He pulled her around to face him. She gasped at the dark look in his eyes.
“I was going to wait for a more private moment but now I am just going to ask you. Were you and my brother lovers?”
Lisbeth’s shocked confusion did not seem to give him the answer he wanted, for he said something under his breath before he scowled at her even darker.
She said, “Why would you think I knew your brother?”
“Because he knew you.”
“And when did he tell you this?”
“He didn’t.”
“Bellamy, I cannot be responsible for the imaginings of men.”
“Henry talked to my aunt about you… in detail it seems.”
So, the aunt was alive. Not completely alone then.“I can’t imagine why. I met him but once.”
“Only once?”
Her eyes grew huge with indignation and anger. “Yes, once! Why are you questioning me like I am somehow responsible for a wrong done to your brother?”
“Aren’t you? You and your husband both?”
“The speculation had nothing to do with me,” she replied.
“You were the sole benefactor of its collapse.”
“Benefactor? Benefactor! I got no benefit from that accursed speculation. It ruined my life.” Lisbeth walked off but Bellamy caught up to her in two strong strides.
“You are rich as Croesus. Do not tell me you did not benefit.”
“Financially, yes, but it was not my choice. I never even knew until the reading of the will. It has not given me one day of happiness I assure you.”
“Why didn’t you give the investors back their money?”
“Oh, if only it had been that simple. There were… legal reasons but I am not about to discuss them with you.” Tired, sad, and sick to her stomach she began to walk off. Bellamy appeared in front of her. Damn his long legs.
“Henry was my brother. For some unfathomable reason he gambled the family’s money on a speculation. A speculation that didn’t exist. I have every right to know why he’d be fool enough to do such a thing.”
“Gambled is the word, Bellamy. And you have no right to question me. However, if you can produce the paperwork that states how much money he put into the speculation, I will gladly refund the debt.”
She watched him as hope flared in his eyes. It made this whole night even more depressing because she knew no such paperwork existed. He would no doubt turn his house upside down looking for it—all for nothing.
Lisbeth signaled a footman, handed him a glass of wine, and picked up her own. “Here is to finding the un-findable.” She clinked her glass to his.
Bellamy watched her for a moment, a small crease between his brows. She knew exactly when understanding dawned on him because his shoulders slumped a little and his lovely eyes seemed to dim. She wanted to say she was sorry, sorry for everything, but what difference would it make? It would not bring back his brother, nor put his family finances back in place. It would not help anyone, least of all herself. Yes, she too was looking for the seemingly un-findable—the truth.
Chapter Eight
Oliver always thoughtof himself as a man who could handle any situation with tact and decorum. Now he knew better, and it was not better, it was worse, so much worse than he could ever have anticipated.
Women, he decided, were the most infuriating creatures. The Countess of Blackhurst the most infuriating of all.
Rollands, Lady Blackhurst’s butler, had kept every card that had ever entered her house if the collection which had been scattered across the dining room table earlier this evening was anything to go by. Quite a useful hoarder was Rollands. However, seeing his brother’s card among the pile made Oliver realize Henry was only one of many who’d been deceived by the Earl of Blackhurst. Sir John Selbourne was one such gentleman. His card had aroused suspicion due to its cryptic note on the back—a hefty amount followed by the words, I’m interested.
“Tell me again why you have dragged me from the ball below and lured me into Sir John’s bedchamber?” Oliver said from under an ornate writing desk in said bedchamber.
