as her eyes came to rest on his furious eyes.

Chapter Seventeen

The moment Ethan pulled away, ending the kiss, Gretchen knew he was displeased with her but sitting beside him in the carriage as they rode home, she was beginning to think perhaps she didn't know the degree of Ethan's anger.

It had only been a kiss! She sighed, glancing down to stare at her hands. Who could blame her for feeling so insecure in the midst of those perfect humans?! She felt wrong, awful, and useless, and Ethan's disappearance with the stunning Lady Henrietta Hall did more than fuel Gretchen's insecurities. Kissing Ethan was the only thing she knew to do in order to feel useful, and for the brief moment that their lips locked, she had forgotten his instruction to conduct herself in a proper manner.