Page 43 of Enamored with a Brooding Earl
James threw a glance to Lord Thurston and the Duke of Danfield but said nothing more. Lord Thurston lifted an eyebrow as the Duke’s expression grew rather dark. Evidently, this display of drunkenness from Lord Barlington was less than impressive.
“I have not losttoomuch,” Lord Barlington laughed, though his voice grew a little whiny. “And I have said I will repay it all.”
“With what coin?” Sir Jeffries asked, sounding as though he did not believe a word of what Lord Barlington had said. “You have already told me that you lack coin at the present moment. How are you going to repay your debt to me? Though,” he continued, with a roll of his eyes, “I myself am foolish for continuing to play with you when you have not yet paid what you already owe me!”
James hesitated, wondering if he dared be bold and ask Lord Barlington something a little more personal. Considering, he then chose to redirect his question to Sir Jeffries, hoping it might encourage Lord Barlington to interject. “How much are you owed, Sir Jeffries? I am sure it cannot be too great for a Marquess to pay!”
Lord Barlington snorted, his lip curling. “I am sure it will not be.”
“I have heard you say that before and yet, you are still unable to pay me!” Sir Jeffries exclaimed, as Lord Barlington rolled his eyes. “I have no assurances.”
“Well, you may have one now.” Lord Barlington’s fist thumped down onto the table, making James jump in surprise. “I am to marry very soon and once I have received her dowry and the income she will bring, then I will be more than able to pay whatever debts I have incurred. There, now, does that satisfy you?”
A coldness wrapped around James’ heart as he looked back at the Duke of Danfield, seeing a red flush begin to creep up the Duke’s face. He himself had very little thought as to what he ought to say next, though he certainly felt the very same anger that he was sure was in the Duke’s heart.
Attempting to keep his tone light, James spoke again. “Goodness, a Marquess who is a little impoverished! Whatever did you do to lose so much of your fortune?”
Lord Barlington did not answer, his shoulders dropping.
“It must have been something very grave indeed,” Sir Jeffries chimed in, a heavy expression settling on his face. “Though you have not spoken to me of it as yet. I personally believe that the Marquess of Barlington is much too inclined towards cards and the like.”
“That is the same as many a gentleman!” Lord Barlington exclaimed, speaking with a great fervency. “I am not the only one who enjoys such a thing, despite the fact that I have lost almost every game we have played.”
“You have lost every game,” Sir Jeffries corrected, with yet another roll of his eyes. “And yet you continue to play?”
“As I have said, I will be able to pay for all my debts very soon, once I have wed.”
James scowled, rubbing one hand over his face to chase his thoughts away from Lord Barlington’s selfish words. He knew now why the gentleman wanted to marry Lady Temperance: he was impoverished; a fact he had managed to hide from everyone. No doubt some of thetonknew of it – orwouldknow of it, should he go to London – and news of that impoverished state would mean that no young lady would ever even be permitted to consider him! Thus, he had decided that the best thing for him to do was to wed Lady Temperance and, in doing so, be given her dowry and whatever income she would bring into the marriage. That was his answer to his present difficulties, it seemed, and the way he was using Lady Temperance made James’ anger burn hot.
“I did not know you were to marry.” Sir Jeffries tilted his head, placing a card out on the table and then arching an eyebrow at Lord Barlington. “Might I ask who the lady is? She must be very refined, I am sure, if she is to bring in such a substantial dowry.”
Lord Barlington, rather than smile and agree, let out a long, heavy sigh as though even the thought of marrying the lady was a disappointing one. “The young lady may be refined but I confess, I struggle even to look at her for any length of time.”
Anger sent shards of fury right into James’ heart and he dropped his head, taking slow breaths so that he would not react and give himself away.
“Whatever do you mean?” Again, Sir Jeffries spoke, encouraging Lord Barlington to say more as James, Lord Thurston and the Duke simply listened. “I cannot imagine that you would tie yourself to someone such as that!”
“Oh, her face would frighten a horse!” Lord Barlington exclaimed, and in that instant, James found himself on his feet, a loud buzzing in his ears, his heart screaming at him as his hands curled into tight fists.
Lord Thurston’s hand on his arm forced him to sit back down.
“I have told her plainly that she will live in a separate part of my manor house, for I do not want to look upon her countenance every day!” Lord Barlington laughed, throwing down a card seemingly without even looking at it. “She will be set away from me though I willhaveto do something about the heir. It will be best to do such a thing when it is dark, I suppose, for then I will not see her.”
The heat in James’ heart burned all the hotter and he closed his eyes for fear that, if he so much as looked at Lord Barlington for even a second longer, he would most certainly deliver him a proper thrashing.
“She knows full well that I only desire her wealth,” Lord Barlington continued with a shrug. “There is nothing I am keeping from her in that.”
“I am surprised that she still wishes to marry you!” Sir Jeffries shook his head and threw down another card, eyeing Lord Barlington’s hand carefully. “I would have thought any young lady would have been rather displeased to marry a gentleman of such opinions.”
Lord Barlington laughed and put another card out on the table. “You are quite correct there, Sir Jeffries! But there are ways and means of…encouragingsuch a connection, you understand?”
“Encouraging?”
James opened his eyes as Sir Jeffries continued to question Lord Barlington, clearly not realizing that he was helping James with his questions.
“Yes, encouragements, let us call them that.” Lord Barlington laughed again and James gritted his teeth, hating the sound. “It is a very useful tool, Sir Jeffries. Stating exactly what you will do if the young lady does not accept you means that you are bound to gain exactly what you desire: namely, her hand in marriage, her dowry, her yearly income and relief from your present financial difficulties. Yes, it does mean that I have to have this scarred, rather ugly young lady as my wife but there are many distractions that a gentleman can have besides his wife! I think I shall do very well out of all of this, I must say.”
If it had not been for Lord Thurston reaching out to restrain him yet again, James was quite certain he would have planted both hands around Lord Barlington’s throat and squeezed. Instead, he rose from his chair and, somewhat blindly, made his way out of the tavern. His chest was tight, his breathing growing quick and fast as he fought hard to keep control. The cool evening air helped to quieten him a little but still, James began to pace, his hands squeezing tight, his breathing ragged, his whole body burning.
