The Sweetest Kiss (Brothers of Worthington Series) (36 page)

“Do you?”
Nic
rebutted.

“No. But why else…” Trey shook his head. “Why don’t you think she wrote this?”

Nic
motioned the upstairs maid to come forward. When she stood in front of Trey, she curtsied.

“My lord, not too long ago I saw Miss Faraday outside by the gazebo. I looked away for a moment, and when I looked back, she had a blanket wrapped around her and was being dragged by a man wearing dark clothes.”

A different emotion washed over Trey and he straightened. “Someone was forcing her to leave?”

“Yes, my lord.”

He almost cried with relief. How foolish he’d been to jump to conclusions about her. Why hadn’t he put his trust in her love as he should have? She did love him, and he must believe it.

When he thought of her being forced from the estate, anger surged through him again. He looked at Nic. “Mr. Cutler has taken her.”

Hawthorne nodded. “That’s who I thought it might be, as well.”

Trey shook the paper in his hand. “This was probably written by the man himself.” He glanced at the writing again, realizing it didn’t appear feminine at all. Judith’s handwriting would have been precise. Perfect. Just like her.

He glanced back at the maid. “Did you see where he was taking her?”

“No, my lord.
By the time I found somebody to tell, they had left the estate.”

Trey held his pounding head in his hands as he paced the floor. Where would that man have taken her?

“Trey?”

He stopped and faced Nic. “What?”

“Mr. Cutler knew about Judith’s inheritance. I have no doubt.”

Trey nodded as he squeezed his eyes closed. “I believe you are right.”

“Being the calculated, underhanded man Mr. Cutler is
,
there’s only one place he would have taken her.”

Trey snapped his attention to
Nic
as they both said the same thing.

“Gretna Green.”

A few times during the ride, Judith had fallen asleep. Alex had taken off the horse’s blanket and they moved to a different vehicle. Now the coach they rode in was covered as a driver took them toward the inn.

She’d cried all of her tears. Exhaustion wouldn’t let her shed anymore. Weary, she could hardly hold herself upright, and slumped against the corner of the conveyance as it jerked her body to and fro.

Alex talked to her, but she didn’t listen. She couldn’t. Not when her heart ached to have Trey come to her rescue and all she wanted to hear was his voice. That wouldn’t happen. Alex told her about the letter he’d written for Trey to read after they’d left. He would believe she was out of his life for good. He hadn’t wanted to believe in love. Now he would close his heart to love once more.

She had no other choice but to marry Alex. If she didn’t, he’d kill Trey. She loved Trey too much to have him die for her. It was Tristan and Lady Diana’s story all over again.

The coach slowed, which made Alex peek out the window. Night was upon them, and she doubted he could see anything, but when he sat back in the seat and smiled wide, she knew he had. They must be at the inn.

Releasing a defeated sigh, she closed her eyes. Could she convince Alex that marrying her was wrong? She didn’t love him, and she’d repeatedly told him. So why was he continuing this?

My inheritance.

He must know about the money.

The conveyance stopped and the driver opened the door. Alex jumped down, turned and offered his hand. Ignoring his help, she pushed his hand aside and climbed out by herself.

The inn was small. Not at all what she’d expected, but there was a large barn out back to keep the horses. From where she stood, it didn’t appear to be full since there weren’t any carriages waiting nearby.
Just her misfortune.
She may not find anyone to help her get away.

He grabbed her hand and hooked it around his elbow. Holding himself straight, he strolled toward the building. She rolled her eyes. He’d always wanted to be a gentleman. Too bad he’d never achieve that goal.

He ushered them inside and paid for their lodging. Bile rose in her throat. They were going to share a room. If he tried to touch her, she’d fight him every second.

While Alex talked with the man at the desk, she blocked out what they said and scanned the room, searching for a way out. If given the chance, she’d run. Where would she go? She was in the middle of nowhere.
And at night.
No, she couldn’t escape now. Morning would be the best time.

Morning may be too late.

Worn out tables and rickety chairs filled the nearly empty area. A few people loitered in the dining area, not paying attention to anything but their mug of ale in front of them.

In the corner, a lone man slumped against the wall. His gaze rested on her. A long dirty brown beard hung from his face, the same color of his long, matted hair. His ragged clothes looked as if they could stand on their own. Shivers of disgust crawled over her skin. By his unkempt appearance, she assumed he was not somebody she could trust. He, too, had a mug sitting in front of him on the table.

When Alex started walking, she pulled her attention away from the man in the corner and followed beside Alex. Perhaps it was a good idea to stay close to him no matter how much she loathed his presence.

Alex found a table for them. Her weak legs didn’t want to move, so she plopped on the chair. It also didn’t matter how sticky the table, because she rested her elbows on the top so she could hold up her head with her hands.

“When will the room be ready?” Her voice was low, mainly because she didn’t have much strength to speak.

He glared at her. “Did you not hear anything while I talked to the owner of the inn?”

“No.”

“He said our room would not be ready for another hour.”

She groaned and covered her face with her hands. “I will probably fall asleep way before then. Wake me when they are ready.”

He leaned across and grasped her arm. Pain shot up from her wrist and she cried out.

“You are not going to fall asleep. We are supposed to appear like a couple in
love
, and you are going to act like the proper fiancée.”

She glared back. “If you wanted a responsive woman, you should have kidnapped someone else.”

“Lower your voice,” he snapped, tightening his grip.

“You are hurting me.”

“Act accordingly, and I won’t have to.”

When he released her, she rubbed the bruise forming on her arm. Across the room, she noticed a movement. The man in the corner had straightened in his chair. His eyes stayed on her, but appeared more alert. A strange sensation swept over her. His features looked hard, his eyes narrowed and lips thinned as he gazed her way. Her heart beat wildly. She hoped she wouldn’t have to fight off two men tonight.

She glanced back at Alex. He drummed his fingers on the table as he lustfully eyed one of the barmaids who walked past.

Judith groaned. “Alex, can you answer some questions for me now?”

His head swung back toward her and he smiled.
“Anything, my dear.”

“Why did you lie to me?”

“Pardon?”

“While we were secretly courting, you told me you were in the Royal Navy. That was a lie, was it not?”

He shrugged. “I suppose it was a little white lie.”

“Little?” She arched a brow. “I would not call your lie little. Did you know the navy can press charges against you for wrongly impersonating an officer?”

He flipped his hand through the air. “That’s rubbish.”

“And what about
your
other crimes?”

“I don’t have any others.”

She shook her head. “You think you are invincible?
How pathetic.”

Once again, he reached across the table and gripped her wrist. This time she didn’t cry out, but the pain still shot up her arm.

“What other crimes are you referring to?” His voice deepened with a warning.

“Alex, when you steal from people, you are going to get punished.”

“I have not stolen anything.”

“Indeed? Then what about the three widows you had a torrid affair with this last year?”

He released her hand and pulled away, his eyes widened. “How do you know about them?”

“Lord Trey had his solicitor investigate you. Apparently, you stole money from these women. They, too, are going to press charges.”

He sneered. “As I have mentioned before, I have not stolen anything.”

“Then why do they say differently?”

“They are probably heart-broken 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 heart-broken. 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 not intentions of stealing their money, why would you not use you 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 cheek, 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.”

“Oh, 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.”

Pieces began fitting together in her mind. He knew they were wealthy. He knew when they died. When her parents’ carriage accident was investigated, the police told her it was a terrible mishap, but in the back of her mind, she doubted.

“Oh, no…” she said slowly. “You killed them, didn’t you?”