“All my life, I’ve been told about what could have been. What should have been. From my grandmother, my mother, and even my father. They were so sure of their futures, so determined to get what they thought they deserved and when it came up lacking, in their eyes, they turned wretched and jaded. Nothing was ever good enough, because to them, they deserved better. Or rather not better, just more.” She shook her head. “I’ve only ever been grateful, for my life and situation and for my sister especially. She is much like me, in that she’s never demandedanything, yet she deserves so much.” Louisa smiled sadly. “She is the most important person in my life and all she wants is to fall in love and be married. If I could manage that for her, I think, I would be content for the rest of my life, knowing that she was happy.”
For a long moment, neither spoke, as Louisa’s words melted into the atmosphere.
“A poor woman with a good soul is worth her weight in gold,” he whispered, more to himself than to her.
“Excuse me?”
He looked at her.
“Rhys. My name is Rhys James Carlyle.”
“Lieutenant Carlyle—”
“Rhys.”
Trepidation clawed its way up Louisa’s spine.
“Sir, if I call you that, I’m afraid what it might mean,” she said looking down.
To her terror, the man’s shiny black boots entered her vision, and she looked up to see him closer than before.
“I can’t know what you’re saying if you don’t look directly at me,” he said, his tone tinged with shame.
It made her heart hurt.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she started. “I just said, if I were to call you by your given name, I’m afraid what that might mean.”
“It would mean that we have found ourselves in a predicament that is not easily undone. Louisa, you’ve stated that your only hope is to see your sister happy. Is that correct?” She nodded. “Unfortunately, with the entirety of the ton knowing that you were here tonight and that you were wagered off in a game for marriage, well, it would make it difficult to come out of this situation with your reputation intact. In fact, I daresay that if we don’t marry, you will become a social pariah, as will your sister.”
“But… But surely you cannot want this.”
“What I want isn’t relevant anymore. The die’s been cast, and this is the reality of the situation. We can either marry and weather the small gossip that will undoubtedly be written about us over the next few weeks, or we could separate. However, your name will be dragged through the mud. An unmarried young lady in a gaming hell? Particularly the Lyon’s Den?” He shook his head. “You’ll be cast out of society, and your sister will not fare much better.”
Louisa only stared at him, horrified at the truth he spoke. What had she done in coming here?
“But… We don’t even know one another.”
“Then I suppose we should get to know each other,” he said firmly. “Because I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do to undo this. But I can assure you that we can make the best of it.”
She tilted her head.
“How so?”
“We will be coconspirators, I suppose. I’ll help you with your sister, and you’ll help me.”
“How will I help you?”
“By showing the world that I’m not a broken-down soldier who can’t hear when someone is coming up behind me,” he said with a sad smirk. “I’ve garnered a reputation for being hostile in polite company, but it’s difficult when you can only hear half of what’s been said.”
“I can imagine that might be difficult.”
“The reality of it is that I’m not good in crowds and company. Particularly when I’m the focus of the topic. It makes me uncomfortable.”
“Oh.”
“As long as there’s not some secret beau you’ve promised yourself to—”
“Oh goodness no,” Louisa laughed. “I never, well… No.”
