“This is what I’m going to do. I’ll loan you the money. No more handouts. A man, no matter his station in life, needs to gamble with his own money and pay his own debts. So, consider this another lesson in how the game is played. The money will have to be repaid, and there will be no more forthcoming. Do we understand each other on this?”
“Yes, of course and I agree.” He nodded, rose, and looked as if he’d walk away without saying more but suddenly turned back. “It’s just that sometimes it’s difficult to leave the table. Especially when there is something on top of it that you want, and you think you can win it all with one more shot. It’s hard to walk away.”
Zane knew exactly what Robert was saying but wasn’t thinking about cards. His cousin’s words brought Brina to his mind. She was the treasure he was trying to win, and he had to be as clever with her as he was expecting Robert to be with cards.
The most important thing he had to remember was Brina expected him to fail.
Chapter 11
The décor of the small town house was opulent from the floors to ceilings. Grand crystal chandeliers hung in every room. Every piece of gilt fretwork and carved moldings were exquisite in detail and style. Rich colors of velvet draperies graced the frames of all the windows. The cushions on the settees and chairs displayed the finest fabrics with classic English floral patterns and scenes.
Brina knew the home well. The hostesses for the evening had been her parents’ neighbors all her life. She’d been welcomed into their home many times.
So had numerous other guests present at the soiree. The well-designed drawing room was packed with people, including a cellist and violinist who had been squeezed into a tight corner by the pianoforte. The chatter and laughter of the crowd often drowned out the beautiful music they were playing. No one seemed to notice. It was a party, and everyone was delighting in the merriment of the Season.
A buffet that looked as if it had been set for the Prince was in the dining room. Brina had only seen it as she passed in front of the open double doors. She hadn’t made it inside to sample any of the delicacies splendidly arranged on the white linen–draped table. There was always someone to distract her with conversation.
Adeline and Lyon had picked her up for the party, and as soon as she entered, Julia joined them, but so did a host of other ladies all wanting to know how she was managing after her showdown with the new earl. She kept all her answers short and as vague as possible, insisting she was doing extremely well and not letting any of the machinations of the past few days hinder her from her work. The surprising thing was that most of them seemed to believe her.
One by one the ladies started drifting away, including Adeline and Julia when the handsome Mr. Inwood came up to talk to Brina. They had found other people to converse with on the other side of the room.
Currently Brina had three handsome bachelors standing in front of her, vying for attention, making it clear they now considered her eligible to pursue. It was her fault, of course. She had opened the door to such attention by agreeing Lord Blacknight could call on her. Now, apparently every man thought he should be given equal opportunity to win her hand. Like her, none of them expected the earl to adhere to all her demands. Even the younger bachelors were trying to woo her. Brina wasn’t attracted to any of them.
It was a bit disconcerting to have heard tonight that in addition to Blacknight’s wager at White’s, many side bets were being arranged in gaming hells all over Townand private wagers among friends too. Brina considered all of it madness of the highest order. It was as if a raging fire had swept through the ton and there was no water to put it out.
The earl certainly knew how to get her attention and everyone else’s.
Unfortunately, she had unwittingly added kindling to the flames. She’d had no definite plans to make any demands on the earl until they started dancing. It must have been the touch of his hands, tilt of his head, or maybe it was the look in his eyes that made her end up giving in to his uncommon, yet persuasive assault to pay her court. Even he kept insisting he only wanted a dance. There wasn’t anything she could do about it now but weather the storm and adjust to being pursued.
Not only by the earl but others.
It wasn’t that Blacknight didn’t need her to help him. He obviously did. He continued to prove he didn’t always do the proper thing.
By design, she was sure.
Like bringing horses to her house, and kissing her in the park where anyone could have seen them. Though, she couldn’t say she had overly objected much at the time. Oh, who was she kidding? She hadn’t objected at all. She’d loved riding the horse and welcomed the kiss with a passion she hadn’t thought possible anymore. And she hadn’t wanted it to end. So much for her declaration of no women for him—though in truth—at the time she’d said it, she hadn’t been thinking of kisses. She was thinking about visits to a mistress for what men pay visits to mistresses for.
She felt a sudden uptick in her breathing. It was ridiculous. Just thinking about Lord Blacknight had—
“What is your favorite flower, Mrs. Feld?” the tallest of the gentlemen standing with her asked.
Brina blinked for a moment as she stared at his boyish face. “Pink,” she answered, trying to return her thoughts to the conversation at hand. “That is to say, any pink flower. I would choose that color over any other in the garden no matter if it were a lily, peony, or rose.”
“I shall remember that. It’s a color I’m fond of as well. It would look beautiful on you.”
Suddenly Brina remembered the revealing pink gown she’d worn in Paris. “Thank you, Mr. Inwood, but I doubt I shall ever wear that color again,” she said softly. “I believe it’s more suited for ladies much younger than me.” She looked over at Adeline and Julia. She could really use their help right now, but neither of them paid her any mind. “However,” she continued when the bachelor seemed to expect her to say more, “I saw that flowers have been planted in window boxes on most every street. Have you noticed?”
After that question, the four of them engaged in an extended conversation about the new flowers planted in Hyde and St. James’s Parks and various gardens for the upcoming May celebration. While continuing to converse, Brina kept glancing at Adeline and Julia, hoping to give them the signal to come over and give her a reason to excuse herself from the young men. She kept spearing her attention their way. All to no avail. It was as if they were both ignoring her.
She glanced toward the doorway and not the first time since arriving. Right now, she’d even welcome the earl to come and give her a reason to excuse herself.
Finally, deciding she must save herself, she conveniently moved the subject to horses. Something all gentlemen liked to discuss. Within a few seconds, they were robustly discussing a recent midnight horse race down Rotten Row and seemed happy to leave her out of the current conversation.
It was the perfect time to excuse herself, which she happily did and made a straight line to Adeline and Julia, who were standing near the entryway into the sitting room.
“What’s wrong with you two?” Brina complained, walking up to her friends. “Couldn’t you see I wanted you to politely untangle me from my new admirers?”
“You needed no such thing,” Adeline answered with confidence. “You can more than handle all three gentlemen at the same time.”
