Betting it All on the Earl

by Emma Brady

  “She mentioned that you had practically raised her. Were you close to her parents?”

  Henry ignored the glare his sister gave him. So far they were behind in the game and he didn’t appear to mind.

  The truth was that when she ran off with Christopher, she was too ashamed to return to her parents. Patrick never pushed her to contact them and she didn’t. As far as she knew they still lived in that small village and believed she had married a nobleman. That wasn’t a very pretty story, so instead Patrick told people a lie.

  “No, I’m afraid I never met them. I found Kitty as a small child, left abandoned at an inn I stopped at. She was such a charming child, that I found I couldn’t leave her there. I took it upon myself to raise her and make sure she was given the proper education. Then I introduced her to a close friend of mine and love blossomed.”

  In truth, Patrick had met her late husband at a performance of Hamlet, where the lord had come backstage to meet the actors. IT was between them that love blossomed. Kitty had been happy for her friend, until one night when the truth came close to discovery. That’s when Kitty offered to be the keeper of their secret and the lord’s wife as far as the world knew. That was what a person did for the people they love.

  “You have lived with them the whole time?” Rory asked, a hint of spite in her tone.

  “Yes, I’m afraid I never found a woman willing to put up with me and didn’t enjoy living alone.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of you leaving.” Kitty added.

  Patrick gave her a sweet smile and Kitty felt herself getting lighter. They were currently ahead in the game and that meant they were one step closer to financial freedom. One step closer to having their lives back. Once step closer to escaping another man’s control.

  “Where is your family from?” Rory asked in a bored tone.

  “Southampton.” Kitty said without hesitation.

  “We know many people from that area, what was your family’s name?”

  “I doubt you would know the name. My father was a simple parish pastor and my mother was the daughter of the village tailor. I come from humble beginnings.”

  She cast her eyes away from Henry, who watched her intently. Something about the way his eyes flickered made her worry he saw more than he should. No one had called her out on her lies before, but there could always be a first.

  Kitty tried to focus on her cards and the cards Patrick possibly held, but Henry’s gaze made that difficult. He wasn’t being obvious, likely to avoid the wrath of his sister who had her eye on him. Still, the hairs on the back of her neck told her when his eyes were focused on her and she tried not to blush. She failed at it.

  “You sadly missed out on having a season in London,” Henry spoke calmly, as if his team wasn’t losing by a narrow margin. “Most women live for that sort of thing. My sister has enjoyed a number of them already.”

  There was a scuffling sound and Henry reached down to grab his leg. Rory glared at him and sat straighter in her chair.

  “I lived a quiet life growing up and never wanted the attention that a season would bring. I was happy to have avoided it.” Kitty said, hiding her smile behind her cards.

  “My brother makes it sound like I have failed every season, but the truth is I’m selective. I am waiting to find the right match for my temperament.” Rory said.

  Kitty wondered what kind of man would match such a strong-willed woman. Personally, she had always been better at letting someone else make the decisions. First her father, then Christopher, and eventually her husband. Not that he was strong handed, but he was always there to give her guidance. Patrick wasn’t the authoritative type, so she had been managing on her own since his passing. Although she had done well enough, part of he wished she had someone willing to share the work with.

  “Perhaps we can see you again once we are back in London?” Henry looked at her with an intensity that made her shiver.

  “I don’t think so. I rarely accept visitors.” Kitty answered.

  “We wouldn’t be visitors; we would be friends. Both of us would like to have that distinction.” Henry motioned at his sister who made a face like she had bitten into a lemon. She did not want to be friends.

  “I like to keep to myself. I’m a private person.” Kitty explained, hoping she didn’t sound rude by refusing.

  “A secretive person.” Rory mumbled under her breath, her gaze on her cards.

  Perhaps it was better if they played in silence. Kitty kept her lips pressed together and the rest of the table did too. Patrick and she were able to finish strong, stealing the win from the other team. Rory was clearly upset, storming off without a goodbye to any of the other players.

  “I underestimated you, it seems.” Henry was not as upset about the loss as his sister was. “You were both fine players. It was as if you could read each other’s mind.”

  A large part of the game is working together with your partner and Kitty knew she was good at reading Patrick’s signals.

  “That comes with years of knowing each other.” Patrick chuckled, giving Henry a pat on the shoulder. “No hard feelings I hope?”

  “Not from me, though my sister is another story. She tends to take these things personally.”

  “I’m sorry if that means she will be angry with you.” Kitty said.

  “I can handle it. Have been doing so since we were children.”

  “Good game.” Patrick gave her a wink before moving away from the table leaving only the two of them standing beside it.

  Her senses were heightened by the close proximity and she noticed that he had the scent of leather around him. Most likely from an enjoyment of riding. That could be the reason he had such a fit physique as well.

  “Kitty, I hope you realize that I consider us friends.” Henry spoke softly, so that his words wouldn’t carry across the room.

  “That is kind of you.”

  “Does that mean that we will be seeing each other again, after the tournament? Perhaps I could call on you in London?”

