“Oh, he is an infuriating person!” Brina exclaimed as she shut the door and spun toward her friends. “He was the first time I met him, and still is. It would serve him right if I called his bluff and—” Brina caught herself and stopped mid-sentence.
She didn’t miss thelookthat passed between Adeline and Julia, so she quickly fell silent.
“What bluff would that be?” Adeline asked, regarding her with more than casual interest while untying her bonnet and lifting if off her golden-brown hair. “And why specifically is Lord Blacknight infuriating?”
“Yes,” Julia agreed, removing her gloves, but not taking her gaze off Brina’s either. “As one of your dearest friends, there’s much I’d like to know right now. Starting with when did you meet him the first time? Why was he here now?”
“I’ve heard about Zane Browning’s exploits—I meanthe earl’s,” Adeline corrected herself. “Most of them from family members grumbling about something he has or hasn’t done to upset them all. And, it’s odd, but I don’t remember ever meeting him. Since he acted as if we had met, I went along.”
“I do recall being introduced to him some time ago,” Julia offered. “He’s such a dashing scoundrel and so aloof concerning the ton and everyone else from what I’ve heard. Who could forget him?”
Who indeed! Brina thought.
Adeline unfastened her cape. “You need to toss all your flowers onto the table and let us know exactly what’s going on between you two.”
While they were talking, Brina’s gaze kept sweeping from one friend to the other. She needed to buy herself some time to digest her discussion with Blacknight before she tried to explain it to anyone, including herself.
“Wait,” Brina said. “First things first. Where are your sons? You know I want you to always bring Chatwyn and Paston with you?”
“Sorry, but I couldn’t bring Chatwyn to Adeline’s this time,” Julia said, brushing a strand of her chestnut-colored hair behind her ear. “It’s Lyon’s card club day and Garrett was coming over to play with them. A five-year-old wouldn’t mix well with men intent on their pastime. I promise to bring him soon.”
It was always a disappointment not to see their boys, but Brina only said, “All right. Next time. I asked you both over to discuss something I want to do for the girls. Come into the drawing room. Mrs. Lawton will bring in tea.”
“We can resolve this issue quickly,” Julia said. “Whatever you want to do for the girls, we’re fine with it. So, that’s settled. We’re not going anywhere until we knowwhat’s going on with you and the most talked about man in London right now.”
Brina rolled her shoulders absently. “I really don’t want to talk about Lord Blacknight. He doesn’t deserve a moment of our time. We have more important things to discuss.”
“No, Brina. There is nothing more important than the black sheep of the Blacknight family being at your house with his nose not much more than an inch from yours.”
“Right,” Adeline added firmly. “Tell us now.”
“He wasn’t that close.” Was he? Brina let out a deep breath of resignation, and as calmly as possible considering her emotional state, she said, “He wants me to marry him.”
Julia went still.
Adeline gasped.
Their wide, non-blinking eyes and parted lips told Brina that perhaps she should have broken the news a little more gently. They were her dearest friends after all. They had met when struggling to make new lives for themselves. The three of them had been through much together. Society had made them acquaintances. Tragedy made them widows. Friendship made them strong. Even though Adeline and Julia now had adoring husbands and sons, the three had remained as close as sisters.
Brina supposed she needed to be the one to tell them what Lord Blacknight had done, though it still hardly seemed real. They would hear about the wager from their husbands soon enough anyway, and probably everyone else in Town. Even now the news could be spreading through Lyon’s card club at Adeline’s house next door.
“I know. You can’t believe it either, can you?” Brina offered what she hoped to be a little laugh to make lightof her announcement, but it was more an exasperated sigh.
“When did he ask you?” Adeline questioned in disbelief. “Just now?”
“Yes. Naturally, being the rake that he is, he couldn’t ask for my hand in the proper way a gentleman would. He had to do it in the most incorrigible way possible.”
“What do you mean?” Julia asked, still looking aghast.
“He placed a wager in the betting book at White’s that I would agree to marry him by the last ball of the Season.”
“That scoundrel!” Adeline whispered.
Julia gave her a surprised grin. “My heavens! What a stupendous way to get your attention.”
“It was. But, of course, I won’t marry him,” Brina reassured them, feeling as confident as she sounded.
“I should hope not,” Adeline agreed.
