Harper looked at the front door and said, “Yes, of course. Anything.”
“Why don’t I go up to your room and look through your wardrobe for your boots while you two talk?”
“Thank you, Julia,” Brina said, and waited until she was at the top of the stairs before turning back to Harper. Zane hadn’t wanted her to say anything but things were at the point she felt she must and not worry about a young man’s privacy.
“Since you are here and we have the time, I thought I’d ask you about Lord Blacknight’s cousin, Mr. Browning.”
Harper clasped his hands behind his back and kept silent. As if waiting for her to say more.
“I was wondering if perhaps you’d seen him in the past several days.”
“Yes, of course.”
That was easy. “The earl and his family have been concerned about him because they don’t know his whereabouts. They hesitate to ask because they don’t want him to think they are checking up on him. I thought perhaps you might know something.”
“If that is all it is, I can put his lordship’s and the family’s minds at ease. He has been staying with me. I wasn’t aware he hadn’t sent a note around to let his family know he was with a friend.”
Brina didn’t know why, but she felt the need to add, “And he’s fine? I mean, he hasn’t been seen playing or drinking at any of the clubs, or that is, not as of last when I spoke to Blacknight at a party.”
“Robert and I don’t always go to the same parties or clubs as the earl,” he said with an edge to his voice. “We’re not in the same class with our skills or our money.”
There was a bit of jealousy in that remark that startled her, but she let it pass. “All right. I’ll tell him that Mr. Browning is well and staying with you.”
Harper started shaking his head and his expression grew serious. She was beginning to wonder if this kind of behavior was the reason her father had asked her to keep up with him.
“I don’t want you to tell Lord Blacknight you spoke with me about any of this, Brina. I’ll see that Robert sends a note to his father or the earl that he is with a friend and all is fine. Let it stand. This isn’t something that should involve you.”
But it did because of Harper. “Why shouldn’t they know he’s with you?” she questioned, not appreciating his reticence on this subject. “You are quite acceptable.”
“You’ve always been like an older sister to me, haven’t you?” He smiled sweetly and suddenly seemed the Harper she knew. “And because you are, I will tell you the truth of it all. This mustn’t go any further. Promise?”
Did she have a choice if she wanted to know? She nodded.
“After a late night of more than a few ales and a pint of wine, Robert took a fall and banged himself around quite badly. Bruised his ribs and gave himself a cut lip and black eye. But he’s fine now.”
That news sent a chill up her spine. Brina was suddenly reminded of when Harper’s lip and mouth showed the same signs, and her worry grew. Had he fallen too? “That sounds serious and painful. Why didn’t he go home?”
“Who am I to say?” he answered with a wave of his hands. “He came to me, and I took him in. And he is better. I don’t think he wanted his family seeing him with his face swollen and in pain. Things like that can be embarrassing—for a young man to be so clumsy. They needn’t be concerned for him. He’s going to be all right. Best to get the worst past him before they see him, right? He’ll go home in a few days.” Harper took a step closer to her. “You keep this quiet, and I’ll make sure his family knows, but I can’t have them coming to my place to see him.”
“All right,” she said, as a shiver of unease affected her whole body. Something wasn’t right about Harper’s story. She didn’t think a young man could fall and hurt himself so badly. “I’ll stay quiet.”
“I knew you would. I trust you.” He gave her another genuine smile. “I’ll be off now.”
“One more thing before you go,” she said, hoping she wouldn’t sound as suspicious or interfering as she felt. “I wanted to know what happened about the card club you were thinking of joining. You seemed very excited about it. Did all that work out to your satisfaction?”
“Not yet. Mr. Remick is open to my joining and considering the possibility. He’s quite skilled and is teaching me a few tricks about the games. I should be hearing from him soon.”
“Good,” she said, but really didn’t feel it was. “And Mr. Browning?”
Harper smiled with confidence. “The same. We’re finding it’s better to have our own club where we can play with people we know are safe.”
“Safe? That sounds disturbing, and I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Nothing,” he said with a quick smile and flippant tone. “It was an offhand remark that meant nothing. Listen, I don’t want to keep you.” He kissed her cheeks again. “Tell Mrs. Stockton how good it was to see her.”
Not giving her time to question him more, he hurried out the door. He used the word “safe” and it troubled her.
Julia came walking down the stairs, holding a pair of dark-brown boots. “These must be the right ones. They are the only pair in your room.”
