Charming the Elusive Earl (Charmed By Chance #2)

Chapter 15

15

A ll of the happiness that had been warming Marlin was rapidly fading in the face of Lord Albright.

Or rather…Lord Albright’s news.

“My brother,” Marlin repeated. As if this might help to make the news more palatable. “You believe my brother was involved in this smuggling ring.”

Lord Albright kept the same stoic expression as he dipped his head. “At first. And we don’t know to what extent. I understand how difficult this must be to hear. But the investigators I’ve hired have individually come back with reports claiming that he’d been involved… at least in the beginning.”

Marlin leaned back in his seat.

“It makes no sense, I know,” Albright continued in the wake of Marlin’s prolonged silence. “I do not understand myself why an Earl of such magnitude would do such a thing?—”

“I do.” He steepled his fingers together as he lifted his head to meet the other man’s grim expression. “Actually, it does much to explain the sudden turnaround in finances.”

Lord Albright’s brows shot up so high, Marlin nearly laughed.

The other man shook his head. “My apologies, it’s just…I thought perhaps you’d…”

Marlin took pity when he trailed off with a grimace. “You’d thought I’d argue. Or perhaps defend my brother’s honor?”

At Albright’s wince, Marlin felt a small flicker of guilt. Perhaps if he’d been a better brother he’d have done that. “My father raised us to be strangers,” he said at last. “I cannot say I was well acquainted with my brother when he was alive, and what I knew of him did little to earn my regard.”

“I see.” Albright nodded, resting his hands on his knees, no doubt relieved that the worst was over and hadn’t been met with anger and outrage.

“I assume you have proof?”

Albright nodded again. “Nothing incontrovertible, but enough evidence that I felt obliged to inform you.”

“You’re worried about the reputation of my family,” he said, surprise evident in his tone.

Albright arched a brow. “Aren’t you?”

Marlin didn’t answer. Yes and no, he supposed. On one hand, he cared little what others thought of him or his lineage. He never had.

He supposed some part of him had resented the earldom and all it stood for long before he’d inherited it. And after, it had been nothing but a burden.

All this time he’d been trying to live up to the sort of Earl his brother had been…

No, the sort of Earl his brother was supposed to be.

But the more he’d uncovered the depths of his brother’s hidden vices and secret debts since taking over the earldom, the more he’d begun to realize that his brother might have been a picture perfect figurehead, but like a picture, that veneer of perfection was as thin as a layer of paint on canvas.

Perhaps that was why Albright’s news didn’t shock him. If anything, he felt a certain amount of relief as that former idyllic picture of his brother finally shattered to pieces. The newly formed image in his mind was far from flattering. And while that was disappointing as a brother, it was oddly a relief that he had no perfect shoes to fill.

Merely human shoes. And that he could do. It was what he had been doing all this time.

And yet…

At the same time, his mind called up the image of Lady Jane’s sweet smile.

A scandal to his family name wouldn’t affect him, but it would surely be a detriment to her. No young lady would wish to align herself with a house so tarnished once the news got out.

He swallowed hard. Then again, such a scandal was exactly the excuse she’d need to cry off this engagement without angering her family.

The air seemed to turn to poison as the thought took hold.

“I must ask that you keep this to yourself,” Albright continued. “I thought you ought to be the first to know. But for the time being, at least, I’d prefer not to let anyone know that we’ve found that link to the peerage.”

Marlin blinked and his mind connected the pieces of the puzzle. “You’re searching for another perpetrator.”

Albright nodded. “It seems someone else took over the enterprise after your brother’s passing, and we’ve yet to ascertain who.”

Marlin nodded.

Albright winced. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of this news.”

“No. Indeed.” Marlin summoned what he hoped was a smile as he came to stand. “I’m grateful you came to me first.”

Albright turned toward the door. “Rest assured, I will do my best to ensure your brother’s actions don’t reflect poorly on you.”

“But they will,” he said. They’d affect him…and his bride, whoever she might be. “I’ll need to tell Jane and her father.”

Albright nodded in understanding, and while Marlin had done his best to sound unaffected, Albright looked so pained on his behalf, Marlin changed the topic to relieve the other man. “I suppose I ought to be thankful you’re not questioning my part in all this.”

Albright flashed him a quick smile. “It’s clear you were nowhere near any of this when it started, and equally obvious you were not privy to this information after you took over the estate.”

They were quiet for a moment, until Albright made a move to leave. “Will I see you at the Grovers’ ball tonight, Lord Marlin?”

He started to say no, but rethought it. Or rather, he thought of Jane’s voice as she’d said, I want one society outing where I don’t hear whispers and laughter.

He might not be able to help her there for long, but for tonight…

Tonight he could do that for her, at the very least.

“I will be there.” And he’d make sure everyone knew he was there for Jane.

But he’d also attend for his own selfish reasons. Because this night would likely be the last time he’d have the opportunity to claim her as his fiancée.

No one would blame her for tossing him over once news broke of his brother’s crimes.

Not even him.

* * *

The crowd was thick when he arrived, but he knew by now where to find Jane.

She’d told him herself of the way she and her friends had taken to finding a table on the outskirts where they might hide away. She’d looked him straight in the eyes and told him she was a wallflower.

But that was his fault, and his alone. Not even her shy nature would deter a man. Not when she was so fetching and so sweet.

But she was also taken.

He’d branded her with their engagement, and that had made her a prisoner of sorts, tethered to him even when he was not there.

His own past actions weighed heavily on him, and he was barely aware of the greetings and nods he received as he wound his way through the crowd.

And then there she was. He caught sight of her on the far end of the room. Indeed, she was in a corner, surrounded by her friends.

And she was so beautiful she made his heart stop.

It started again with a bittersweet ache. For tonight she was his to claim, but for how much longer?

The thought might have dragged him into a foul mood, but at that moment, she looked up, and her smile when she spotted him made everything else fade away.

No matter what became of them, he’d never regret this time with her. He’d be nothing but grateful for the chance he’d had to get to know such a person.

Soon the others took note of him approaching, and he took full advantage. Straightening to his full height, he spoke a little louder than absolutely necessary as the music faded. “Lady Jane, there you are.”

Her brows arched and her lips parted as he slid past her gawking friends to reach her side. “You look beautiful tonight, my dear.”

“I…” Her cheeks stained pink, but her smile was the one he adored. It was genuine and innocent and spoke of everything good in this world.

He was vaguely aware of the whispers around them as he bowed over her gloved hand. “May I have this dance?”

Moments later he led her onto the dance floor, and into his arms.

Her laugh wound its way through the last of his defenses and settled in his heart.

Blast. She was in his heart. Her smile, her voice, her eyes, her bravery, her mind. Everything that made Jane who she was. It had become a part of him.

And he hated that he’d have to let her go.

Perhaps she saw something of his regret because concern lit her eyes as she moved in time with the music. “Is everything all right?”

No. “There’s something we ought to discuss.” He glanced around pointedly. “Alone.”

Her nod was surprisingly eager. And it warmed his heart even as it pained him to know that he’d finally succeeded.

His Jane might not share his feelings, but at least she was no longer scared of him.

“Yes, there’s something I wish to discuss with you as well,” she said.

The rest of the dance was painfully sweet, and grew more fraught with tension with each passing heartbeat.

The longer he held her, the more achingly aware he was that he’d have to let go.

When the music came to an end, she nodded toward the veranda.

It was a moment far too much like the last. Except that night had marked the beginning in a way.

And tonight…

Tonight marked the end.