Aurelia and Roman joined the other couples on the dance floor, waiting for the music to start. She couldn't help but notice his nervous disposition and could only assume what he'd seen in the corridor was the cause. Roman had always been level-headed - was the sight of two people unmarried people kissing truly that startling? Together, they had done worse. Much worse. Surely, he couldn't be that horrified.

Breaking the tense atmosphere between them, he cleared his throat. "You look lovely tonight, Aurelia."

She pushed a polite smile onto her mouth as her eyes drifted down to her dress. "Thank you," She replied, "it's new." She wasn't entirely sure why she added that part, Roman wouldn't care, but the uncertainty of what he'd seen was rattling her nerves. "I'm sorry our conversation got cut short the other day."

"I'll forgive you," He said, "as long as you gave Bridgerton a swift kick up the arse."

Aurelia laughed, surprised he was willing to bring up Anthony so quickly. A bold move perhaps to get her to spill the truth. She needed to remind him that whilst he now held a scandal worth secret, she also held one about him. "It appears I should be giving you one, too. You told him about that night in Rome."

Shame rippled crossed his eyes. "He never could keep a secret."

"He's not told me what you said," She assured him, "just that you said something."

"He certainly does like you torment you," Roman remarked, his cheeks turning a pale shade of pink.

He could say that again.

The musicians prepared their instruments, ready to play the next song. Roman held out his hand and Aurelia took it, placing her other on his should as he gripped onto her waist.

"Are you going to tell me, then?" Aurelia asked, as the pair began to dance. "What you told him?"

He frowned, confused by her urgent need to know. "Does it matter?"

"Of course, it does," She tried not to snap. Did he really think she was going to let a subject like that go so easily? "A lady does not like to have a scandal about her circulating around the ton without her knowledge."

Somehow, Roman was able to laugh. "It's hardly a scandal, Aurelia."

Aurelia sighed at his naivety - either that, or his privilege. "For you, maybe. We come from two different worlds."

For a moment, Roman remained silent whilst he pondered her words. Aurelia couldn't help but wonder if this was the first time he had ever thought about the possible consequences of their actions. It would be typical. Men from London rarely think before they do. They lack any kind of foresight.

He blew out a stiff sigh from his nose. "I told him that I loved you."

Aurelia's heart skipped a beat, her brain unable to comprehend what he'd just said. "Why on Earth would you tell him that?"

His cheeks began to burn red. "At the time, it was true."

Aurelia let out a half-hearted laugh. "I'll try not to take offence."

"I'm being serious, Aurelia," He sighed.

That was exactly what Aurelia was worried about. Roman had never been a serious person, everything about him was fun and light, yet this conversation was becoming rather heavy - fast. She wasn't quite sure how to handle it.

"You never told me," She replied, trying to conceal her discomfort (and failing abysmally).

"It's not something I thought I could proclaim after the speech I gave you," He admitted, embarrassment sparking in his eyes.

"Ah, yes. That speech," Aurelia smiled, the rant in question as clear in her memory as the day it was said. "It was rather spectacular. How did it go again?" She dramatically wracked her brain. "If I take you to my bed, Aurelia, you can not fall in love with me."

Roman hung his head in shame, secretly impressed by her impression of him. He'd always heard stories from his father and his friends of how women were too easily driven by their emotions. Apparently, it wasn't the case.

"Did your rules not apply to yourself?" Aurelia questioned. Clearly, they had not. "I'm still not pleased that you told Viscount Bridgerton that our evening together lead you to such emotions."

"I didn't tell him that," He rapidly denied her allegations.

"He gave the impression you did," She informed him, sternly.

Roman sighed, shocked she would allow herself to fall into such an easy trap. "I fear he was trying to bait you."

Aurelia frowned. "For what purpose?"

"To provoke you," He answered, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And it looks like he succeeded."

"Yes," She agreed, "that has become an irritating hobby of his."

Roman's eyes swan over her face, unsure to whether she was playing dumb or was genuinely oblivious to the abundantly clear. "You don't know, do you?"

"Know what?"

"Your father came to speak to me today," He informed her. "He is concerned that you will have an unsuccessful season."

If her own father doubting her abilities to find a husband wasn't humiliating enough, him sharing his concerns with half the ton definitely was.

"Younger wives enter the season each year, your competitors will only continue to grow in numbers." Roman continued. "You can't let Anthony Bridgerton stand in your way."

Aurelia's glare narrowed, completely lost by what he was implying. "And how exactly have I been doing that?"

"Other than the Viscount and myself, which other gentlemen have you spoken to?" He asked.

Aurelia opened her mouth to fire back a witty retort, but she could not think of one. Tonight was the first night she had actually spoken to most of the gentlemen of London, and that was only because she was under strict instructions from her father.

"You can't waste your time on a man that will never fall in love," Roman stated, as if he believed that Aurelia intended to catch the Viscount's admiration. "You deserve more in life, Aurelia. You are destined for extraordinary things."

Aurelia was starting to get fed up with men telling her what her future was going to be. How did they know? Why did they have more say in it? It was her future after all.

Taking a step back from Roman, she dropped her arms to her side, refusing to dance anymore. "There is nothing going on between the Viscount and I."

Roman kept his voice low. "So, that was just a friendly kiss out in the corridor?"

Irritated by his Gaul, she struggled to keep control of her composure. "You are not one to judge."

"Rome and London are two very different places," He informed her, as if it wasn't obvious enough to her already. "What happens here, Aurelia, will stain your reputation for the rest of your life."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her brain went into a spin. This was not the same Roman she met in Italy. If she had not laid eyes on him, she would be certain he was a completely different person. She couldn't look him in the eyes. "I don't like what you are implying."

"I'm not implying anything," He insisted, "I'm just looking out for you."

He took a step closer to her, but Aurelia was quick to keep her distance. "Please excuse me, Lord Yaxley. I have a headache."

With a swift spin, she walked away from him, trying to conceal the tears threatening to fall.

"Aurelia," He shouted after her, but his plea fell on deaf eyes.

She marched off the dance floor, pushing through the crowd of onlookers, straight past her parents. Lord Bradford caught sight of her red eyes. "Aurelia, are you alright? Where are you going?"

Harshly, she replied. "Home."

She had had enough of balls, enough of London, and enough of the season. The reality was far from the fairytales, and she would rather end life as a spinster than shackled to any of the idiots the ton had to offer.