He sneered. “As I have mentioned before, I have not stolen anything.”
“Then why do they say differently?”
“They are probably heartbroken because I left them to find another woman.”
Although not a humorous moment, she chuckled, not believing the words coming from his mouth. “Oh, Alex. I’m quite certain they were not heartbroken. Each widow said after you had left, they noticed their expensive jewels and money missing.” She shrugged. “Very coincidental, don’t you think?”
He leaned forward on the table and glared. “They all lied then. The reason I moved on was because they couldn’t please me. They gave me their jewels. I didn’t steal anything.”
“How strange you never used your real name.” She tapped her finger on her chin. “Can you tell me why? If you had no intentions of stealing their money, why would you not use your real name?”
His angry glare nearly burned through her, but she held her back straight and met the challenge in his eyes. A few minutes passed in silence, but by the nerve jumping in his neck, she knew he was desperately trying to think of another lie.
Finally, he sat back and smiled. His whole body relaxed as he folded his arms across his chest. “My dear, innocent Judith. You don’t know men at all. The reason I did not use my real name was because I had no desire for a relationship with them.”
“Plausible story, Alex, but I don’t believe you. Since I found out about you, I know all you want is money.”
“And pray, how did you come to this conclusion?”
“Simple, really. You know I don’t love you, yet you are determined to marry me. Why? Because you know how much money my parents left me when they died.”
He cocked his head. “How would I know that?”
“I don’t know, but sneaky, conniving rats like yourself always find a way.”
“How do you know I don’t really love you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Because not too long ago when I was on Bond Street shopping, I saw you. I called out your name. You turned and looked at me, but you never responded. Instead, you ran the other way and ignored me. If you really loved me, you would have come when I called. If you had really loved me, you would have met me at the woodsman’s cottage that first day.” She shook her head. “But you are just a pathetic little man who is no better than a common criminal. You use people to get what you want. I’m so fortunate Lord Trey came into my life when he did, or I would be married to you by now.”
A scowl marred his face mere seconds before he lashed out at her, his fingers digging into her shoulder. “You little hussy. How dare you say those things about me!”
“They are true.”
“I don’t use people for money, but I do know about revenge. I know when I’m tired of being the man stepped on all the time. The snobbish nobility have always looked down at me as if I was dung on their shoes. I’m not. I have feelings, too.”
“Only when it suits you.”
“You sound just like your parents. Do you know that?”
She blinked with wide eyes. “What are you talking about? You have never spoken to my parents.”
“On the contrary.” He let go of her and sat back in his chair. “You didn’t know this, but they knew about us.”
She gasped. “How could they?”
“I don’t know, but they approached me one day and offered me money to stop seeing you. I discovered at that time how wealthy your parents really were.”
Her throat tightened with emotion and moisture filled her eyes. Her parents hadn’t said a thing. Obviously, they knew Alex was all about money. They loved her enough to pay the freeloader off and get him out of her life.
“Why had they not said anything to me?” she whispered, more to herself than to him as she looked down at her hands.
“Probably because it was the day before they died.”
She snapped her attention to him. “How do you know when they died? I didn’t send you a letter until a week afterward.”
A mischief grin crossed his face and he shrugged. “I know these things.”
Chapter Forty-Six
