Wedding In Springtime(41)

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."