How could this have happened? How could she have been so stupid as to fall head over ears in love with a man who would never return her feelings? Once more, she relived the kiss in the carriage the night before. Once more, she pictured Jonathan’s face when he had finally released her. He had been obviously appalled at his actions. “I—I’m—please, forgive me, Tally. I don’t know what happened, there. I didn’t mean...” Tally pulled away from him, and it felt as though she were peeling part of her flesh away. She held herself carefully, so that the misery that threatened to engulf her would not show in her face. “There is nothing to forgive.” She was vaguely pleased that her voice gave no hint of the turmoil that raged within her. “It was merely the—the heat of the circumstances. Please, say no more about it.” And he hadn’t. Not about that or anything else on the brief ride home. When they reached the corner of Half Moon and Curzon streets, which was their customary point of embarkation, Tally had slipped from the carriage with a whispered, “Good night.”
