The Earl's Secret Bargain (5 page)

Fortunately, Lord Davenport
rose to his feet and agreed that a carriage ride sounded like a good idea. Relieved, she accepted his arm and hurried out of the room, leaving her mother behind them to catch up.

“You’re not still upset with me, are you?” Regina’s mother asked the next morning during breakfast.

Regina glanced at her father who was buttering his biscuit. Why didn’t he ever take measures to restrain her mother’s tongue in the twenty-three years of their marriage?

“Regina?” her mother pressed, leaning toward her. “Are you really going to ignore me?”

Regina set the fork next to the fruit on her plate and sighed. “Are you not aware the butler’s in the room?” she whispered.

Her mother looked over her shoulder. “Harold, will you please leave us for a few moments?”

The butler left the room and closed the door to ensure their privacy.

“Now, will you please talk to me?” her mother asked, turning back to her.

“Fine,” Regina finally relented. “You want me to tell you the truth? The truth is you embarrassed me yesterday.”

Her mother’s eyes grew wide
, and she glanced at her father who shrugged. “Regina, the last thing I want to do is embarrass you.”

“Then in the future, don’t tell any gentleman who comes to see me that you want grandchildren.”

Her father nearly choked on the biscuit he’d just put in his mouth.

“You see?” Regina motioned to him. “Even he knows such talk is inappropriate.”

“Inappropriate?” Her mother had the audacity to appear surprised. “Lady Seyton told me to do it.”

“She did no such thing.”

“She said we should get the gentlemen to think of having an heir.”

“I’m sure she meant to be subtle about it.”

“There was nothing wrong with the way I brought up the subject.”

“You practically offered my services as a brood mare.”

Her mother gasped and pressed her hand to her chest. “I did no such thing.”

Glancing at her father, Regina said, “She said I came from good stock and could give him
many sons.”

Her father winced. “That was a little too bold, my dear,” he told her mother.

“Well, gentlemen aren’t known for taking hints. They require boldness,” her mother insisted. “I recall having to tell you it was time for you to get married since you were in your late thirties.”

“That was different,” he said. “The gentlemen coming to see Regina want to get married. There’s no need to convince them.”

“But they need to be convinced that they’re better off marrying her,” she gestured to Regina, “than someone else.”

Regina almost said she already knew which gentleman she wanted to marry but held her tongue. Who knew what her mother would do with such information?

“Camilla, you know I don’t often come down on you about these things,” her father gently said. “But in this case, I must insist you refrain from saying such things in the future.”

With a sigh, her mother nodded. “Fine. I won’t speak of children or grandchildren anymore.”

“Thank you, Father,” Regina told him.

“Why are you thanking him?” her mother asked. “I’m the one who promised not to do it.”

When Regina looked heavenward, her father chuckled. “Why don’t you two go shopping?”

“What a lovely idea!” Standing up from her half-eaten meal, her mother gestured to Regina. “I saw the most beautiful gold dress the other day. It’s absolutely divine. It’ll be perfect for Lord Toplyn’s ball.”

Regina’s ears perked up. Lord Davenport would be at the ball. Without bothering to finish her own meal, she jumped up and followed her mother out of the room.

***

A loud cheer rose from the gaming room at White’s as Toby walked through the front door. Catching Orlando lounging by the window, he went over to him. “What’s the big commotion in the other room?”

Orlando forced his gaze off the window so he could look at him. “They’re betting on which one of you will get two dances with Miss Giles at Lord Toplyn’s
ball.”

Feeling a smile tugging at his lips, he sat by his friend and leaned toward him. “That’s an easy one. I will.”

Orlando’s eyebrow arched. “You’re not so easily given to bragging. That’s Pennella’s thing.”

“It’s not bragging if it’s the truth. I went to see her yesterday, and she promised she’d save two dances for me.” In a lower voice, he added, “She’s really a marvelous lady. She’s witty, intelligent,
and funny. It seems a shame that I hadn’t met her sooner.”

“I don’t believe it,” Orlando said as he straightened in his seat.

“Don’t believe what?”

“You love her.”

“I don’t know. It’s a little too soon for love.” Even as he voiced the protest, his heartbeat picked up in excitement. “But I think you’re right.”

“Y
ou should worry about falling in love with someone who was only supposed to be a bet. What if she chooses Pennella?”

“She won’t.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because we get along as if we’ve known each other our entire lives. I never met anyone like her before.”

Orlando shook his head. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to fall in love with her.”

“It’s perfect. This way when she chooses me, I won’t have to quietly end things with her. I can really go through
with it and marry her.”

“And take Pennella’s estate?”

Toby blinked. He’d forgotten that part of the wager. And the reminder made him hesitate. Pennella always had the best carriage, clothes, and townhouse. He probably had a good fortune to his name. If Toby did acquire it, he wouldn’t have to come into the marriage with Miss Giles with only a title and a rundown country estate.

Orlando shook his head. “Unbelievable.”

“No, I won’t take his estate,” Toby relented. Orlando was right. Going that far would be cruel. All Toby had wanted when this whole thing began was to wipe the smirk off of Pennella’s face and do right by the lady. “I won’t take his estate. I’ll play some cards with him and lose the hand so he gets it back. That way, he’ll think he won it back, fair and square.”

“While I know Pennella would be thril
led to take everything you have-”

“Which is nothing,” Toby interjected.

Orlando shot him an amused look. “My point is that Pennella has no conscience about such things, but you’re better than that.”

“Yes, I know.” Lucky him, Toby thought with a hint of sarcasm.

“I wouldn’t be friends with you if you were like him.”

