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If only—if only—she felt equal to him. If she were Regina, but kinder. The daughter of a duke, slim, beautiful, always neat, never impulsive.

“Your expression is so bleak,” he said, focusing on her face.

How did he imagine she would look? Happy to see him?

Daisy lifted the arm that anchored her to his side and pushed it away. “This has been a horrible day. The wedding, remember? Followed by both husband and wife realizing that they had made a mistake.”

“I didn’t realize that,” he said.

The ache in her chest felt sharp, as if a claw had reached into her body and pierced her heart. “Actually, you said precisely that. Why are you here, Miles? Our marriage, such as it is, is over.” Her voice sounded ragged, almost timid. She had to pull herself together and be the strong, independent woman Belle deserved. “I left you.”

“Actually, I left you.”

“That too.” Somehow their feet had entangled, their thighs pressed together. Daisy pulled her legs away from his, wrenching her gown down until it covered her ankles. “Would you please rise so that I can get up?”

Miles shook his head. “No. I didn’t mean to leave you permanently. You’re my wife.”

“Not legally,” she pointed out.

“I’m sorry that I left before making love to you. I was an ass.”

“You were,” she agreed, not in a mood to prevaricate.

“Then allow me to apologize properly.”

Given the flare of hunger in Miles’s eyes, Daisy knew exactly what he intended before his head lowered. Her mouth instinctively opened to his. His kiss was raw and sexual, making the ache in her chest intensify as she fought his erotic pull.

She couldn’t allow Miles to make love to her, not only because it would make their marriage legal, but because a true marriage to him would break her heart into even smaller pieces.

“We belong together,” he whispered, drawing back.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. Somehow, while sleeping, her thoughts had moved from chaotic despair to concrete logic. “We desire each other, but that’s not enough. Lust doesn’t prevent people from behaving horribly toward each other. We have that, but it’s all we have.” Thankfully, her voice didn’t sound as breathless as she felt. “I can’t control how you feel about me, but I can control how much your disrespect affects me. And how much it affects Belle.”

He opened her mouth, but she shook her head again. “I know I deserve your insults. I lied to you. I did go to your house, rather than to Frederick’s, because I considered myself in love with you. I did not plan to lure you into marriage. I honestly thought you had likely fathered children and could hide Belle amongst them. But I did lie to you about her parentage. I apologize for that falsehood, Miles. I am truly sorry that my stupid behavior changed your life so drastically.”

His brows pulled together, his eyes darkening. Just like that, his face transformed from the countenance of a patrician highborn lord to that of a regular human. Daisy’s heart thumped again. She adored her scowling, lustful husband far more than the gentleman she’d initially fallen in love with, the man with sculpted cheekbones and elegant clothing.

“Luckily, we aren’t yet truly married,” she continued, clearing her throat. “Not legally. There’s time for both of us to reconsider this rash decision. I have rethought it. You may not have had the time, but I am certain you agree with me. Inside, you agree with me.”

“We have more than desire,” Miles said, his frown deepening. “There’s Belle, for one thing.”

Daisy scowled back at him. “Belle is mine.”

“She’s mine as well. You gave her to me.”

“Nonsense. You called her a ‘prostitute’s get.’ Do you really think that I should allow you to father her after that insult?”

His face was a complicated mix of regret and anger. “I apologize wholeheartedly for that insult. I spoke in anger, and I will never say anything like that about Belle ever again. She is yours. I understand that.”

“Our marriage was a farce, easily annulled. I’m taking Belle, my daughter, to Brussels.” She pushed back against the couch. “Please don’t make me clamber over you.”

“We have more between us than Belle,” Miles said stubbornly.

“Back to lust.” Daisy sighed. “Our vows were meaningless. I can’t stay married to you.”

“Why not?”

She took a deep breath and then just told him the truth. “Underneath the desire, you despise me. You probably always considered me too young and impulsive, but after lying to you and forcing you into marriage? There’s no way forward for us, Miles. I can’t do it.” Despite herself, her voice splintered, but she reached for control again.