  A flicker of joy lit her up but was quickly dampened. She wished she could see him again, but that would be far too dangerous. No one was allowed to visit her, not at her home. There was too much risk that they might notice something out of place. She had to protect her secret, for both her and Patrick’s sake.

  “I’m afraid I will not be receiving visitors yet. I still have a few more months of mourning.”

  “After that?”

  “Perhaps.”

  Kitty had no doubt he would forget her quickly once she was out of sight. He was a man who had plenty of females lining up for his attention. One lonely widow would not matter for long. She saw his eyes flicker at something in the distance and his expression soured.

  “Will you excuse me? I seem to be beckoned by my sister and cannot refuse.”

  “Into the lion’s den?”

  “Lioness, even more dangerous.”

  He gave her that smile that make her stomach flutter and then walked away. She could feel her cheeks burning with a pink blush and her lips pulled into a grin. Then a shadow fell over her shoulder and her smile fell.

  “I believe we need to talk.”

  Chapter 8

  “I knew that woman would cost me this tournament.” Rory fumed as she dragged Henry into the small library. “I told you to stay away from her. Now she might be walking away with what should have been my victory.”

  “Wouldn’t it be our victory?”

  Henry took a risk by saying anything.

  “No, because you never cared about it. You were here for the socializing. I was the one who has had her heart set on that purse for months.”

  There was a flush on his sister’s face and the shine of tears in her eyes. He felt like a rock was dropped in his stomach. As much as he knew that Kitty needed the money more, he felt sympathy for his heartbroken sister.

  “I’m sorry; I know I was supposed to stay focused.” Henry hung his head down. “You did tell me to stay away and I
didn’t listen. I’m sorry that my infatuation has cost you the win.”

  He stood there listening for her response, expecting to be chastised and rightly so, but instead he heard sniffling. Looking up again he found his sister no longer looked angry, but sad and defeated. He would have preferred the anger. Guilt swelled up inside of him. He reached out for her but she waved him away.

  “Oh please don’t cry,” He begged her. “You know how much I hate it when women cry.”

  “You hardly know this woman, yet you were willing to let her cause a rift between us.”

  “I know her better than you think.” Henry wasn’t prepared to share the details.

  “Are you certain? I have been asking around about her while you were chasing her skirts and it seems no one here knows her well. Not a single person knew her before she was married. Doesn’t that seem strange?”

  Rory was angry and throwing out accusations, but Henry couldn’t help but correct her.

  “She lived in a quiet village before her marriage and hadn’t been to London before. It’s no wonder she is unknown.”

  “No one knows much about her partner either. This Patrick fellow seems to have no history as well.”

  “He is clearly a gentleman and his association with Lord Woolard speaks to his character.”

  “Does it? I heard a few other rumors that make it seem as though he might have had too much of an association with her husband.”

  The glint in his sister’s eye made him simmer with anger. He understood she was upset but saying something like that was taking it too far.

  “I hope you are not spreading rumors that might ruin a good man’s name simply because you are a sore loser.” Henry warned, pointing a finger at his sister’s nose. “I would hate to have to call you a liar in front of so many people we know.”

  “Are you certain it would be a lie? How much has she told you about her husband and their marriage?”

  “You can clearly see how much she cared for him by the way she speaks of him and the mourning she still shows.”

  “Caring for someone doesn’t mean they were married in the traditional sense. They could be hiding any number of secrets and you are fool enough to believe her about anything.”

  She wanted to hurt him and she was doing a good job of it.

  “I suggest you go to your room and calm down.” Henry growled at her. “I wouldn’t want to further embarrass you by causing a scene.”

  “You can’t make me –“

  “Now, Rory. Go upstairs now.”

  There was no mistaking the dark edge to his voice as he glared at her. Rory was always one to know when to escape a dangerous situation, so she hurried past him. Yet, she stopped at the door, speaking to him without turning around.

  “I know you don’t want to believe the rumors and maybe that is all that they are, but please make sure you know the truth about her, Henry. Before you lose more than a card game to her.”

  Henry stood there, letting what his sister told him sink in. He tried to remember everything Kitty had told him about her husband and none of it seemed to deny such a rumor. He knew that Patrick and her husband had been close, but often men of that age are. As far as the rest of the story she told him about her past, something had seemed off. He assumed she was ashamed of her humble upbringings, but perhaps there was more.

  Outside the door he heard people scuffling. He didn’t feel ready to speak to other guests so he quickly hid behind one of the bookshelves. Peering around the corner he could see Kitty but didn’t recognize who she was with. It didn’t look like Kitty was there of her own free will, since the man had a firm grasp on her arm and pushed her into the room.

  “You have no right to drag me in here.” Kitty said, wrenching herself free and turning to face the man.

  “I have every right. You gave yourself to me completely once.” The man said.

  “Once. A long time ago. That gives you no rights to me now.”

  “I could remind you of what it was like.” The man reached up to touch her face but she pulled away.

  “Christopher don’t!”

