Grant held the love ring for a moment, then returned it to the wooden box and chose a stunning emerald to match the earrings Genie wore. Maybe in time he would consider the love ring, for although he liked her, maybe even loved her, he felt the need to hold something back.
He paused for a moment, considering whether or not his mother and sisters would be pleased with his choice. He shook off the question. Genie was a living, breathing female; they would be ecstatic.
Grant arrived at Bremerton house looking like a man he would have laughed at only days before. He held a bouquet of flowers from his mother’s garden, a ring was in his breast pocket, and his heart was on his sleeve. How had it come to this?
And yet, for all the ridiculousness of the situation, he did not want to be anywhere but here. He was going to ask her hand in marriage. He would do it right.
Grant was shown into the drawing room where, much to his disappointment, he was met by Lady Bremerton and her daughter.
“I am here to see Miss Talbot. Is she in?” he asked politely.
“She is resting. It has been a busy morning,” said Lady Bremerton. She made no movement to call her down, and Grant sat nervously in a chair. His hands starting to sweat as he awkwardly held the flowers. He had envisioned how things would proceed when he asked for her hand. He had practiced his apology; it was a good one. Then he would tell her of his love and the things about her that he admired and all the reasons why his life would not be worth living without her.
Yet in every scenario he had imagined, Genie was at least in the room. Lady Bremerton posed an obstacle he had not considered. His reputation had not concerned him before, but it was not helping him now. Or perhaps Genie had shared with her aunt his indecent proposal? That would certainly explain the looks of hostility directed his way from Lady Bremerton.
“It was quite an evening at Almack’s last night. I hope you enjoyed the vouchers.” Grant smiled. No harm in reminding her of his contribution. “Did you fare well at the tables?”
“I do not gamble, Mr. Grant.” In other words, she lost.
“It was terribly flat last night. Perhaps I should return later when Miss Talbot is available.”
“My niece will be quite busy today,” said Lady Bremerton. “We need to start making wedding plans.”
“Wedding plans?” Grant echoed.
“Yes, perhaps you have not yet heard. Mr. Blakely proposed to Genie last night. She has invited him over today so she can formally accept his proposal. We expect him any minute.”
Grant’s stomach recoiled as if he had been sucker punched. He had to force himself to take a slow breath. “How wonderful,” he said, forcing his lips upward into what he hoped looked like a smile. “Please relay to her my best wishes for a long, happy life together. I understand now how much preparation you have before you to plan the wedding. I’ll not keep you any longer.”
Grant somehow managed to get his feet moving and walked out of the house with the false smile still plastered on his face and the flowers in his hand. It was the smile of a man who had just had his heart ripped from his chest. Grant walked around the block back to his house. He dropped the flowers in the gutter somewhere along the way.
There was only one thing to do. Grant reached for a bottle as soon as he walked in his study. He planned, quite simply, to crawl into a bottle and never come out. Last night, he had drunk enough to become stupid, but not enough to forget. He would not make that same mistake. With any luck, if he started drinking immediately, he would forget this whole day ever happened.
He grabbed a bottle and took a large swig. This way, when the servants found him crying, he could blame it on the drink. He wiped the tears from his eyes and lifted the bottle.
Twenty-seven
“I received your message, Miss Talbot,” said Mr. Blakely, entering the drawing room.
“Come, Louisa,” said Lady Bremerton, abandoning Genie to her fate. “There is something I would like to speak to you about upstairs.”
When Lady Bremerton and Louisa had removed themselves, Mr. Blakely sat next to Genie on the couch.
“Thank you for coming, sir,” said Genie. This was the right decision. It must be. What else could she do? Mr. Blakely was a nice man and their marriage would make everyone around them happy. “I would like to speak to you about accepting your proposal.”
“You have made me the happiest of men,” said Mr. Blakely with a bland smile.
“I am pleased, but I do need your help. My brother has gotten into a bit of trouble.”
“I am certain whatever it is he will land on his feet. Here, I was hoping you would say yes. These are for you.” Blakely handed her a familiar velvet box. Inside were emerald earrings. Her emerald earbobs. Genie stifled a gasp.
Genie held up the jewels to the light. “Where did you get these?”
Blakely shifted in his seat. “I bought them for you.”
“Did you perhaps buy them from a Mr. Smythe?”
Blakely shifted again. “How—how did you know that?”
“Mr. Smythe is actually my brother. He gave me these earlier. I wore them to Almack’s. Did you not notice?”
Blakely opened his mouth but said nothing. He clearly had not noticed.
Genie put her hand on Blakely’s sleeve. It was time to present her case for her brother. “My brother decided to come to London on holiday and took an assumed name because he wanted to pursue some amusements without our father discovering him. I know it sounds very foolish and he ought not to have done it, but he is young still. Mr. Blakely, is it you that he owes a great sum of money to?”
Mr. Blakely swallowed convulsively and said nothing. On his forehead, tiny beads of perspiration began to form. He gave a barely perceivable nod.
“Well, this is fortuitous! You see, my brother misunderstood the amounts of money he was gambling for. It is very silly I know, but he does not have anywhere near the money to pay the debt. It is very fortunate then that we will be married and of course you will forgive the debt.”
