Charming the Elusive Earl (Charmed By Chance #2)

Chapter 10

10

M arlin shouldn’t still be stunned. He understood this.

But two days had passed since his fiancée had upended his world, and he still felt as though it was upside down.

Nothing appeared…right. And the worst part was, he had no idea what to do about it.

He wanted to be angry. Self-righteous anger would be lovely right about now. But no matter how hard he tried, the only anger he could summon was toward himself. Because…

She’d been right. About all of it.

Who’s fault was it that his fiancée was a total stranger to him? His.

His and his alone.

The rain was coming down hard outside his window, and the gloomy atmosphere did little to improve his mood.

Not only was it dark and gray, but it reminded him far too much of their escapade in the shed—the first time he’d seen a glimpse of the actual woman he was to marry.

He’d seen her again at the ball the other night—the fiery, brave, curious young lady who hid so well behind that shy facade.

He’d left the ball soon after she’d returned to her friends. Which might have been a mistake.

Yes, it likely had been. There was so much he wished he’d said, so much he’d wanted to do.

Storm over to her table, namely, and insist that she look at him again. That she speak to him. He’d have been just fine with her shouting at him, if it meant those enchanting blue eyes were still fixed on him.

But she’d dismissed him when she’d walked away. And storming over to her table and demanding she speak with him…

It was wrong. It would have negated the power she’d claimed.

And despite his own mixed emotions in the wake of her accusations and demands—he was, more than anything…

Proud of her.

Which made no sense. He was in no position to take pride in anything she did. But it was there, beneath his regret and his frustration. A warm ball of admiration and pride that she’d stood up to him.

That she’d stood up for herself.

“My lord.” His butler’s voice broke into his thoughts and had him turning quickly. “Your visitor is here.”

Marlin stood. “Very good. Send him in.”

A moment later Lord Albright entered, seeming just as relaxed and at ease as ever despite the topic at hand.

“I didn’t have a chance to speak with you at the ball, I’m afraid, though I heard you were there.” The other man took the seat across from Marlin.

Marlin grunted in agreement. Indeed, he had been present…if not for long.

A part of him itched to ask what else he’d heard. It was becoming abundantly clear that Jane had friends he was completely unaware of. And Lord Albright was among that crowd she spent time with.

He shifted in his seat. Did Albright know she’d been planning to confront him like she had?

The thought was humiliating.

And painful. He rubbed at his chest. The whole dreadful affair had been more painful than he cared to admit. And not just because he had no notion of how to handle it.

He had no desire to ruin a young lady’s reputation by tossing her over. But he couldn’t very well force her to marry him.

And what was the most upsetting…

He didn’t want to let her go. But seeing himself through her eyes made it very clear that perhaps he didn’t deserve her.

Lord Albright cleared his throat, and Marlin turned to him in surprise. “My apologies, were you saying something?”

Albright’s lips twitched. “It seems I’ve caught you at an inconvenient time.”

“No, no. Not at all, it’s only…” He looked out the window again with a frown. The need to see her again, to finish the conversation. To say all the things he should have…

“You have somewhere to be?” Lord Albright offered. He didn’t seem offended. If anything, he had a regretful air.

Yes. Yes, I have places to be. I need to see my fiancée.

Indeed, the urge to see her. The need to talk to her…

He clutched the arms of his chair to hold himself still. “I have enough time to hear your update,” he finally said.

“Very well. I’ll do my best to keep it concise.” Lord Albright’s smile was at odds with the next words out of his mouth. “It seems as though my cousin’s suspicions were correct. From what I gather, someone with powerful connections is involved in the smuggling ring. It’s the reason it’s grown to a point where it’s attracted the attention of the crown.”

Marlin frowned. “Any idea who?”

Albright hesitated. “I have my suspicions. But if it’s all right with you, I’d like to do some more investigating before I make any accusations.”

Marlin nodded, his gut twisting at the other man’s hesitant manner. “I’m not under suspicion, am I?”

“No,” he said quickly.

Perhaps…too quickly.

Albright looked away and when he spoke he seemed to be choosing his words wisely. “This operation began before you returned from the military. Before…” He cleared his throat. “Before your brother passed.”

Marlin’s jaw clenched, his throat felt too tight. “What are you suggesting?”

Albright’s flinch was so fleeting he nearly missed it. But there was no denying the regret in his eyes. “If you don’t mind me asking, how close were you with your brother?”

The silence stretched too long. In the end he had to drag the words out. “Not at all close, I’m afraid. My brother was older and…”

And the heir. That was the long and short of it. His brother had been important. He’d also been perfect, according to his parents. Smart at school, good with people…

Everything he was not.

“Do you think it’s possible he, er…” Albright winced. “That he knew about this?”

Marlin’s chin jerked back. “Pardon?”

Albright leaned forward until his elbows rested on his knees. “I am not here to throw around accusations. And if you find this too offensive?—”

“No,” he said quickly. “Like I said. He was as good as a stranger to me, so it’s not offensive, merely…”

He never did finish that statement. How could he? How was one to describe such a thing? This man clearly believed his perfect brother might have been involved in something illegal?

When it became clear Albright was waiting for him to speak, he cleared his throat. “What do you require from me?”

Albright seemed to relax a bit, and Marlin realized then that the other man must have expected anger or a fight.

His insides fell slightly. Perhaps a better brother would have been offended on his behalf. His mind inexplicably went back to the other night. To Jane and the anger in her eyes. The way she’d looked at him…

Like he was cruel.

Unfeeling.

The stab of regret in his chest was unbearable and Albright’s words about wishing to review old documents barely made it through the haze of pain.

He nodded. “Very well. I’ll arrange for you to meet with my solicitor. He’ll provide you with whatever you need.”

Albright stood. “I won’t keep you any longer. And I, er…I apologize if I’ve caused you any harm with my suspicions.”

He shook his head. “I barely knew my brother.”

The admission sounded as cold as it felt. He couldn’t quite meet the other man’s eyes. How utterly pathetic.

He’d barely known his own brother, because he hadn’t tried to know him. Because his brother hadn’t wanted to know him, any more than their parents had expressed any interest in him.

It wasn’t until the military that he’d found a purpose, but even there no one had cared about who he was, other than his rank and his efficiency at his job.

Maybe that was why Jane’s own hurt feelings so affected him. He understood what it was to be ignored and overlooked, and he’d done the same to her. He hadn’t meant to hurt her.

If anything, he’d thought he was keeping her safe. Not infringing on her time or her person. Giving her room to get used to their arrangement, or?—

Oh blast. He couldn’t say why he’d kept her at such a distance, other than he hadn’t known how to close the yawning divide between them.

So he hadn’t tried.

His heart was picking up speed as Albright said his goodbyes.

He hadn’t even tried. And that fact was pricking his skin, making her words from the other night come back to haunt him.

She’d been right. And he’d been wrong. All this time, he’d handled everything all wrong.

Marlin was on his feet and following the other man to the door before he knew what he was about. But the moment the other man was out the door and hurrying to his carriage, he turned to a servant. “Have Jack ready my horse.”

The young man’s eyes widened as he glanced out the still open door to the slanting rain. “Now, my lord?”

“Now,” he said, his voice firm.

That need to see her had reached a point of overwhelm, made all the more urgent by his conversation with Albright.

He had to see her. He had to speak to her.

What could he say that could redeem himself in her eyes?

He had no idea.

But he was desperate to try.