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“I wish I could believe you,” Neil muttered. “God knows I wish to.” He gripped the back of the chair he stood behind. “Yet I know fears of this very thing are what make me keep my distance from you.”
James stiffened, glaring at his brother across the room.
“You seek to blame me again for any misfortune that may befall?” he asked, his voice much quieter now but just as seething with rage.
“No, I wish to blame you for your own reputation.” Neil waved a hand dismissively in James’ direction. “You are the one talked of in scandal sheets, not I. They talk of ladies and, oh yes, your gambling hall… What fresh criminality has it been involved with this week?”
“If you had ever been, then you’d know I do not deal with criminals.” James stared at his brother without blinking. The constant need Neil had to separate the two of them because of the gambling hall burned in James’ gut though he pretended it did not. “May I remind you that if I had not opened the gambling hall, the dukedom’s estates would be ruined. You would not have the annuity you gain from it.”
“Fortunately, I have no further need of it, do I?” Neil asked, his arms wide. A couple of years before, Neil had invested the annuity James had given him and reinvested it. These days, Neil had his own estates to run and his own wealth, but before that, he had been dependent on the annuity James could provide for him though he frequently liked to deny it.
He's too busy with the ton and his foppish ways to see the sacrifices I had to make.
“When you are on the verge of debtor’s prison, remind me to be as disparaging of your attempts to escape it as you are of mine.” James’ words prompted Neil to curse and walk away.
“Imbecile.”
“What a compliment.”
“Enough sarcasm!” Neil snapped, turning once again. Michael fidgeted in his seat, drawing attention to himself.
“If I may interrupt the argument for one second.” Michael held up a hand. “The arguments over the gambling hall have been had before and are not going to go away –”
“Of course,youwould say such a thing,” Neil muttered, cutting Michael off.
“As benevolent as ever, Neil.” James’ increased sarcasm wasn’t helping matters. Rather than giving his brother a chance to go on, he nodded at Michael, urging him to speak. Michael sat on the edge of his seat, looking at James with an earnest stare.
“What are you going to do about tonight?” he asked, his voice gentle. “Lady Marina, whether you know her or not, from what is said of her in there tonight, her reputation will not recover. It is quite in tatters.”
“That is what I feared.” James moved to a seat opposite Michael and sat down heavily so far that the wood creaked beneath him, and the sleeves of his tailcoat caught on the arms. His mind worked fast, thinking through all the possibilities.
What that spirited lady had said as she left was right in one regard. James could survive the scandal reasonably well. His name was hardly the pillar of virtue as it was, but she was another matter altogether.
She could never marry as she is now. She would be cast out of all good society.
“What will happen to her?” Michael asked.
“Do you need to utter such a foolish question?” Neil raged, marching past Michael.
“He’s a calm man, isn’t he?” Michael addressed James alone, prompting him to smile a little. It was the light relief he needed in that moment.
“I often praise him for his control of his temper.” James continued the jest, watching as Neil froze and glared at them both.
“I thought you were done with the sarcasm.” Neil pointed straight at James, such hatred in his face that a knot tightened in James’ gut.
We were never going to be the closest of brothers, not after I opened the gambling hall, but this… it could drive us apart forever.
“If I do nothing, the Lady will be abandoned by the ton. She won’t marry but will be left a spinster, and she’ll be dependent on anyone in her family.” His thoughts were in a whirl, thinking of the worst situation possible, for he had once stood at the door of financial turmoil himself.
After Lady Marina’s father passed, she’d be reliant on the kindness of the male relative that inherited the earldom. If that man decided to cast her out, she could be destitute and end up in a poor house.
Such things are not to be born.
“What are you going to do?” Michael asked again, earning his attention. James slowly looked up, a realization coming to himself.
“There is only one thing I can do.”
* * *
