“No.” Harper’s eyes narrowed in disbelief, and he shook his head. “Didn’t the earl tell you what happened? He was in such a hurry to get back to you. I’ve never seen a man so on edge about the time.”
Brina felt as if her body were going limp as Harper’s words sunk in. “No, and I don’t want to hear anything he has to say. He’s not a gentleman. He’s not a man of his word, and I hope I never see him again.”
“You really don’t know what he did last night, do you?”
“I know he gambled.” Thinking about that renewed her strength. “That’s enough.”
“But it appears you don’t know why he played cards. You need to.” He took both her hands in his. “You’ll listen to me about this,” he said firmly, making sure her gaze stayed on his. “Robert and I were duped into a high stakes games with Mr. Remick, and when we couldn’t pay our debts, he forcibly took us to a crimping house. He wouldn’t accept money from the earl because Remick considers himself a master of cards. He insisted Lord Blacknight had to play him one game at a time to win our freedom. If he hadn’t done it, Robert and I would be on a ship heading to Singapore right now as payment for our debt.”
“Singapore!”
“Yes. We were crimped. It’s what Mr. Remick does. Lord Blacknight had no choice. With his skill, he finally won enough games to save us from months or years at sea.”
Brina couldn’t think straight. The only thing she could manage was to shake her head and hug Harper again. “I’m so glad he saved you from that.”
“I can’t stay any longer. Lord Blacknight thought it would be best if I stayed out of London for a while. He’s hired a coach to take me to Northumberland. It’s waiting for me. He’s sending Robert away too. I didn’t ask where. We’re both happy to still be in England, not to have been sold to a boarding master.”
Zane played to save Harper and Robert.
“Don’t be angry with the earl for gambling. He was so furious, he railed at us because he had to break his promise to you. It truly upset him greatly.”
“He saved you?” she whispered.
Harper nodded again. “I hope one day he’ll forgive me, and that you will too. And I hope you’ll forgive him for breaking his promise to you. He’s in love with you. That was clear to me and Robert. So, it’s our fault he—”
“Excuse me, Harper. I must hurry.” She turned and started rushing up the stairs. “Mrs. Lawton,” she called. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to the ball. Heat your iron. But first, run outside and get the pink gown off the rhododendron.”
Chapter 27
Zane stood near the entryway and watched for Brina. Everyone else in the ballroom watched him.
He’d purposefully arrived late. Very late. Midnight wasn’t far away. He’d scanned the crowd twice. Brina wasn’t in the room. He wondered if she just hadn’t arrived or if she were waiting out of sight in one of the alcoves. If she had arrived with her friends, Lady Lyonwood and Mrs. Garrett were no longer with her. He spotted them across the room with their husbands. They, like several others, were trying their best not to stare at him. Perhaps Brina was feeling the same way he was. That tonight wasn’t something she wanted to be a part of.
He could understand that. He sure as hell didn’t want to be there.
Yet, he was the one who started this with his wager, she expanded it, and he would finish it this evening.
As promised.
The hell of it was that he was a different person now.Because of Brina, he no longer saw the mischievous humor of trying to get a lady’s attention by making a wager. Brina had helped him see a lot of things differently. And he liked to think he had helped her see some things differently too.
Not that it mattered to her now.
Usually, the last ball of the Season wasn’t well attended. For various reasons. By the time it rolled around, all but an ardent few in the ton were tired of the endless parties. The young ladies and gentlemen who had already made a match were more interested in making plans for their own wedding parties. The last ball also signaled Parliament had ended its session. Once the House of Lords and House of Commons finished with their business, they were eager to forgo the last party and travel to their summer estates to escape the approaching heat in London and begin their summer house parties.
But this year’s ball was different.
It was a crush.
The orchestra played, but few danced. Most stood in little groups chatting with whomever happened to be by their side. Zane had no doubt that everyone far and wide knew he had gambled last night, and tonight at midnight, he had to give an apology to Brina.
And he would.
Whether or not she attended to receive it.
He huffed out a rueful chuckle when he saw his uncles and sister had spotted him and were heading his way. The day before he thought he’d settled into his new role in life. Earl, provider and protector of his family. Lover and soon-to-be husband of Brina. But somehow, one good deed changed all that.
He couldn’t argue with Brina that he’d had a choice whether or not to hurt her, where Stewart had not. Damn, but that pierced his heart as surely as the blade of arapier. When she’d told Zane he had hurt her more than her husband, it had torn his heart to shreds. He knew how deeply she felt emotions. He knew he couldn’t,wouldn’thurt her anymore. That was why he had waited at her house on and off throughout the day. He had wanted to demand she see him, force her to listen, and make her understand he’d done the right thing. Not for her, but for Robert and Harper. But in the end, he didn’t want to cause her more pain.
