Here he was trying to do the decent thing and stay away from temptation, and Ashton was practically handing Horatia to him on a silver platter. He needed her to be safe—not just from the Waverly but from himself. Having her so close to his bed at home was the opposite of safe.
What other choice did he have though?
“Fine,” Lucien said with poor grace. “I will go with Cedric.”
He didn’t want to spend hours in a coach with Horatia, and he certainly did not want to be stuck at his estate with her over the holidays. It was worse knowing that his mother would be there. She had an irritating way of meddling in his affairs, and he feared she would interfere with Horatia. His mother had a soft spot for the Sheridans, Horatia in particular. Letting his mother near Horatia would be more trouble th
