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He needed to end it. Now. Because, as of today, he was officially a betrothed man.

Jo looked around the room, her gaze unable to settle on a single thing. “What made you change your mind?”

“Does it matter?”

She closed her eyes. “I saw the emotion in your eyes that day on the roof. Do not deny it. That might not have been love, but it was something similar. And it frightened you, didn’t it?”

She was so brave, his little actress. So strong. Standing here and daring to challenge him. But he couldn’t give her even a sliver of hope. This was the end. “I don’t do emotions, Jo. I never let myself get this far in a relationship. So whatever emotion you thought you saw in me, it was probably the reflection of your own.”

She reared back, her chest rising and falling with her frantic breaths. “So that’s it then? You are the one who decides that our liaison is over?”

Richard nodded. “That’s it.”

He knew that he was hurting her. He knew it would’ve been better if he told her the truth. I care about you, Jo. You are the only woman on my mind. But I am betrothed to another.

His mouth opened, to say just that, but then he closed it. Would it have been better? To torture them both with their forbidden feelings? Perhaps it was better if she just hated him. Perhaps it was better if she left before the betrothal was even announced.

“I think it would be better if you leave,” he croaked out. “The house party.” Because if you don’t, I might never have the strength to go through with my betrothal.

Jo pursed her lips together to stop them from trembling. It didn’t help. There was confusion and pain in her eyes, and Richard wished he could have made it better. But he didn’t know how.

He was inept in situations like this. He had broken off half a dozen affairs before but he always did it without remorse or doubt. He never felt anything when he did so. And the women usually stormed off in a fit of fury.

This was new. Jo tried to remain calm and strong against the storm that brewed inside her. And he felt her storm. Because the same emotions rioted inside his heart.

She finally gave a nod, walked past him, and rushed away from his room.

Chapter 14

Jo dashed into her room, closed the door, and leaned her back against it. Tears rolled down her cheeks as a sob tore out of her lungs.

How could I be so foolish?

She ripped the earrings off her ears, walked toward her vanity, and threw them into her jewelry box. She looked up at the looking glass and stared into her reflection. She had been so happy just a few hours ago, so confident in herself and her future.

So in love.

“Ugh!” She spun away from the looking glass and fell onto her bed, loudly sobbing out her pain.

The door opened and closed behind her, but she didn’t even turn around. Quiet steps approached the bed, and then the mattress dipped and a soft palm pressed against her spine.

“What happened, dear?” Selena asked her.

Jo shook her head. “He ended it!” she screamed into the coverlet, her voice muffled. Jo didn’t know if Selena understood her muffled words, but she didn’t ask Jo to repeat herself.

Jo rolled to her side, a strand of hair falling out of her coiffure and covering half her face.

“I want to leave,” she said as she swiped away the errant lock of hair. “I don’t want to stay here anymore.”

Selena smiled sadly. “What was it you said to me when I wanted to leave before? Don’t let him win.”

“I don’t care,” Jo muttered as she looked down on the coverlet spotted in two places by her tears. She swallowed. “I thought I was in love with him, Selena. For the second time in my entire life, I fell in love again. Well, they both proved me a fool, didn’t they?”

“You are not a fool for falling in love,” Selena said vehemently. “You are a woman. And those poor excuses for gentlemen do not deserve your tears.”

Jo sat up and embraced Selena in a hug. They sat like that, finding strength in each other and not talking. They both had thought they found something special during this house party. And they both were very wrong.

“What exactly did he tell you?” Selena finally asked as Jo’s breathing evened out.