“Wasn’t sure we ought to come to your rescue,” Chase leaned forward to adjust his seat. “Figured you’d fulfill the terms of the wager easily enough if you were caught. She couldn’t exactly refuse you if she’d been compromised.”
Last night had not been the first time they’d had to rescue one of their gang from a determined chaperone or mother. Normally, however, it was to prevent any of them from taking on an unwanted lifelong leg shackle.
But Jules would not compromise Charley into marriage. He’d have her shackled to him willingly.
It was only a matter of time.
“I’m glad you did,” he responded.
“What of Lord Brightly?” It was Greys, of course, who would suggest yet another conversation Jules needed to have. “Best clear matters with him before he suspects something.”
Stone soothed his horse as it pranced to the side but then caught Jules’ eye. “I’m inclined to agree with Greys. Brightly not only alluded to your two families uniting in marriage but commented several times that he’d become impatient for the announcement.”
Jules tightened his jaw, but then forced himself to relax, knowing Hercules would absorb his stress through his seat. He’d initially accepted the bet believing there was no way he could lose. But had he already been hoping for a way out of everyone’s expectations? It wasn’t that he didn’t care for Felicity. She was pretty and kind and sweet. He cared for her a great deal and had hoped that over the years his feelings might change as both of them grew older.
They hadn’t. She was too much like a sister to him.
Jules recalled a few of the comments Brightly had made to him recently regarding meeting together to discuss important matters. The earl was growing impatient and Jules had known this moment was coming.
Thank God he hadn’t signed anything yet, or even agreed verbally to their understanding.
Feeling an urgency to tie up these complications so that he could openly court Charley, he turned his horse back toward the manner. “Now is as good a time as any.” He also needed to do something about the Crabtree woman before she set to harassing Charley again.
“Go ahead without us.” Mantis waved him away. “I’m sure any of us will be happy to serve as your second if Brightly insists upon restoring his daughter’s honor over pistols.”
Jules sent Mantis a scowl “Very funny.” But it wasn’t.
“Sure it is.” Mantis wasn’t one to dance around Jules’ feelings though and simply shrugged.
In answer, Jules jerked his neck to the side, enjoying the satisfying crack and Grey’s resulting wince.
“Noon?” Jules would confirm the plans he’d made with them earlier before taking his leave.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Chase supplied for all of them.
Blasted irreverent reprobates.
A half an hour later, Jules rubbed the smooth side of his jaw and then angled his head so that his valet could slide the blade just as easily along the other side. He’d decided it would be best that he didn’t smell of horses when meeting with his mother, Lord Brightly, and then Felicity.
“Did you ever think to marry?” he mused aloud to his valet going on three years now, Mr. Robbins.
Robbins hesitated for a fraction of a second and then expertly drew the blade through the lather. “I was married.”
“You never told me that, Robbins. Seems a man ought to know such information about the person who holds a blade to his throat daily.”
“You never asked, my lord.” Robbins rinsed the knife in the basin beside him and tipped Jules head back a few more inches. “For twelve years.”
“Might I ask about it now?” Jules kept his eyes closed, perfectly relaxed. Without his own father to turn to, Jules would glean any information he could from another gentleman who’d experienced the marital state.
“You may, My Lord.”
“Did you love her?”
“More than life itself,” Mr. Robbins said, sounding as stoic as ever.
His valet was good at that. He could give Greys a run for his money when it came to arrogant indifference. “I didn’t think I could go on after she passed. She died when our coach overturned on the road to Brighten the summer of twenty-two.”
“But you did. Go on, that is.”
