Loving Lord Egleton: A Regency Romance (Regency Matchmakers Book 3), Laura Beers [ap literature book list .TXT] 📗

“It would be nothing that I didn’t deserve.”

Edward sighed. “Why don’t you start at the beginning so I can try to make sense of this madness?”

Martin leaned back on the settee. “My father came home yesterday and informed me that he had accrued a hefty gambling debt to Lord and Lady Whittingham.”

“How hefty?”

“Ten thousand pounds.”

Edward let out a low whistle. “That is a substantial sum.”

“I agree,” Martin said. “Apparently, Lord Whittingham is more interested in buying a title for his daughter than the money. So, he has offered to waive the gambling debt if I marry his daughter.”

“I see,” Edward acknowledged. “How was this received by you?”

“Not well, and I informed my father that I refuse to marry Lady Isabella.”

“Are you in a position to do so?”

Martin frowned. “Our estates are profitable, but we do not have an extra ten thousand pounds to just give away.”

“That’s understandable.”

“Which is why I was flabbergasted when I explained my situation to Hannah, and she offered to give me the money.”

Edward’s brow lifted. “She did?”

Martin put his hands up in front of him. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I have no intention of actually taking her money.”

“I am glad to hear that.”

“I was so touched by her thoughtfulness that I let my guard down and I kissed her.”

Edward huffed. “I should note that I don’t go around kissing people who have been thoughtful towards me.”

“It is different with Hannah,” he said. “It always has been.”

“I’m not sure to what you are referring.”

Martin was unsure how to explain what he meant, because he couldn’t seem to put it into words. Hannah had always been special to him. He had always admired her quiet strength and her ability to make him smile when he felt the world was crashing down upon him.

Seeing the expectant look on Edward’s face, Martin said, “I’m afraid I can’t explain it, but I am worried that this may affect our friendship.”

“I have no doubt that it will,” Edward stated. “You must be prepared for the consequences of your actions.”

“Please don’t say that.”

Edward leaned back in his chair. “I know you care for Hannah, but it might be best if you didn’t come around our home for a while.”

“Are you in earnest?”

“I am,” Edward replied. “You have never given me a reason to not trust you before, but now I am not entirely sure you will do right by Hannah.”

“That is unfair of you to say,” Martin asserted.

“Is it?” Edward asked, eyeing him critically. “You kissed her in the gardens, but you have no intentions towards her.”

Martin winced at the truthfulness of his friend’s words. “I would never hurt Hannah.”

“But you already did.”

Rising, Martin walked over to the mantel over the fireplace and leaned against it. “Do you think she will ever forgive me for my thoughtlessness?”

“Women can be rather fickle when it comes to forgiveness,” Edward remarked.

“I’m not going to give up on Hannah.”

Edward nodded approvingly. “Good. I know Hannah thinks very highly of you.”

Martin pushed off the mantel. “I should be going,” he said. “I have a meeting with my man of business.”

“Before you go,” Edward started, “what are your intentions towards Lady Emma now that you have kissed Hannah?”

Martin gave him a blank look. “I am not sure.”

“It was my understanding that you and Lady Emma were growing rather close before this debacle,” Edward stated.

“That is true.”

“And now?”

Martin tilted his head back and briefly looked up at the ceiling. “Nothing is certain anymore, but I do care for Lady Emma.”

“Caring for someone is a far cry from offering for them.”

“I am well aware.”

Edward rose from his chair. “I will walk you out, since it’s time I joined Kate for breakfast,” he said as he walked over to the door and opened it.

As he left, Martin felt like he was leaving a part of himself at the townhouse—with Hannah.

14

The sun was setting as Martin sat at his desk. The ledgers were open in front of him, but they were the furthest thing from his mind. His thoughts kept returning to Hannah. The look of betrayal on her face after he had kissed her was etched on his very soul. He couldn’t seem to escape it. Every time he closed his eyes, he kept reliving that moment, over and over.

What had he done?

He had done precisely the thing that he did not want to do. He had hurt Hannah because of his thoughtlessness. For someone who prided themselves on making sensible choices, he sure did make a muck out of things.

To make matters worse, he had met with his man of business and it was determined that the loss of ten thousand pounds would be detrimental to their finances. Their only solution would be to sell off one of their estates to raise the funds.

Martin didn’t think he could deal with any more bad news. Frankly, he was at his wit’s end right now. He just wanted to go to bed early and pretend that today never happened.

As he rose from his desk, his father walked into the room. “You will be pleased to hear that Lord Whittingham and Lady Isabella will be joining us for dinner,” he announced. “They are set to arrive any moment now.”

“You are just telling me this now?”

Ralph smirked. “I didn’t want to give you the opportunity to back out.”

“That was a rather underhanded thing to do.”

“I just felt that if you got to know Lady Isabella, your apprehensions about marrying her would be long forgotten.”

“I doubt that will happen.”

His father walked closer to the desk with a solemn expression. “We both know what is at stake here, son.”

“Yes, my future.”

“Our futures,” he corrected.

Martin walked over to the drink cart and picked up the decanter. “You should know that I met with Mr. Scott. He confirmed that we don’t have the funds to pay for your gambling debts.”

“I am well aware of that fact.”

After he poured himself a drink, Martin put the decanter down and picked up his glass. “You were foolish to fall prey to