Part 45 (1/2)

fear of sweat. None of you have such things to fear, of course.

All you need worry about is having someone else control the

purse strings. If that is no matter to you, then so be it. I shall,

sooner or later, find ladies willing to pay to keep what is theirs.

And your examples shall prove a better advertis.e.m.e.nt than a

notice taken out in The Gentleman's Magazine.”

Lady Caroline stood upon what I supposed to be unsteady

legs. ”I know not if this is trickery or truth, but either way, you

are a scoundrel for bringing these threats to people you once

counted as your friends.”

”My friends who spurned me because I had not the money

they believed,” I countered.

”Your friends who spurned you because you lied to them,”

she said, her lovely face now turning red with anger. ”And if I had told the truth, they would not have been my

friends at all,” I said. ”You cared for me, Lady Caroline, and I for

you.Yes, I own I was first drawn to your circle because I wanted

money, but within that circle, I was drawn to you because of who

you are.The belief that I had money made me a member of your

set, but it did not change how you felt. I honor you too much

to believe you would have loved me half as much if I had claimed

to have half my fortune, or twice as much if I had doubled it.

You cannot be so shallow. I cannot allow it possible.” Lady Caroline's eyes narrowed. ”Whatever I felt for you was

an illusion fed by your lies. And now you come here to extort