Mr. Blakely took the emeralds back and snapped the box shut. He stood and began to pace the room.
“Mr. Blakely?” asked Genie, a pit growing in her stomach.
“It is unfortunate indeed that your brother was so foolish,” said Blakely, his voice cold. “But he is responsible for his debts.”
“You would demand a debt from your own brother-in-law?”
“No, indeed I will not. But from your brother I certainly shall.”
“Mr. Blakely!”
“It is a debt of honor! Your brother should never have gambled more than he had to lose. I am not responsible for him, you hear me?” His face was red and he was breathing fast.
“My brother is young and naive. Surely you would not persecute him because of it. Surely there is some compassion in your heart, if not for him, then for me?”
“I am sorry, Miss Talbot, but I fear that I will not be able to serve as a husband and spare you from the social ruin your family clearly deserves. Your dowry could not make up for the loss of the debt which I fully intend to collect from your brother. Please do not take this personally; it is simply a matter of finances.”
“I think it is time for you to leave,” said Genie, her fists balled at her sides. She was unaccustomed to anger, so the sudden urge to do this man physical damage came as a shock.
“I wish things had transpired differently, but I do expect to be paid.”
He exited the room, leaving Genie fuming. Vile, wretched man! She followed him out to the entryway, where the butler appeared with his coat, walking stick, and top hat.
“Do allow me,” said Genie sweetly, taking the hat and walking stick from the butler. With all the rage within her, she balled up her fist and punched out the top of the hat.
“What are you doing?” demanded Blakely.
“Showing you the full extent of my appreciation for your kindness to my family.” Genie held out the stick with both hands and slammed it down on her thigh, breaking it in half
.
“Are you mad?” shouted Blakely.
“Now get out, you vile snake.” Genie threw the ruined hat and the pieces of his walking stick at his feet.
“Genie!” Lady Bremerton called down from the stairs above. “What are you doing?”
“I am forcibly removing this repulsive creature from your house, Aunt Cora.”
“Genie! How could you? Mr. Blakely, there has been a misunderstanding, please don’t go!”
But go he did, and none too soon for Genie, who felt she might become sick if she looked at his cold eyes any longer. Her aunt continued to rail on behind her, but Genie tried to shut her ears.
“Of all the foolish, headstrong, stupid girls, you certainly are the worst, Eugenia Talbot. How, how could you treat me this way? Why did you chase Mr. Blakely from this house like a harpy?”
“Mr. Blakely is a hideous man, Aunt. He was only interested in marriage to me for the money and when he thought he would not get enough for his trouble, he rescinded the offer.”
“But what did you do wrong? You must have done something wrong!”
Genie walked in a daze back to the parlor and sunk into a chair exhausted. She bit her lip trying to hold back the tears. What on earth was she going to do now?
“Answer me when I am talking to you! How could you have ruined this for me?!” demanded Lady Bremerton.
“Stop, Mother!” interrupted Louisa.
Everyone looked at her. Had she actually spoken?
“Can you not see that Genie is terribly upset?” continued Louisa. “If she says he has done something horrid, then he must be a cruel man unworthy of our notice. She needs the full support of her family right now, and I for one am going to give it!”
Lady Bremerton gaped at her daughter. Genie dried her tears. It was more words strung together then she had ever heard Louisa utter.
“Come, Cousin,” said Louisa, taking charge of the situation for once. “Let us get you up to your room for a quiet rest. Mother, I suggest you start a rumor that we found Mr. Blakely unworthy of Genie and we will no longer be admitting him into our presence.”
“Yes,” said her mother sliding into a chair. “Yes, of course you are right.”
Genie walked upstairs, emboldened by a new ally at her side.
Louisa followed Genie into her bedroom and shut the door.
“Are you all right?” asked Genie.
“No, not quite. I have never spoken like that to my mother.” Louisa put her hand to her forehead in an unconscious mirror of her imposing matriarch. “But I should be asking you if you are all right. What happened?”
Genie collapsed on her bed. “I have been entirely deceived by the character of Mr. Blakely.”
“I thought him amiable.”
“Me too, but he… Louisa please do not let this be widely known, but my brother has done something very stupid. He left Oxford for a lark, got taken advantage of at a gaming establishment, and now owes Mr. Blakely a vast sum of money. I thought Mr. Blakely would forgive the debt, but he rescinded his offer of marriage and is demanding to be paid.”
“That is horrible! But perhaps I can help. How much does your brother owe?”
“Twelve thousand pounds.”
Louisa said nothing for a painful minute.
“I am so sorry,” said Louisa, “I could not even begin to raise that kind of money. You will need to go to my father.”
Genie put her own hand on her forehead. It did seem to help when the moment called for dramatic despair. “Would he be inclined to help? I was not sure he had ever forgiven my mother for breaking their engagement.”
“He does not speak of it,” said Louisa. “But my mother has spoken of it to me much. I was always admonished never to do as Lady Mary had done. She has told me many times she married Lord Bremerton so her children could enjoy a high station in society. But I do not care for society life. I hate to be a disappointment, but I have not the temperament for it.”
