Bryght could not imagine how he had missed Zeno’s enthusiasm for this meeting. He was growing positively muddle-headed, and now he had a problem. Bryght would have given a great deal not to have Rothgar involved in this, but there was no avoiding it now.
“Just a debt to be paid.” He went to a safe and unlocked it to take out a bag of money. He counted out four hundred and twenty guineas and put them into two separate pouches. It was, unfortunately, a startlingly large amount of money.
“Saints preserve us,” said Rothgar mildly. “Do you mean you are losing?”
“No, actually, I won.” Bryght told Zeno to stay, spun on his heel and went to give the pouches to the servants along with directions.
He paused then, tempted to go upstairs. He was in no fit state to handle his brother, but delaying a discussion with Rothgar would just increase his brother’s curiosity.
Though Bryght was the second son, six years separated them. It was not a great age difference now they were men, but it encompassed more than years.
Bryght’s early years had been idyllic, but Rothgar’s had been marred by his mother’s madness and her murder of her second child. Years later, the death of Bryght’s parents had brought grief into an otherwise carefree boyhood, but it had been even worse for Rothgar. At nineteen, he had become responsible not only for the marquessate but for five young half-siblings.
Rothgar had his own reasons for being strongly protective of his family, and Bryght his own reasons for resisting it. Since they were close in age, the paternalism had never been as strong between them, but it was there. Bryght knew that Rothgar let nothing to do with his family escape his notice.
At times it was a damnable nuisance.
There was no choice, however. He headed back to the offices.
Chapter 11
Portia returned to her rooms in a coach with two of Mirabelle’s hefty servants in attendance. They were disconcertingly proper, and even came in with her in case Mick was still there.
There was only Oliver, tied, gagged, and bound.
The men would have untied him, but Portia sent them away, wanting to get rid everything to do with tonight’s events. Then she ran to get a knife and free her brother. As soon as his mouth was free he choked out, “Portia, my God! I’m so sorry!”
“It’s all right.” She sawed at the rope around his wrists. “It’s all right. Nothing terrible happened.”
He rubbed the rope marks. “But Cuthbertson?”
She was freeing his feet. “Has been paid.” She decided impulsively not to tell him the whole. “Bryght Malloren saved me. He bought me.”
He grabbed her shoulders. “And nothing happened?”
She smiled through tears. “Nothing happened.”
He hugged her close. “Oh, thank God! I’ve been desperate. I was imagining…. Portia, I swear, I swear, I will not play again.”
She pushed back to look at him. “I’ve heard that before, I think.”
He was sober and serious. “This time I mean it. I’ve come to my senses. It’s not that I love gaming so much anymore. But I kept thinking I could find an easy solution to my problem, have everything back just as it was. But I can’t. I’ve made a mess, and we’ll all have to live with it, but I won’t make it worse again.”
Portia kissed him, for at last he did seem resolute. “Then perhaps tonight was worth it. And, Oliver, Fort is here. He…” she went hot, “…he was there. At Mirabelle’s.”
“Does he know?” His voice wavered a bit.
Portia grimaced. “I think so. He tried to buy me, too, presumably with the same intent as Bryght.”
Oliver sank his head in his hands. “He’ll flay me….” But then he stood and stretched his stiffened limbs. “Oh well, another bullet to bite. I deserve it. I think it would be best if I go now.”
“Go to Fort? It’s midnight.”
“Early hours in town, love, and I’d rather get it over with. I doubt I can sleep after all this. If he’s not in yet, I’ll wait until he comes home. I want this settled so we can get you safe back to Overstead.”
She shared that wish. “I’m sure Fort will give you the loan, and then we’ll be able to leave tomorrow.”
She suddenly remembered the twelve hundred guineas. She couldn’t see how to tell Oliver about it without revealing more about tonight than she wished. Surely Fort would give Oliver the whole loan, and then later she’d explain the money somehow and pay off part of the debt.
