“But don’t you see? I do want to know you better.” He sighed and moved toward her, hoping to touch her hand, but the glare she gave him warned him to keep his distance.
“Well, Lord William, I’m not certain I want to know you now. I can see thatyoudon’t listen to rumors. After all, you and your brother moved into the estate hoping not to run across any social-climbing women, yet most of the unmarried women around here are not wealthy. You told me at the ball that you were trying to keep all of the farthing filchers away from the earl. But that’s most of the women around this area. So, don’t act surprised when I tell you I’m one of them.”
He narrowed his gaze. She was still referring to him as William, so perhaps he should confess the truth. She must have overheard something during the evening to make her think he was Collin’s brother. Either that, or innocent Aunt Beatrice could have said something.
He arched an eyebrow. “You are admitting that you are only after the earl because of his wealth?”
“As I just said, Lord William, don’t pretend to be shocked. Lady Margaret was probably the only one at the party who doesn’t need your family’s money.” Bridget shrugged and faced the pond, peering down at her reflection in the rippled water. “Anyone around here will tell you how desperate women are to find a man who can provide well for them and their family. Especially the Hartwell sisters.”
He chuckled. “Desperate, you say? Oh, I beg to differ.”
She turned away from him and walked slowly toward the clearing. “You can differ all you’d like. I have lived in this area a long time, Lord William, and so I know the women better than you do.”
He hurried to her and grasped her elbow. “Please, Bridget. Stop calling me Lord William. I want you to call me Adrian.”
“Is that your middle name?”
“Well, yes, but why—”
“But most people refer to you as William, do they not?”
He could keep the secret from her no longer. Nodding, he folded his arms. “I don’t know who told you, but indeed, I am Lord William Worthington.”
Scowling, she shook her head as her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I cannot fathom why you would want to lie to me and everyone you have met in our small township, but I can assure you, the game you played with my heart will not be forgotten.”
She moved toward her horse, and he followed.
“Forgive me, my sweet Bridget, if I offended you in any way. That was not my intent.”
She threw a glare at him over her shoulder. “And what exactly was your intent? Why did you think it necessary to lie?”
Sighing heavily, he frowned. “I didn’t want women to think I was in the marriage market.”
“Truly, my lord, you went through a lot of deceiving to get that point across, when all you had to do was be honest when talking to women.”
He took her arm, stopping her, but once again, she pulled away from him.
“I beg you, please forgive me.” His chest clenched. He did not like the sadness buried deep in her expression.
“The way I feel now, I don’t see that forgiveness forthcoming, but I shall promise to consider it.”
“I’ll cherish your promise. However, for now, I would beg you to keep my secret. I don’t want people to know I live in the manor yet.”
“I suppose, since it is not my secret to share.” She lifted her chin stubbornly.
“Will you tell me how you know my identity?”
“I actually didn’t know, but I suspected. There were small hints along the way.” She narrowed her gaze on him. “Were you aware that your aunt enjoys talking about her nephews who were at the ball? She is proud of them, more so even than her own son. Not once did she mention your name. Then, last night, when I asked her what the earl’s brother looked like, she was more than willing to give me your description. Of course, it wasn’t until today when my head finally cleared that I started putting together the pieces of your deceitful puzzle.”
His mind went blank, and his heart hammered. No wonder she’d been so irritable. Yet she, too, had been keeping a secret from him, about her only wanting Collin because of his money. Part of him wanted to blame her for not being honest with him about her true purpose with landing a wealthy husband, yet… he was the one who had started the game of dishonesty. Perhaps he shouldn’t be so hard on her.
“It would appear I am the bigger fool now,” he said in a low voice.
“Indeed, you are.”
She moved to her horse and prepared to mount, but he touched her arm, stopping her again. “Before you leave, will you promise me something else?”
“My lord, I would think one promise from the irate woman you lied to should be your limit.”
