“No one has seen him,” Zane responded. “Uncle Hector had a terse note saying he was with a friend and there was no need to worry about him. He’d return in a few days.”
“Hmm,” she said thoughtfully. It was good to know that Harper had kept his word about having Robert alert his family, but it did little to ease her suspicions all was not as Harper had told it.
Zane looked at her as if he were giving himself time to digest her words. “Why did you say that?” he asked. “And do that?”
“Do what?” she asked in all seriousness.
“Frown.”
“I didn’t,” she rebutted.
His bright, delicious blue eyes locked on hers. “You know you did and what does ‘hmm’ mean?”
Meeting his unwavering stare, she quirked her head a little and asked, “What does it mean when you say it?”
“That I’m unsure of the meaning of what the person has either asked me or answered me. Andthatusually concerns me, Brina. So what do you know about Robert that I don’t know?”
“Well, of course, I have no idea. Why don’t you tell me everything you know about him?”
He smiled, and as if without thinking, he reached over and ran his gloved hand down her cheek before drawing it away. “Gentlemen allow ladies to go first.”
She watched him as closely as he watched her. Their cat-and-mouse game had returned. “I defer to you.”
“All right. Because of Robert’s recent behavior, I’ve asked a friend to check around to see if he has accumulated gambling debts.”
Anxiety she’d had about Harper being friends with Mr. Browning returned full force. Suddenly she was worrying that Harper might have debts. “I’m glad you are checking into that.”
“I’m also checking on the man named Remick. Robert has mentioned him. I don’t know but he may be hustling both our cousins to join a club so he can get them into debt with him.”
Brina was really treading on unfamiliar ground here. She didn’t know much about men’s gambling habits but she hoped no one was deliberately deceiving Harper to get money from him. His allowance was generous, but it wasn’t bottomless.
“That doesn’t make sense. Why would he want them in a club only to get them into debt to him?”
“So they will eventually harass their families for more money to pay what they owe.”
“Oh, that’s an absolutely wretched thing for a man to do.”
“But it happens more often than you might think. Now, what do you know?”
Unsure of how much to say for fear of betraying Harper, she offered, “I saw Harper two or three days ago and asked about Robert.”
The corners around his eyes tightened. “I need to know everything he said.”
She stared at Zane. She appreciated his honesty. It let her know things were more serious than she suspected. Perhaps she needed to tell him what she knew, even though it would mean betraying Harper and ruining her relationship with him should he ever find out. It wasn’t an easy decision to make.
“Brina.” He huffed her name impatiently. “Do you know something that will help me help Robert?”
After another brief hesitation, she bit back her resistance and said, “I might. Robert is staying with Harper.”
He gave her a disbelieving look and grunted. “You knew this days ago and you are just now seeing fit to tell me?”
“Harper said he would see to it Robert let his family know he was fine now and with a friend. He obviously did that.”
“Wait.” Zane kept his tone level, but leaned in close to her. “What did you mean by he is finenow?”
She swallowed hard, fearing she was jeopardizing her relationship with Harper for Zane and his cousin. Lifting her shoulder a little, she turned and stared into the distance, listening to the sounds of the carriage and the horses clopping along.
“You are giving me cause to worry, Brina. I suddenly have the feeling you are not telling me truth.”
