Page 91 of The Truth Serum
No, no, no!
“I can manage my own life,” she said.
He exhaled a long-suffering sigh. “I know you believe that—”
Truth.
“—but I know what is best for you. I knowwhois best for you.”
Lie.
“Who?” she asked, the pain in her heart keeping her words short.
“The baron.”
“No—” The denial came up swiftly.
“Yes, my dear. I know now why he acted so strangely. It was you. You dosed him.” He tapped a finger on her nose. “Don’t try to deny it. He told me all about it. And Missy told me where she’d bought it.”
All of that rang true.
“The baron wants you. He loves you.”
Truth.That startled her. The baron didn’t know her well enough to love her.
“Is it hot in here?” she asked, waving a hand in front of her face.
“You must allow the baron to make things up to you. You must let him show his love.”
Truth again.
It took her some time to realize that it was Fletcher’s truth. He believed the baron loved her.
“You don’t understand love, do you?” she said. “Love is wanting the best for someone.”
“He does!”
Lie.
“Fletcher why are you like this? Why do you want me to marry the baron. The truth this time.”
“He is the best for you.”
She really focused on his words. She opened herself up to the serum, understanding now that it showed her the truth or lie in other people’s words. Which meant that Fletcher believed the words he was saying.
“You mean,” she said slowly, “that he is the best for you.” Not her. For Fletcher. “He has offered the best inducement to you. What is it?”
“Oh, you know,” her brother said. “He will help the family.”
Lie.
“He will help you, you mean. But how?” she pressed.
“Am I not your family? Don’t I deserve something too?”
And that was when she heard it. A petulant child beneath all his bluster and demands. A little boy who wanted so much.
“What do you want?” she asked.
