“Where do you get that stuff?” He tilted his chin toward the bag where she’d stashed the liquor.

“Some boys over in Hell’s Kitchen. Any other questions before I go downstairs to say hello to Mrs. Henry?”

“Yes. Why did you call me an idiot when you first walked in?”

“Because you’re letting Alice marry the duke.”

His jaw fell open. “I am not letting her do anything. If she chooses to marry Lockwood, then that is her decision.”

“Kit. She is in love with you. Unfortunately, you won’t marry her, so what other choice has she?”

“I never lied to her. I never made promises or whispered sweet nothings in her ear.”

“Bully for you. Tell me, how many of the women you’ve slept with over the years came to the funeral today to hold your hand?”

His brows shot up. “How did you know?”

“You’d be surprised at what I know. And that is not an answer.”

“None.”

“Exactly. And how many other women came to your rescue and cooked a five-course dinner for fifty people?” She paused but he didn’t bother answering because the question was clearly rhetorical. “You think this devil-may-care, I-cannot-be-tied-down attitude is appealing, but I’ll tell you the truth. It’s not. Because we all know what this façade is hiding: fear.”

Irritation swept over him like a rash. “What about you? You are unmarried and flout society every chance you get. How am I any different?”

She rolled her eyes. “I am a woman. Marriage is a death sentence for me, not salvation. You’re a man. You get everything upon marriage—a constant bed partner, money, property, someone to feed you and look after you. Worse, you already have a loving, caring, wonderful woman who would trade anything to marry you, and you are too selfish to see it.”

“I am not afraid of marrying Alice.”

Smirking, she relaxed in the chair. “Tell me, then. Why won’t you marry her? Because I know you are wild about her.”

“I didn’t even know until today that she was interested in marrying me.”

“Again, not an answer—and I am skeptical that it’s never crossed your mind before. But let’s not quibble. Why won’t you marry her?”

This conversation was making his head hurt worse. “Fine. Let’s see. First off, I am opening a supper club, which is hardly a respectable business. Her parents would never approve.”

“Sounds like you are afraid that her parents would refuse your suit. What’s next?”

He gritted his teeth. “With my lack of standing in society, any wife of mine would practically be an outcast.”

“So you’re afraid the mean old matrons of Fifth Avenue will hurt your wife’s feelings?”

“I am beginning to truly regret opening the door to you today.”