Page 87 of The Baron Takes a Bet
“Is that so?” Gavin said. “No house deeds, or anything like that?”
A flash of suspicion came over Kilmann’s face.
“Do you have any house deeds you wish to offer up?”
“None that I know of. Shall we?” Gavin asked, turning as he went to take a seat next to Jasper, who finally glanced up. What little color had been present on the young man’s facedisappeared at the sight of his brother-in-law, but thankfully he was too well versed in guarding his expression to let Kilmann know anything about anything.
“No, that table is full,” Kilmann said slowly, moving his hand to an empty table. “We’ll start another game here.”
Tension snapped between the room, and Gavin was suddenly aware that everyone else was aware of their presence. He and Derek sat at the table and began to play a very unsettling game of faro.
Chapter Nineteen
Holly hadn’t plannedon following Gavin and Derek when they passed her in a rush, unaware that she had been standing behind one of the archways. In fact, she had only wanted a bit of fresh air, to collect her thoughts. But when she saw them rush past her and enter a hired hackney, a sudden need to follow them took over. Perhaps Jasper had run off to White’s again, and they were pursuing him? Or maybe they would go to the apartments where Jasper was staying. Either way, she was going to follow them and find her brother so that she might give him a piece of her mind.
Holly found her carriage, thankfully loitering down the line, close to the street. Their driver, Mr. Hoss, was leaning against the vehicle, speaking to another driver when he saw her approaching.
He quickly straightened up.
“My lady?” he asked, concerned.
“Follow that hackney that just pulled off,” she said with an authority she hadn’t believed she possessed. He opened the door and helped her in. “And please, make haste.”
Evidently when one spoke with conviction, people didn’t ask questions, for the driver nodded and quickly climbed into his seat. They were on the road in mere seconds.
Holly held her hands tightly entwined on her lap. Perhaps she was being foolish chasing after them, but indignation swallowed her along with the need to demand answers. FeltonManor may not belong to her, but she wouldn’t let it go without a fight. Jasper and Gavin owed her an explanation.
A small, annoying voice sounded in the back of her mind, though. It asked what she was holding on to so desperately—and why? It was Jasper’s inheritance after all, not hers, and if he was fool enough to sell it, no doubt for half of what it was worth, perhaps she should simply stand aside and let him. He clearly did not care one way or the other about the property, so what did she hope to gain by forcing him to hold on to it? He’d been dying to get it off his hands for years. She thought it was foolish to give up a farm that could easily support him for the rest of his life, but if he made the decision to run through his inheritance, he’d only have himself to blame. Besides, she had plenty of resources to help Katrina. She didn’t need Felton Manor. So what was she holding on to?
A former life? The reminiscences of her mother and father? Of a time where she hadn’t been so burdened? She shook her head. It wasn’t as if Jasper was selling her memories. She would never forget her mother or the simple, sweet life she had once upon a time.
Perhaps, if she allowed herself to let go, she’d find an equally sweet and peaceful future. With Gavin.
Still, the sting of finding out that it had all happened without warning… well, it hurt much worse than she would have expected. Had Holly kept Gavin at a distance, she might not have been surprised at his betrayal, but she hadn’t. She let him into her heart and now she’d been forced to realize that it had been a mistake to do so. It was her fault for believing in him.
Despondent as the carriage turned down this road and that at a brisk pace, Holly was barely aware that they had come to a stop when the door opened, revealing Mr. Hoss.
“My lady, I fear we’re not in the best of neighborhoods,” he said tensely, peering over his shoulder. “I think it would be best if we returned to Bairnsdale Terrace.”
“Where are we?” she asked, peering over his shoulders. “This isn’t White’s, is it?”
“No, my lady. The baron and the earl came down this way and entered that house,” he said, pointing a finger across the way to a fairly normal looking brick building. “I watched them go in, not moments ago. But it is not a kind place. Pickpockets don’t even come down this way, my lady. It’s unsafe.”
“Well, if there are no pickpockets, then I’m sure we’ll fare just fine,” she said, moving towards the door.
The driver blanched at her determination but stepped aside to let her out. It was a dark road with a decidedly eerie stillness, but Holly would not be deterred. If Jasper was in the brick house, she would go there, pull him out, and set everything to rights herself.
She took a deep breath and stalked forward, followed by Mr. Hoss, who refused to leave her.
“If you insist on going in there, my lady, I’m afraid I must accompany you.”
“Very well,” she said stiffly, though deep down, she was grateful not to be left alone.
Coming up to the house, Holly realized a tall man dressed all in black was standing in the shadows, blocking the door. As she approached, the bright orange circle of his cheroot illuminated the tip of his broken nose, the edge of his cheekbones, and the glassiness of his eyes.
Holly swallowed back her fear and cleared her throat.
“Sir—”
