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She was beautiful, as always, with her golden-brown hair gently cascading down her shoulders, her spectacles propped at the bridge of her nose, and nothing but her night rail covering her body.

But as he looked at her, he saw something else, too. He saw all the deceit and wiles that she’d weaved around him to get what she wanted.

She smiled at first as if she was happy to see him. But as she advanced farther into the room, her expression changed. “What are you doing?”

Adam took a step to the side, revealing her open journal. He waved toward it to alleviate any confusion. “Was this your plan all along?”

“My plan?” She wrinkled her brows before her gaze finally fell to the list. “Did you read my journal?”

He leaned his hips against the table and crossed his arms to keep himself grounded and away from her. “It was open on your table, so I looked through it, yes. Now answer the question!”

“What plan?”

“Do not play coy, Beatrice. The last item on your list. Was that your plan all along? To trick me into marriage?”

Her eyes darted from the journal back to him, and she licked her lips, her breathing labored. “It was… at first.”

Adam gritted his teeth and looked down. What an idiot!

“But not anymore,” she hurried to add and reached for him, but he stepped away.

He let out a bitter chuckle. “Of course, not anymore. Because I have already proposed to you.”

“And I refused!” she said in a furious whisper. “Or did you forget?”

“It doesn’t matter now, does it?” He spread his arms. “You could be with child now. My child. And if you think I’ll let you waltz away with my child then you’re wrong. You got me. You got what you wanted.”

She shook her head. “I am not with child. I got my menses today.”

He scoffed. “Do you think I shall believe you after that?”

She raised her chin. “Do you want proof? I’ll show you proof!” Her eyes glinted in firelight either with unshed tears or with fury. Her hair moved in beautiful waves with her every step. “Did I want to trap you into marriage? Yes! Yes, I did. Of course, I did!” She raised her hands and head for emphasis. “I was about to marry an old, lecherous man. Of course, I’d try to snare a man who is closer to my age, who is handsome and caring and tender with me. Of course, I’d want a man I actually like, a man whose touch I enjoy and whose laughter makes my heart beat louder. Of course! Does that make me a terrible person?”

There was a pause as they both stared at each other silently.

“What makes you a terrible person,” he finally said hoarsely, as he took a step closer, forcing Beatrice to retreat. “Is the fact that you used me for your own gain, manipulated my emotions so that you’d get what you wanted all along. You strung me along with the innocent bluestocking act when you masterminded this entire thing to make me feel for you.”

“I didn’t!” She stomped her foot and bit her lip in frustration, her eyes glittering with tears.

“Didn’t you?”

She shook her head. “I hoped you’d feel for me. I hoped that if we spent enough time together, you’d find out who I really am.”

He scoffed. “Now I have.”

“Don’t make me into a siren and a temptress,” she said, her voice shaking. “I didn’t force you into any of this. You knew what would happen if we made love. You knew what your honor would dictate you to do, and you still did it! I didn’t trick you or trap you into doing this. You could have stopped it at any moment. Why didn’t you?”

“Because I was a gullible fool.”

“Or perhaps we were drawn to each other. I made a mistake writing that item on the list. What else can I even say?”

He stood silent, watching her with distaste in his eyes, so she continued, “I am not going to marry you, Adam. I don’t want you to feel cheated or tricked. I am not with child, and I shall marry Lansdowne as was decided.”

Adam took a menacing step and circled her upper arms with his fingers. “Don’t even think of leaving now.”

“Why not?” Tears were falling down her cheeks now, and her lips trembled. “You hate me.”

He should have said: I don’t. I don’t hate you. Not at all. I’m angry, but that’ll pass. I care about you so much that it hurts right now.