It had been several days since he had joined her on her morning ride, so she seemed surprised to see him. But he hadn’t dared risk being spotted when her reputation was already suspect. Yet time had stretched interminably since the ball. Thrusting the thought aside, he smiled. “Truth has prevailed at last.” “Yes, and good has come of it, as you suggested. I thought I could be comfortable with Garwood, but who can live with a man so quick to judge and so loath to forgive once he has done so? Thank you for your efforts on my behalf.” “I did nothing.” He was oddly uncomfortable, having had little experience with praise. “Not according to Major Caldwell.” “Jack has a way of exaggerating.” They trotted in silence for several minutes. “Why haven’t you tried to improve your own reputation?” she asked at last, repeating a question she had uttered before. He shrugged, supplying his usual answer. “I care nothing for society’s opinion.” “I find that hard to believe – unless you hate people.
