“I’m not sure. Trelyn is preaching propriety and insisting on marriage. I think he’s three parts honest. The other part is a desire to see me married and thus less likely to rut with his wife.”
“What an optimistic view of marriage, to be sure.”
That made Bryght laugh again. “I think his optimistic view of marriage is a little dented, but he doesn’t yet realize the full truth. It’s not my business to enlighten him.”
“Assuredly not. So, he is insisting on marriage. You wish to marry. The lady is enthusiastic. Where is the problem?”
“The lady is not enthusiastic. She was not exactly enthusiastic last night, and now she’s as keen as someone invited to sleep the night in a plague house.”
Rothgar leaned back. “Bryght, I will not assist you to capture an unwilling bride.”
“I would hope not. I offered her escape and she refused it. I don’t know what the hell’s going on.” He rose to pace the room. “I tricked her into that kiss last night, Bey, but nothing will persuade me she didn’t enjoy it.”
“Perhaps you should tell me all about your bride-to-be.”
There was nothing Bryght wanted less, other than to hurt Portia. He sat down and complied, but left out everything about the brothel.
“So,” said Rothgar at the end, “her brother is ruined, and has possibly fled abroad, and she doubtless holds you to blame.”
“Me? Why?”
Rothgar shook his head. “You let him win. That was remarkably foolish. You should have fleeced him thoroughly, let him sweat for a few days, then torn up his notes.”
Bryght rolled his head back. “Damnation, so I should. I didn’t know then how deep in he was.”
“And of course, after two such unfortunate experiences of gaming—both father and brother—Miss St. Claire cannot feel easy about linking her life to an inveterate gamester.”
“Me? I’m no such thing.”
“To her, you doubtless are. My suggestion is that you explain the truth—that you are not a slave to Chance, and are willing to give up the tables forever.”
“I’m sure her brother promised that too,” said Bryght, but he was hedging.
“A little of your recent history might convince her. I doubt you’d played more than a sociable game of whist in years until you involved yourself in Bridgewater’s affairs.”
But Bryght couldn’t give up the tables just yet—not if he was to keep Bridgewater afloat and cover Upcott’s debt. He had no intention of telling Rothgar that, however, for then his brother would offer funds from his own fortune. “I doubt she’d be so easily convinced,” he said. “She is not rational on the subject. No, I think I should withdraw my offer. If the Trelyns are forcing her, that will block them. If she can be convinced I am of the angels, we can achieve a new agreement over time.”
“It will look peculiar.”
“To the devil with how it looks. Even at the worst interpretation, there is no need of such a hasty wedding, and Lady Willoughby can attest to that. If the Trelyns make trouble, I have the means to deal with them. I do not want to watch Portia walk down the aisle toward me with that dread on her face.”
Rothgar studied Bryght thoughtfully as the clock ticked and a coal tumbled in the grate. Then he rose and went to his desk. He took a small stack of letters from a drawer and handed them to Bryght.
Bryght looked at them in surprise. They were all addressed to him, the papers were of many shades, and a distressing ferment of perfumes wafted from them. “What the devil…?”
“Your post. If Miss St. Claire does not find you to her taste, it does not seem to be the common opinion.”
Bryght ripped open a nasty-looking purple missive drenched with oil of lavender. It was a frankly lewd invitation to disport himself with a lady calling herself Sybella, and naming the time and place.
He threw it, and the rest of them unopened, on the fire then faced his brother. “What do you know?”
“It is all over the clubs that you have dedicated yourself to public education.”
“So few men have panache in these matters.”
“How true. But to pay six hundred guineas for the honor of demonstrating the art seems quixotic at the least.”
Bryght tapped a finger on the arm of his chair. “It was a wager and I won.”
