Seductive Lies (Secret Lives Series) by Colleen Connally Page A

think it would not? Come, Harriet, you are not that naïve not to have considered by now that some underhanded dealings have surrounded us. You have to understand that there are those would wish us only harm. Who was it that took you to my residence in London? Why would you have done so? Did you want to humiliate me in some manner?”
    “You dare reproach me! It is not I who has told lies. I may have lived the lies, but I did not tell them.” Her anger spewed forth. She pushed back out of his hold. “If you must know, it was Mr. Carlisle. It was he who came to me, telling me that my life was not what I thought. Do not dare question his motives. It is his cousin you married! You are married, Arthur! It was his concern for his cousin’s welfare. With everything that is good, Arthur! She is with child, your child!
    “I…” She stumbled over her words. “I steadfastly refused to acknowledge your misdeeds. I held to the Arthur I loved. He would never have deceived me in such a manner.”
    His brow furrowed; his eyes darkened. “I may have stretched the truth a little, but, be honest, Harriet, you did not press me or question me. You had to suspect that all was not as it seemed. We have been together for more than four months. Surely, you must have known if I could have married you, I would have done so.”
    “I trusted you,” she whispered. “I took you upon your word.”
    “Well you should. In all, my darling, I stated the truth. I love you and want you with me always. Have I not shown you how much I love you? Did I not find you? If not for me, you would still be there or worse.”
    “You told me we were to marry,” she uttered with the greatest difficulty. “Why would I question you?”
    “Now you know that would be an impossibility. Would it not? We could debate the issue, but it will not change the truth. You were cruelly thrust from my arms. I have remedied the situation the best I could. What, my love, do you have to complain? Have I not been by your side since I found you?”
    Her eyes welled with tears, but she could not take her eyes from his. She stared at him through cloudy eyes and shook her head. “Why would I not want to be with you, Arthur? We were to be married. I pledged my love to you. Wrote to you constantly . Only when I was told you were missing did I despair… but even through the pain of the thought of losing you, I clung to the hope you lived.
    “ Yes… yes… I may not fully comprehend the extremes that were taken to keep us apart… but I ask you why you did not search for me on your return? Instead—” She choked back tears. “Instead… not only did you break our engagement… Arthur, you married another within a couple of months of your return. Why… why did you not believe my words I swore to you on your departure that I would wait for you forever?”
    His expression altered. His eyes hardened. He reached over and jerked her to him , so close that she felt his breath upon her face. “I told you what happened. I thought you deserted me. A foolish mistake, but one I cannot undo. You are upset at the moment. Calm yourself.”
    “I cannot live this way, Arthur. You who know me better than anyone.”
    “And I told you it matters only that we have each other. Think, my dear, if you leave, where would you go? Back to Beebe Manor? I believe they have turned their backs upon you. Have you friends? After two years, I feel that there are few who would welcome you.”
    “My inheritance?”
    “It is no more. I have not told you all I discovered, as it was of little consequence. It is complicated at best, but it seems your money is no more. I don’t want you to worry, Harriet. Your needs will be met. I do not want to wound you more, Harriet.
    “I know you do not deserve the fate you have been dealt. If you leave me now, you will have no money, no family, no friends.”
    “My inheritance lost? How? What am I to do?” she uttered under her breath. Suddenly, desolation gripped her.