Portia saw that he was completely serious. She looked to her cousin, and put a threat in it. “Nerissa?”
Nerissa appeared entirely at ease. “You must marry him, Portia. If you make your bet and lose, you must pay.”
At this echo of Bryght’s words, Portia wanted to kill somebody, preferable herself. Why on earth had she let herself be tricked into wagering?
Twice!
Nerissa was a gamester, too, and was coolly calling Portia’s bluff. Portia found she could not betray her cousin. She was not sure it would improve her own case, nor was she sure she would be believed. If he chose to, Lord Trelyn could see the story as mere spite.
Portia took a new tack. “Lord Trelyn, I am very sorry to have brought embarrassment to your house. I will, of course, leave immediately.”
The earl’s lips thinned. “I cannot possibly allow you to wander London penniless, Cousin.”
“You are too kind, my lord, but I am not penniless.”
He raised his thin brows. “You refer perhaps to some money you had in a pouch in your drawer? It is a little foolish to keep such a sum where it is temptation to the servants. I have put it in my safe.”
A flutter of panic started in Portia’s chest. “Then I must ask you to return it, my lord.”
“I will give it into your husband’s charge in a few days time.”
“That’sthievery!”
Color touched his cheeks “You are intemperate! It is my duty to take care of such matters for you.”
“You havenoduty to me, my lord. I will return to my rooms in Dresden Street. We have paid for heat and food, so I can survive there until my brother returns.Heis the head of my family and will speak to you on this matter.”
“Portia, you are being most ungrateful!” chided Nerissa. “Trelyn is only arranging matters for your advantage, and in return you are upbraiding him. If you leave here, people will say we threw you out because of your scandalous behavior.”
“I will tell them otherwise,” Portia protested.
Lord Trelyn said, “I fear you do not move in circles where your words would carry weight, Cousin Portia. I cannot allow such foolishness. Until your brother returns, you must stay under my protection. I will send a message to your landlady asking that she inform us as soon as Sir Oliver returns to London, and to ensure that she does not encourage you in this madness.”
Portia could have protested further—she could have threatened them with the law—but she sensed the noose of power and influence tightening around her.
Dry mouthed, she stated, “You are keeping me prisoner.”
“Cousin!” exclaimed Lord Trelyn angrily. “How can you think such a thing? It is my duty to ensure your safety, that is all. You have not been in London long enough to realize how full of hazards it is.”
Considering her few days in London, Portia thought that hilarious.
“Persist in this,” he added sharply, “and I will begin to think that the shock of your situation has turned your wits.”
Any temptation to find this funny fled. He was threatening her with the madhouse.
“Come, come,” he said more moderately. “A little thought will show you that it is not so bad. You will have as pretty a wedding as we can arrange in short-order—Lady Trelyn assures me that a beautiful gown will be ready in time—and you will soon be part of one of our greatest families. In the meantime, no more talk of imprisonment, please. You may leave the house whenever you wish. I only insist that you do so properly accompanied for your safety.”
Portia looked between her two persecutors, then turned on her heel and left. In the hall she stopped and sucked in a deep breath, fighting panic. She must keep her wits clear.
They could not force her into marriage, not in this day and age. They could not!
Seeing a footman eying her curiously, she hurried up to the sanctuary of her room. Just in case, she checked her drawers, but Lord Trelyn had been telling the truth. Her money was gone.
So, she could not return to Dresden Street, and she could not pay for a coach seat to Dorset. She wouldn’t panic. Oliver would be back soon, or if necessary she could escape and flee to Fort. He would put a stop to this.
She began to calm and settled to trying to understand the motives of the Trelyns. Lord Trelyn was so able to appear noble and virtuous that she could almost believe he had her best interests in mind. She could not believe that of Nerissa. Was she just humoring her husband, or had she more underhanded motives?
With the briefest tap, Nerissa came in smiling. “How clever of you to trap Bryght, my dear.”