  Now Henry remembered the young man and he felt his hands clench. Lord Hampton had been a nuisance to his sister during her first season, always hanging around her and pushing his suit. She wanted nothing to do with him, but the lord wouldn’t take no easily. Finally Henry had to step in and make sure he knew to stay away. Kitty appeared to be in the same situation now, without someone to protect her.

  “Step away now!”

  Henry stepped out from his hiding place with a bellow.

  “What are you doing here?” Christopher asked, “Were you waiting for her?”

  “No, I was here for my own reasons. I don’t believe the lady wants to be here at all.”

  Kitty stood between the two of them, her head swiveling back and forth. Her cheeks were a bright red and her blue eyes barely blinked. There was a visible tremble to her hands as they clutched at her skirts nervously.

  “You don’t know enough about the lady to know what she does or doesn’t want.” Christopher laughed. “You would do best to leave us alone.”

  “I’m not leaving this room until she does.”

  Henry wouldn’t think of leaving her in that man’s clutches.

  “Are you her protector now? I thought she was too proud to accept such a position.”

  “You insult her too much.” Henry took a step forward, intending to defend Kitty’s honor but she stretched out a hand to stop him.

  “See, she doesn’t want your help.” Christopher sneered.

  “I just want you both to leave.” Kitty pleaded. “Just leave me alone.”

  Christopher burst into a fit of laughter. He looked as if he had gone insane. Hi expression was wild and his hands were running through his hair making it stand on end.

  “He doesn’t know the truth, does he? He’s as gullible as the rest of them out there.” Said Christopher. “No one knows who you are but me. What do you think would happen to your chances of winning the tournament if they all found out the truth? You would be forced to leave and then you would be mine for the taking.”

  “What truth?” Henry felt a tingle across his skin as he thought about what his sister had told him about her and the rumors.

  “I knew Kitty before she was a lady, when she was a naïve girl prone to making bad decisions.”

  “Christopher, please!” Kitty was on the verge of tears now.

  “Before she met her well-aged husband, she worked as an actress, strutting across the stage like a strumpet. That’s where she met that ridiculous Patrick she is playing with. He isn’t her guardian, but her fellow thespian.”

  Henry could see the color drain from Kitty’s face as Christopher spoke. Part of him wanted to make him stop, but he needed to know it all. As much of the truth as he could get, any way he could get it. Then he heard Kitty sniffle.

  “Lord Hampton, you had best return to the party. Quickly.”

  Christopher froze, his eyes growing wide as he saw Henry approaching. Henry was at least a half foot taller than the young man and almost twice as wide. Henry had spent years riding horses, so he knew he had plenty of muscle, whereas Christopher had very little. In a fight there would be a clear winner.

  “Fine. You can have her.” Christopher snarled while walking back towards the door. “For now.”

  The slamming door echoed in the tiny room. Henry turned around slowly. He felt his chest tighten at the sight of Kitty, with her hair askew and curls falling down around her shoulder. The glassy look of tears were in her eyes but she made no sound. She stared at him in silent anguish. Instinct made him reach for her, to offer comfort, but he was rebuffed as she pushed past him to escape the room.

  Chapter 9

  Kitty found it impossible to sleep that night. Her mind kept going back to the scene of Henry and Christopher in the library. In her mind it became a battle of good and evil, white knight versus black knight. That made her the damsel in distress. No man ha
d ever stood up for her like that. Even her own husband, dear as he was, had chosen to keep her past a secret because he wouldn’t face it for her.

  Henry knew almost the entire truth about who she was and he acted like it didn’t matter. Part of her wanted to believe him desperately, but the more logical part said it was impossible. No man could so simply over look what she had been in her past.

  If the truth came to light and society knew about it, she wasn’t sure she could handle the shame of it. Lying in bed, tossing and turning, wasn’t going to help solve anything. She needed to talk to him.

  It was well past the middle of the night and everyone was inside a bedroom. Some were in their own rooms and some were not. That was common place at house parties like this. She had on a dressing gown over her nightgown but hadn’t bothered to do anything with her hair, so it fell in thick curls down her back. She probably looked like she had gotten out of bed, since she had.

  Patrick had told her where all the other guests were staying. She didn’t know at the time she would be using the information to sneak to a man’s room. There was light peeking out underneath Henry’s door. He must be having trouble finding sleep as well. Gently, she knocked and waited for him to ask who was there. Instead the door swung open to reveal him standing there.

  “You?” he sounded surprised to find her at the door.

  “Were you expecting someone else?” She was nervous now that she was there.

  “I assumed it was Rory, she was the only person I could think would be here this late.”

  “Are you two still fighting?”

  “It’s not a fight if one person isn’t speaking to the other.”

  They stood there quietly. Henry was only partially dressed, wearing his trousers and his shirt but nothing else. He was even in his bare feet. It struck her how inappropriate the situation was, and her cheeks grew warm.

  “What are you doing here?” Henry finally asked.

  “I thought we might be able to talk.” Kitty answered. “There were a lot of things said tonight. I thought it might be best if we got things clear.”