Page 81 of A Virgin for the Rakish Marquess

“But I am.” Diana’s jaw ticked. “I was foolish enough to believe that this was more than just an amusing series of lessons. I am sure that you are having the time of your life seeing me sotense,as you put it. Came to gloat, perhaps. Bask in the knowledge that you have managed to hurt me.”

James drew in deep breaths and attempted to grab her hands. She recoiled.

“Oh, I know I made the unforgivable mistake of seeing too much of the real you.” Diana chuckled coldly. “I let myself care for a man who saw me as nothing but a diversion. A man who left me standing there, humiliated and broken.”

“Please—” James expelled a harsh breath, his chest rising and falling too fast.

Diana shook her head, not wanting to hear anything more from him.

“There, Lord Crawford, the infamous rake of the ton. Have your moment of glory.” She was trembling with rage and sorrow. “You can pride yourself on making the jilted wallflower fall in love with you.”

The moment those words left her lips, she realized with dread what she had said.

The air was heavy with her confession, both of them breathing heavily, locked in a stare.

“You love me.”

Diana shook her head and took a step back.

“You love me,” James repeated, this time a little softer, as if tasting the words.

Diana swallowed and willed her lungs to draw in air.

No, no, no…

“Say it again,” James murmured.

She spun on her heel, but he caught her wrist.

“Let me go!” she hissed.

She blinked and dug her nails into her palms harder.

Do not cry, do not cry, do not cry.

She had already given up so much. She had to get away and make sure they never crossed paths again so that she could forg?—

“I love you, Diana.”

Her heart stopped. Her ears were ringing.

James stepped closer, unshaken, unstoppable. “I love you so much.”

Diana shook her head furiously. She was shaking, her whole body trembling as if dipped in ice-cold water. “You’re lying.”

“I am not.” James took another step forward, and his hands found her waist.

“You can’t be serious right now!”

James stilled as if hit by an invisible wall.

Diana wrenched free and stumbled back, her eyes burning, her breathing shallow. “You don’t get to say that. This game is over. You won.”

James staggered back a step as if she had struck him. She took the opportunity and ran away from him.

CHAPTER 22

Handwritten Notes

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