Page 12 of The Baron Takes a Bet
She peered over her shoulder, seemingly unwilling to let him enter.
“Well, you see, Holly—my sister, that is—um… I don’t think…”
“It’s quite alright,” Gavin said, dropping his voice. “Holly is expecting me.”
Katrina bit her lip, seemingly surprised by his use of her sister’s Christian name. Nodding slowly, she stepped back, opening the door for him to enter.
The foyer was sizeable for a country farmhouse, and though it wasn’t nearly as grand as Kingston House, Gavin instantly saw the attraction to this place. Stacks of books lined the hall, leading one to assume this was a house where reading was encouraged. The walls were adorned with dozens of oval portraits of family members, and though it was drafty, Gavin felt that a tremendous amount of heart had lived within these walls throughout the years. He was sure it was why Holly seemed so set on keeping it, even thought it was very clear that the house was in dire need of extensive repairs—and not solely to the roof.
Dry rot was eating away at the bottom corners of the paneled walls and the first-floor ceilings seemed to be bowed. It would take a considerable amount to fix even the most obvious issues.Not to mention the not so obvious ones. Gavin wondered if selling it would be the best move, before the entire place fell down around them. Or perhaps he could tear it down and rebuild it? Gavin began considering numbers when he heard a heated exchange of words drifting out from what he assumed was the dining room as he followed Miss Katrina deeper into the house.
“—I need a hundred quid to pay a mate of mine in school.”
“We don’t have a hundred quid, Jasper. And have you lost your mind, asking me for such an exorbitant amount of money?”
“We just inherited a third of Kingston House, didn’t we?”
Gavin’s jaw set, unimpressed with the youth’s vulgarity. He seemed oblivious to the situation he and his sisters were in.
“No, and had you listened to me the first two times I explained it, you would understand that we haven’t inherited anything. Which puts all of us in a precarious situation.”
The young man sighed loudly.
“The house is falling apart! Just sell the heap of junk already. It’s not worth fixing. Besides, I’ve an opportunity to join Clemet Club—as a lifetime member, mind you—if only I can settle my debts.”
“I will do no such thing. And what in the world is the Clemet Club?”
Gavin knew. The Clemet Club maintained itself to be a gentlemen’s club, but no gentleman in London would claim that nowadays. At one point it had been a place that catered to men of the peerage, but time had changed it. Now it was little more than a building that admitted anyone, should they be able to afford the outrageous buy ins. A man named Joseph Kilmann operated it, and he was just as ruthless as his name suggested.
“It’s a place where likeminded gentlemen go to discuss business and politics and the like.”
Holly paused.
“Are you seriously trying to sell me on a gentleman’s club? When we are drowning in debt?” She scoffed. “Absolutely not, Jasper.”
“Fine, have it your way,” Jasper bit out. “I’ll just carry my debts until I can sell the place myself.”
He stalked off, bumping into Gavin’s shoulder as he did. Gavin’s hands came up and steadied the young man, whose brow was furrowed with bitter anger over what he clearly perceived as dire injustices. Wrenching out of his grasp, he continued down the hallway, out the front door.
“Lord Bairnsdale?” Holly’s voice carried in over Gavin’s shoulder.
Turning back towards her, he stepped into the dining room but stalled when his eyes fell on her. Holly was dressed in a simple, unadorned dark-blue muslin gown. The neck scooped low, and the sleeves were sheer, though Holly was wrapped in a dark green shawl. He hadn’t expected to see her in such a rich color, and how he stared at her must have alerted her because she bent her head down, almost embarrassed.
“I didn’t expect to see anyone today,” she said, motioning towards her gown with her hands. “I had all my gowns dyed black when John passed away, but this one didn’t take. It became a grey color and I had the bright idea to cover it with blue, but… well…” She shook her head. “What are you doing here?”
Gavin swallowed, remembering why he was there.
“I came to inspect your house.”
“I told you there was no need.”
“Yes, except that obviously wasn’t true given that there’s an oak tree on it,” he said, remembering his anger when he first saw it. “Why haven’t you had anyone take down?”
Holly’s mouth tightened as if the undeniable statement irked her.
“People require payment, my lord.”
“Gavin.”
