And in a rush of excited words, she did.
Almost everything.
She started her tale when she entered the chateau and was immediately accosted by a drunken man. During her story, she was interrupted numerous times with ohs and ahs and with questions and comments along the way. Mrs. Lawton brought in tea and piping hot apricot tarts. Brina admitted to the unexpected shock of the brief kiss—but didn’t tell them about the lingering, disturbing, and wondrous feelings that still plagued her. No need for that. She finished her story at the point where Julia and Adeline had appeared in her doorway.
“Now I know why he’s called the scoundrel of the ton!” Adeline exclaimed. “It’s beyond the pale for him to think you’d marry a man with his reputation. And what arrogance. It’s astounding. To think you’d do it only to help him seem more respectable so he can find favor with his family now that he’s the earl.”
“I know. He must do something more than marry me to convince them he’s changed. It would serve him right if I came up with a wager of my own,” Brina grumbled. “How do you think he would like it if I asked all the ladies I know to place a bet that I won’t agree to marry him by the last ball of the Season? I wonder if he’d react favorably to that.”
“He wouldn’t like it at all,” Adeline agreed.
Julia placed her teacup onto the small table that stood between the two settees, leaned back, and said, “I think you might be on to something, Brina.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, a little concerned by Julia’s confident expression.
“Maybe youshouldconsider his proposal.”
“Absolutely not!” Adeline injected.
“Ha! I agree. I never would.”
“Let me explain,” Julia argued, holding up her hand as if asking for calm. “There seemed to be something between the two of you when you looked at each other a few minutes ago.”
Adeline whipped her gaze over to Brina for confirmation. “Was there?”
“Well—” Brina hedged.
“Really? He’s the devil of depravity and debauchery, which is why he’s spent so much time in Paris. That you found him tied to a chair—and by a woman, no less—shows he is living up to everything we’ve heard about him. He cares for no one but himself, stays separated from his family for most of the year, and when he is inTown, he never visits to even ask about their welfare. I don’t know what Julia is thinking, but you can’t possibly consider this travesty he’s pressed upon you for one second.”
Brina knew all of what Adeline said wasn’t true, even though it was accepted as fact. And she was upset with him about it. But he obviously cared for some of his family. He’d saved his cousin from a marriage that would have probably been an unfortunate one. For both, considering how quickly the young man went on to find another woman’s affections.
But…
“Of course, I can’t and won’t consider such an idea,” Brina stated again. “He’s a scoundrel for doing this. You both know that.” She turned to Julia and saw her friend wasn’t convinced. “All right, there was, or perhaps I should say there is a spark of something when I look at him. It’s true. I might avoid telling you all the truth, but I won’t lie to you about anything. I suppose my feelings have something to do with the fact he seems dangerous to me, and yet safe at the same time. I can’t explain it. It’s just there, but I certainly don’t intend to act upon those feelings. As his reputation bears out, he seems to have skipped all civility in something as sacred as a marriage proposal and placed a wager on it.”
“I understand all you say and agree,” Julia replied calmly. “Both of you indulge me and let me finish. Before you went to France, Brina, I remember asking you why you thought you would be happy joining the Sisters of Pilwillow Crossings and you said, ‘Because I’m not happy where I am.’ Tell me, are you happy where you are now?”
Brina had lived the past five years thinking she’d never be happy again because of Stewart’s death and the subsequent things that came close to driving her tomadness. Now, living in the house in front of the girls’ school and helping the Sisters at Pilwillow Crossings, she’d found a certain amount of contentment.
Until today. Now, along with the feelings of resentment toward the earl, she felt an anxious excitement coiling inside her too. As if that passageway to adventure the earl talked about was before her, and all she had to do was step into it.
“I believe I was until Blacknight showed up and announced his preposterous wager.”
“Well, he obviously didn’t want you to agree to marry him today.”
“Didn’t he?” Brina asked.
“No. He wouldn’t have made the wager if he had. He would have simply come over and asked for your hand like any gentleman would have. He’s a different kind of man. Strong, self-confident men want to pursue the lady they are after. What would be the pleasure for either of you if he asked you to marry him and you said yes or no immediately? There wouldn’t be any value in that. Declining gave him exactly what he wanted. A reason for you to run and for him to pursue you.”
“You may be right,” Brina said, thinking back on the earl’s shenanigans in a whole new light. “He said something similar.”
Julia pursed her lips in thought again. “Your first inclination was the right one, Brina. You should find a way to turn the tables on him and agree to marry him but with conditions he can’t possibly accept.”
“What?” Adeline exclaimed, looking at Julia as if she’d lost her mind.
“No,” Brina persisted. “I don’t want to marry him.”
“I know. I’m not suggesting that. Only that you get even with the rake. He’s made a very public wager involving you, but you have no say in it. Only the men atWhite’s can put up a bet. You should stand up to him and make your own wager.”
