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“Iamsorry for missing your wedding,” Lucas drawled. His lopsided smile was only a little sardonic. “Believe me, it was for the best. I hardly look presentable at the moment.”
Frowning, Rex sat down in the chair across from Lucas, leaning forward.
“Tell me what is going on,” he demanded, irritability starting to rise again. It seemed Lucas was still his usual self, no matter how unkempt he looked. “Where the devil have you been?”
“Around.” Lucas waved his hand vaguely. “As for what is wrong, it is the same as before. I need money, Rex.” Meeting Rex’s eyes, his quiet desperation pulled at Rex’s conscious far more than his dramatics at their previous meeting. “I need it now.”
“Tell me why you need it, and you can have it.”
Closing his eyes, Lucas pressed his lips together. Rex could practically see Lucas’ internal struggle, trying to decide whether or not to explain.
“Just tell me, Lucas. You know I will help you,” Rex said quietly… urgently. Whatever was wrong with his friend, it had to be serious.
“I know you will, but should you?” Lucas chuckled darkly. There was a bleakness in his eyes that worried Rex even more. He almost preferred angry Lucas over this introspective, defeated version. “I need the money, Rex. I cannot tell you why.”
“Then I cannot give you the money.” Rex’s heart ached, but he had to remain firm. The line had been drawn, and to cross it now… No, he could not. No matter how desperate and contrite Lucas truly appeared. “I want to help, Lucas. All you have to do is talk to me.”
“No.” Lucas got to his feet, swaying slightly. Drunk? Possibly.Likely.“You have your own obligations to attend to. A wife. Your estates. You should not have to discharge mine as well. I should not have come.”
Despite his seeming inebriated state, Lucas was as serious-faced as Rex had ever seen him. It seemed Rex’s hard stance had finally born fruit and convinced Lucas to fulfill his own duties rather than relying on Rex to do it for him. That, or it was a very good ruse. The possibility of the latter was why Rex could not bend.
“I want you to be able to come to me,” Rex said earnestly, rising to his own feet as well. “But I am glad to hear you are taking your obligations seriously.”
An odd look crossed Lucas’ face, too fleeting to catch, before settling into his customary expression.
“I will be off, then.” Lucas strode to the door, seeming steadier on his feet than before. At the last, he turned and looked Rex in the eye. “You have always been a good friend, Rex. Perhaps more than I deserved.”
Rex wanted to protest, but deep down, he knew it was true.
“You have often been a good friend to me,” he said instead.
A sardonic smile cracked Lucas’ somber demeanor.
“But not of late. I mean to change that.” Nodding decisively, Lucas exited.
Letting his breath out on a long sigh, Rex could only hope what Lucas said was true. Rubbing his forehead, there was nothing to be done about it now. All he could do was wait and see.
Mary
Having finished everything she knew about the Society’s members—which turned out to be less than she thought, by and large, they were among the most discreet of theton—Mary found her mind wandering to Rex. The spanking. Whether he had forgiven her. He certainly seemed to have.
Contrary to Cynthia’s advice, he had also been pleased when she had come to him. Then again, considering how much she had been hiding from him, making him chase after her when she owed him an apology would have been expecting too much. Making a face, she shifted uncomfortably on the chair, despite the thick cushion. While she had not minded the apology—or the punishment—the lingering soreness was not particularly pleasant.
Getting to her feet, Mary found some relief in pacing, her weight no longer pressing down on her sore cheeks. The activity also helped her burn off some of the nervous energy that kept growing while she waited for Rex’s return. With what they suspected, Evie would have expected her to eavesdrop on his conversation with the earl, but Mary could not. She did not want to break Rex’s trust again so soon, and if he caught her listening when he trusted her to remain here…
Torn between the conflicting loyalties, she had to choose Rex this time. She was married now, so it was only right that her husband received some of her loyalty, especially to achieve the kind of marriage she wanted to have.
Her heart leapt in her chest when the door finally opened. Rex’s expression was implacable, giving her no clues what the earl had wanted.
“Is everyone all right?” she asked, coming up to him.
“As well as can be.” There was sadness in his eyes, and he was more closed off than before he had left the room. Mary frowned. She had to tell him about Evie’s suspicions, then hopefully, he would be more forthcoming.
“The Earl… he is a member of the Society, and Evie said he has recently incurred a large number of debts…” Her voice trailed off as Rex’s eyes lit from within, blazing. For a moment, he appeared angry, but then the fires banked, and he sighed.
“Of course, she would know that.” He shook his head. “Lucas is no traitor. I would stake my life on it.”
Pressing her lips together, Mary nodded, hoping Rex wasn’t doing exactly that. Though she wanted to believe him, she did not know the earl and had witnessed far too many people’s blindness when it came to those they loved. Rex would believe in his friend, and she would watch Rex’s back.
