He dropped the subject and doubled down.
The remainder of the evening progressed in a similar fashion, and by the time Reed arrived back at Rutherford Place, he’d won a few hundred pounds and the eastern sky was a dull blue rather than black. Deep in his cups, disheveled and nearly incoherent, Reed, for the first time, found the services of his valet to be helpful.
“Just make sure I’m respectable by half past eight,” he tried not to slur his words as he informed the man.
“That’s less than three hours away, my lord.”
“Yes, well. I have an important meeting.” Reed winced. “With a lady.”
“Very well, my lord.”
And practically before Reed’s head hit the pillow, it seemed, he was being shaken awake. “Time for your bath, my lord.”
Oh, hell. Whiling away his time at the Emporium hadn’t been his most brilliant idea after all.
Goldie didn’t sleep much that night, either. Not because she was carousing, of course, but because she couldn’t quiet her thoughts.
She liked Reed very much. Yes, she’d considered herself in love with him last summer, but that had been naïve of her. She had watched him, but she’d not known him.
And she was under no misconception that if she accepted his proposal, her father would not only disown her, he’d forbid her from seeing her sister or mother. She’d have to find ways to meet with Nia in secret. And although her father didn’t seem to care that much about her, he was still her father.
Her family was far, far from perfect. But they were the only family she had.
They were… all she had.
Goldie flipped over to her other side and punched her pillow.
She was going to have a season, yes, but what if she didn’t like any of the men she met? What if none of them asked her to dance? What if, as her father had predicted hundreds of times, no one wanted her?
Reed had said he wanted her.
Her. She was the one he wanted to marry, he’d said.
It was a heady thought.
By morning, she’d changed her mind at least a dozen times, but ultimately, she knew what her answer must be.
One of the maids from downstairs delivered tea shortly after dawn, but by the time Goldie sat up in bed and went to drink it, it had gone cold. She winced and set it back down with a sigh.
If only Reed could court her publicly throughout the Season, get her father’s permission, and then propose. It would be so simple.
Such a scenario would be a dream come true.
Only her father would never allow it.
And Reed needed her answer now. It was as though he was laboring under some deadline—as though…
She shook her head.
It was as though he was afraid.
But he was an earl now! All he needed to do was show the people of the ton the sort of man he was, and the rumors would die down on their own. Wouldn’t they?
Because he was not at all like the other men in his family.
Her heart cracked at the thought. Poor, dear Reed. He’d lost so much in the past month. And she could help him.
But…