“Are you going to marry the Duke of Marchford?”
“I cannot.” Louisa shook her head firmly.
“How are you going to tell your parents?”
Louisa sighed. “If I knew how, I would have done it already.”
“Have you tried talking to the duke?”
“I tried at Almack’s, but he talked at length about his determination to be a good husband. I did not know how to tell him that—”
“You are in love with somebody else?” asked Genie gently.
Louisa stilled, suspicion in her eyes. “How did you know?”
“I heard you and a man in the garden at Lord and Lady Devine’s party. I confess, ever since, I have been trying to help bring you and Marchford to more friendly terms.”
Louisa nodded slowly, as if processing the information. “I understand. It would be easier if I could love the current duke, but I do not. One cannot always chose whom she loves.”
Genie was quiet for a moment. “Very true.”
“Perhaps if it would help, I could support you when you ask Father to help pay off your brother’s debts.”
Genie cringed. “I should hate to do it at all, but I suppose alone would be worse. I could support you talking to him about your engagement.”
“It is a plan,” said Louisa with a tentative smile.
***
“Twelve thousand pounds?” Lord Bremerton’s face grew so red Genie feared for his health. “You want me to pull your idiot brother out of debt to the tune of twelve thousand pounds?”
“Young people do make unwise choices. We should not fault them for it,” said Louisa in a small voice.
“Yes, they do, my dear,” said Lord Bremerton. “And I can only assume asking me to dissolve the engagement to the Duke of Marchford must be one of those unwise choices. You will marry the duke as planned. And Eugenia, your brother’s financial embarrassments are not my concern. Good day!”
The ladies walked from Lord Bremerton’s study with shared low spirits.
“Thank you for trying,” sighed Genie.
“And thank you as well,” said Louisa in a soft voice. “Genie, your mother eloped with your father. Is she happy?”
“Yes, quite happy I believe.”
“That is all I needed to know.” Louisa gave her a warm embrace. “I am glad I got to know you.”
“And I, you.” A question hung on Genie’s lips, unasked. She already knew the answer.
***
“Did you give the Talbot chit the information about the moneylender?” asked the Candyman.
“Aye, sir,” said Jem.
“I do wish we’d been able to collect her dowry before walking away, but those damn emeralds tipped our hand. No matter, I shall more than make up for that disappointment. Follow her wherever she goes. Make sure she gets here.”
“Maybe she’ll go somewheres else?” Jem had to jump fast to avoid the Candyman’s backhand.
“Just see that she gets here. I’ll know what to do with her when she arrives.”
Twenty-eight
None of the options before Genie were acceptable. The only thing that mattered now was saving her brother. If her family could not or would not help her, it was going to be up to her. A moneylender was an unpleasant idea, particularly since she had no way to pay the money back. But if she left her brother to face his own fate, she would lose him.
She could go to this moneylender and at least discover his terms. Perhaps there might be some way? Genie could not think of any but felt it was worth attempting. She would hate to think of her brother being lost if there was anything she could have done to prevent it.
Genie told her aunt she needed to rest, an idea that met with stony approval. After a few minutes, Genie slipped out the back way and asked Sammy the groom if he would call her a hack. He insisted he take her in the town coach, and she graciously accepted. When she arrived at the address in Piccadilly, she paused at the storefront. It was not what she expected.
“Got yourself a sweet tooth, Miss Talbot?” asked th
e groom with a smile.
“I suppose I do.” Genie mentally reviewed the address given her by the urchin. She thought this was what he said.
The storefront was little more than a door squished between two other shops. The door was painted dark brown with the words Chocolate Shoppe painted in gold above it. When Jem had said the moneylender was called the Candyman, she thought this was another one of his odd street euphemisms she could not understand. She had not expected an actual chocolate shop.
“I just have a few purchases to make. I won’t be but a trice!” Genie kept her tone lighter than she felt.
Genie marched to the door and opened it before she could lose what little courage she had left. The shop was dark, with two small, round tables and chairs but no customers. The walls were lined with dark wooden shelves. On one side were boxes of cocoa to make hot chocolate. On the other were candy sweets displayed on platters. There were sweetmeats, bonbons, toffee, humbugs, fondant sculpted into animals, and boxes of marzipan. It was every child’s dream, yet it was eerily quiet in the store.
“Good afternoon, miss,” said a young boy at the counter who could not have been more than ten years old. He wore a dirty apron over his thin frame.
“Good afternoon,” said Genie, walking toward him. “I am looking for the Candyman.”
“You be Miss Talbot?”
“Yes,” said Genie, startled the child knew her name.
“Come this way, miss. The Candyman has been expecting you.”
A chill ran down her spine, but she would not allow herself to be easily cowed.
The lad led her to a side door concealed in the paneling. It opened to a dim room, even darker than the store.
“Come in,” said a man with a low, gravelly voice. He was sitting at a table, almost entirely in the dark. Resembling an undertaker in appearance, he wore all black with a hat pulled low, concealing his face.
Amanda Forester Page 21