“It’s what women do. They lure a man in and then they set their trap. My mother, my sister, my wife. They all gained their husbands through deception. Why should you be any different, especially when you were groomed your whole life for the role?”

“This is not what I wanted. How can you possibly believe—”

“Because I know the most innocent of women can be conniving in order to gain what they want. But you fooled me into believing you were different. You won me over, heart and soul. I am completely besotted. I didn’t want you to open your shop because I was going to take you off somewhere and ask you to marry me.”

With a gasp, she fell to her knees. “No.”

“Would that have been your answer because you wanted your title more than you wanted me?”

Additional tears fell. She was trembling. He wanted to take her in his arms and comfort her. More fool was he.

“Matthew, I love you, but you must see that I can’t marry you. My marrying Beresford would be a dream come true for my family. Do you really want to marry a woman of scandal, a woman who was caught alone with another man? Even though you and I weren’t married at the time, it will still follow me, follow you. Your business associates, whoever they are, what if they hear of it? How will that reflect on you?”

Her words were a cudgel hitting against his chest. He’d never wanted anything more than he’d wanted her heart. He knew he would never love anyone to the extent he loved her. But once more he’d misjudged the honor of a woman. He edged past her without touching her. “Just get the hell out.”

He didn’t wait for her to leave but headed down the stairs to begin preparing to get the hell out himself. He was more than ready to return to his residence in Mayfair and to leave Miss Fancy Trewlove and his heart behind.

Chapter 24

With her undergarments bundled in her arms, the lacings on her gown undone, and tears streaming down her face, Fancy ran to her shop, not caring if anyone spotted her. Her heart was breaking. She’d found the love for which she’d always dreamed, only to lose it because of an error in judgment. And Matthew blamed her, believed she’d tricked Beresford.

How could he think that of her? After all they’d shared, all they’d confided in each other, how could he believe the worst of her?

When he strode from the room, her damned pride had refused to allow her to chase after him. She should not have to explain herself. He should know that she was the one tricked.