The occasional wager and gambling win had kept him from having to fight off creditors at his door, but every day his situation became more desperate.
“Within reason, of course,” she replied placing the fire poker softly back in its stand.
“Of course.” He couldn’t help the slight lift of his lips. “That is very generous of you, Countess,” he said.
He watched her put a long finger to her chin in a thoughtful pose. “Is it? I suppose there are a great many wagers.” she remarked in a dismissive gesture.
It was all too evident to Oliver the countess was indeed deeply bothered by these wagers. There was something about her eyes, but in his state his perception could hardly be relied upon.
“There may be a few,” he lied. In actual fact he had no idea how many there were. There could be hundreds for all he knew, but the prospect of being able to claim them was immense.
“Can I depend on you, Lord Bellamy?” Her voice was strained, and she kept looking at the clock on the mantel as though if it were to chime midnight she would turn back into a pumpkin or perhaps… a black raven?
“Yes, of course,” he answered. If there was one thing he knew it was duty. Duty to his family name, his inheritance, his Kingand his country, and now, it seemed, to the Black Raven for whatever it may be worth.
“Then we are agreed? Good. You may go.” She dismissed him with a wave of her hand. “I shall send a messenger in the morning with our first appointments. Good night, Lord Bellamy.”
She looked once more at the mantel clock, collected a little book off the desk, and left him.
Oliver looked around him. Not feeling at all well.
Out in the hall her butler was waiting for him with his hat and his gloves. Oliver blinked. The old man was nearly smiling.
“Did that just happen?” he asked the butler as they made their way back to the front door.
“Yes, I believe it did, my lord,” was the butler’s only reply.
Chapter Two
The scandal sheetswere full of lies, half-truths, salacious rumors, and slander. For the first time in over two years Lisbeth was glad to see her name in print. Though the subject matter was distasteful to her, it had done what she had intended—brought her back to the lips of every member of theton.
Her plan was in motion.
“I expected much worse,” she said to Rollands as he hovered by her elbow in the breakfast room. “Lord Bellamy must have been very kind in his recitation of our meeting.”
Her butler’s tone was dry as he replied, “I expect he had half-forgotten it by the time he reached his cronies, my lady.”
“Oh,” she said. “I hadn’t thought of that. He wouldn’t have forgotten our agreement, do you think? In any case, I dare say he is feeling very unfavorable this morning. It is little more than he deserves, of course, but I admit I was a little harsh on him.”
“No harsher than necessary, I’m sure, madam.”
Lisbeth nodded at her butler and folded the paper. He immediately poured her some tea.
“Thank you, Rollands.”
He bowed and left the room. He had been here from the very start and had stood behind her throughout all the days, months, and years after. No thanks would ever be enough. She knew his loyalty was beyond reproach and she trusted him implicitly.
Lisbeth sighed and sipped her tea.
Alone again.
Even when Nathaniel had been alive she had been alone. His dedication to their courtship had been nothing but a dedication to her dowry. What a naïve, silly little fool she’d been then, believing in the fairy tale. A fairy tale which had so quickly turned into a nightmare.
She sipped her tea and closed her eyes a moment. Yet, even in these few moments memories assailed her. Flashing images passed behind her eyelids in quick painful succession, each frame of memory causing her to jolt and shudder in her seat. She felt every fist, every boot as they connected; his angry tirades hardly heard through ringing ears. Every cruel word he’d uttered was a scar upon her very soul.
She gasped, her lungs struggling for air, and opened her eyes as she looked around frantically.
Sun poured in from the windows. A cheerful flower arrangement displayed vibrant reds, yellows, and green. Her mother’s china graced her table, and in the distance she could hear the sound of the servants going about their business.
