Page 110 of A Gentleman's Wager
“Thank you, I—”
He pressed his thumb into her palm before allowing her to withdraw. “Is there anything I can do? I don’t like to see you so upset. Should I have someone flogged?”
“No.” She could not endure his searching gaze. “It was a silly outburst, nothing more. Very unladylike of me, too. For that I apologise.”
“Bella.” He came a step closer. “I’m not looking for an apology. In fact, I’m certain whatever prompted such an explosion justified the response. What I’m saying is that you can confide in me. I’m here. If you wish me to be.”
She offered him a wobbly smile. Another woman would no doubt have crumpled against him, content to unburden her woes, but hers were no ordinary griefs to be fixed with a warm embrace or a strong back. They were howling banshees, inarticulate, raged filled creatures formed of raw emotion. Soft words couldn’t tame them. Nor could a kind embrace becalm her soul. She’d really thought it had all meant something. That it would lead somewhere. That she was more to Pennerley than a mere diversion and an obstacle. God, she was a fool. “Please, I beg that you forget it.”
Outside the chill in the air bit through her winter clothing. Had she hurt Lucerne’s feelings by rejecting his offer of comfort? Possibly, but surely that was preferable to admitting to him that she’d lain with Vaughan prior to ever having coupled with him. Their relationship was so complex, she did not know how that knowledge would be received. Maybe Lucerne had known it all along.
She opened Joshua’s letter while she waited for the grooms to saddle her mare.
My dear sister,
Aubury informs me all is not well between himself and the marquis. If all I hear from Wakefield is true of Pennerley, then Charles is right to fear for his life. Therefore, I find myself tasked with the role of peacemaker once more, though it irks me to undertake it. I understand the debt is some sixty guineas, owed down to a lost wager. As I cannot yet return to Lauwine in person, for it would be cruel to leave Wakefield in his current fit of melancholia. Bella, he is awash with self-loathing and quite piteous in his chastisement of himself. I truly do believe that he loves dear Louisa, but having talked now at length with him, I cannot in all honesty recommend him to her. It is not his character I find fault with, for I find that I dearly like the fellow, merely his purse. The politest way to say it, is that they are not of equal standing, though he is of decentish birth.
Forgive me, I have digressed. To return to the point of this epistle, I’m afraid I must task you with the onus of settling the debt. I’ve sent word to Haggard at the mine for the sum, which he can have ready for you to collect out of the reserves. The wages are not due until the end of the month, by which time I aim to replace the shortfall myself. I do hope all is well with you and Louisa, and that she is quite recovered from her unfortunate shock. Please give her my warmest regards. Likewise, bestow upon Lord Marlinscar my deepest thanks and regards that he continues to receive you as his vaunted guests.
Your ever devoted brother,
Joshua Rushdale.
She read it three times over, then tore it to pieces and let them sail away on the wind.
-60-
Bella
By the time she had returned from her ride, Bella had quite convinced herself that her anger was entirely down to being used as a pawn and had a plan of revenge mapped out. Enacting both parts required support, thus, two days passed before anything was set in motion. Charles being much the easier of the two to confront was first in line.
“Let me run over this one more time,” Emma said, as she crouched alongside Bella in the window bay opposite Charles’s room. “You want me to—”
“Emma, you know perfectly well what I require you to do!”
“I know, miss, but it does seem an awful waste to get a fellow all lathered up like that and not to make good use of his predicament. It’s been a proper bit since I’ve had a good larking.”
Bella sighed. “I cannot begin to think why you’d imagine you’d get such from Charles.”
“Well, you don’t hear all, do you now. Whereas I keep my lugs open downstairs. Happens that Mr Aubury’s made a proper duchess of the between maid and gave her full two pounds for it.”
“Am I not compensating you, Emma? And for less work.”
“Aye, you are I suppose, but I shall need a full day in lieu of this, not just a half, since I’m missing out on an opportunity for betterment, you see.”
Bella did not see, but agreed anyway. Giving the girl an extra half day was hardly a hardship.
“Are we set then?”
Bella gave the nod, whereupon Emma balanced the heavy water jug against her hip once again and knocked at Charles’s door. She let herself in a moment later not having bothered to await a reply, waving her mistress in behind her, once it was clear that Charles’s attention was elsewhere. Bella slid into the shadows, an easy accomplishment, for despite it being only mid-afternoon, the curtains were drawn. A single, tall candelabra provided the only light. It stood at the head of a great steel bathtub which the footmen had hauled up from the kitchens earlier that day. Charles lay within it. His eyes closed, one hairy arm draped over the side and the other active beneath the water.
Emma shot her a quick glance, then set down the jug and slipped out of her clothes quiet as a mouse. She made a lewd up and down gesture and pointed at the tub, communicating as to what Charles was already about. His head, no doubt, full of fantastical imaginings of filling girls’ mouths with his seed or soiling their bosoms.
That was the theme of most of his poetry.
“I see you’ve picked up your cudgel for the one-man Morris dance,” Emma remarked, as she splashed hot water into the tub by his feet.
Startled, Charles sent a wave of water over the floor, whereupon he made a wild gurgling sound and clapped a hand over his stubby cock.