Toby couldn’t recall a time when he heard his friend pay him a higher compliment. “Thank you.”

The gentlemen adjourned from the other room, and Toplyn headed in their direction. Surprised, Toby straightened in his seat.

Toplyn pulled up a chair and sat next to him. “Have you heard how high
the bet is between you and Pennella?”

Toby glanced at Orlando, not sure he want
ed to know but finding himself intrigued. “No. What is today’s amount?”

“One hundred pounds that you’ll secure two dances with Miss Giles and a thousand on whether or not you’ll win her hand,” Toplyn said. “I bet my money on you.”

“Why would you do something foolish like that?” Orlando asked.

Toby shot his friend a pointed look. Did he secretly believe Pennella was going to win?

“Sorry.” Orlando shrugged. “I think the whole bet is outrageous.”

“Though you encouraged it the other day?” Toby asked.

“Only to get everyone’s attention off the fight you and Pennella were having.”

“So you think this whole thing is ridiculous after all?”

“Of course, I do.”

“You and
Roderick,” Toplyn replied with a sigh. “Even Edon won’t place a bet.” In a lower voice, he added, “And I used to bet on everything he did because I was sure to win. I miss the days when he bet on everything he could.”

“So,”
Orlando began, “what you’re saying is that your days of riding on his coattails are over?”

“I wouldn’t say I was riding his coattails,” Toplyn replied. “But his knack for winning every time did help me amass the wealth my father squandered.”

Toby wished he had thought to bet on things that Edon did. If he had, he’d probably be in better financial shape, too.

Orlando shifted in his chair. “You better be careful. Now that you have to place bets without his help, you might lose everything you gained.”

“Oh, this is the last bet I’m making, and I have a feeling I’ll win.” Toplyn gave Toby a wink. “I happen to know Miss Giles’ father.”

At this announcement, Toby smiled and glanced at Orlando whose eyes grew wide. Unable to resist asking the question, Toby turned his attention back to Toplyn. “What did her father tell you?”

“Nothing in so many words. He just said that he believes his daughter looks forward to seeing you again. She has expressed no such sentiment for Pennella.”

If that didn’t seal it, then nothing would. Toby had suspected Miss Giles reciprocated his feelings, and it delighted him to no end to know she did for sure. He experienced a newfound confidence he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Toplyn patted him on the shoulder then stood up. “You’re the first person who has put Pennella in his place.”

As the gentleman left, Toby shot Orlando a wide smile, bu
t Orlando warned, “Don’t let this go to your head.”

“You have nothing to worry about,” Toby assured him. “The last thing I want to do is be like Pennella.
I just want to marry Miss Giles and live happily ever after.”

“You better hope she doesn’t find out about the wager.”

“She won’t.”

“For your sake, I hope not.”

Toby shook his head. “I didn’t take you for a pessimist.”

“I’m not, but if word of this wager reaches Miss Giles, she might not marry you.”

“I’m not going to tell her, if that’s what you think. I know better than that. I doubt Pennella would say anything.”

“I know you and Pennella wouldn’t tell her.”

Toby frowned. “You plan to?”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t do that, but someone might find out and tell her.”

“The only people who know are here at White’s, and what happens here, stays here.”

“I hope you’re right.” Orlando stood up. “You want to play some cards?”

With a nod, Toby followed him to a card table. Orlando’s worries were for nothing. He was sure of it.

***

Regina stifled a yawn as Lord Pennella rambled on about a bullfight he’d watched while in Spain. Her mother, however, was enraptured with his every word. The two of them got along much better than she and Lord Pennella did. But if her mother thought she was going to marry Lord Pennella simply because her mother wished it, she had another thing coming. Fortunately, Lord Pennella wasn’t the only one who was coming by to see her. She had Lord Davenport’s attention as well.

Just thinking of seeing him that evening made her pulse race with excitement. It seemed like a long time since she’d seen him, but it had only been the other day. Was this what love felt like?
The quickened heartbeat whenever that someone was near? The warmth in the face at the mere thought of his name? She’d never been in love before. And she had assumed such a feeling wouldn’t factor into her marriage. But it looked like she just might be one of the fortunate few who would get to have a love match.

Her mother let out a shrill cackle that made her wince. She knew her mother didn’t intend for her laughter to come out that way, but when she was excited enough, that’s what happened.

“Surely, you jest,” her mother said, waving her hand dismissively at him.

“I assure you, I’m not,” Lord Pennella told her then sipped his tea. He settled the cup back in the saucer and gave Regina a wink. “Bulls can be rather
defiant creatures when they don’t get their way, and that matador wasn’t about to let it win. He hung onto the bull’s horns and didn’t let go.”

Her mother laughed again.

Regina had never heard of anything so ridiculous. She didn’t believe for a moment a man could actually do that without risking serious injury—or worse. If Lord Pennella expected her to believe this particular fighter could stand on a bull’s back and hold onto its horns without getting thrown off, he misjudged just how cynical she could be. What she suspected he was doing was embellishing the story for her mother’s sake. The more dramatic the tale, the more her mother loved it.

Her mother glanced her way, and by the silent message in her eye
s, Regina knew she better laugh at whatever ‘witty’ thing Lord Pennella was saying or she’d get a lecture on how rude she’d been. Regina forced out a laugh, hoping it was convincing enough for her mother. By the way her mother relaxed, she was assured it was.

“Well, now that I’ve told the story about the best bullfight I’d ever seen,” he said as he grabbed the last tart, “I thought you’d like to see the gardens at my friend’s estate. The flowers are absolutely gorgeous this time of year, and being two beautiful ladies, I know you appreciate beauty.” He bit into the tart and shot her another wink.