Lucas stopped touching the pink ribbon. He turned and faced her fully. The fake, mocking smile vanished from his face, replaced by a look of cold, calculating intelligence.
"Because I do not trust you," Lucas replied bluntly. "I have known you for twenty years, Delaney. You are quiet, but you are not stupid. You are entirely too willing to marry a monster like Lord Hawksley. You might be planning something to escape, and I will absolutely not let you ruin my plans."
He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Lord Hawksley has given his butler the remaining payment for your delivery," Lucas explained, his voice filled with pure, selfish greed. "It is a massive amount of gold. A true fortune. And since my father will not be here to take it, I will take it on his behalf."
Delaney frowned slightly. She looked at him with genuine, deep confusion. She knew Lucas was a psychopath, but the sheer coldness of his logic was staggering.
