Regency Reputation: A Reputation for Notoriety / A Marriage of Notoriety

But it was done.

Rhys would make arrangements with his bank and get the money to Ned this day.

Sun peeked through the buildings and Rhys was reminded of his youth in the village. It had not all been unhappy. He remembered running over hills, fishing in the river, climbing the highest tree he could find to look down on a world where he ordinarily felt quite small. The seeds of his ambition were sowed in that childhood—to succeed. To build something lasting.

The world was changing. The gaming hell belonged to a past where a few had so much money they could throw it away on dice and cards. The future belonged to men with brains and courage, no matter who parented them. Rhys had brains and courage and, with the help of the gaming hell, he’d soon have enough capital to build anything he liked.

His thoughts turned to Celia Allen as the sun warmed the air and lit the buildings in a golden light. Which world did she belong to? He no longer knew. He only knew that in the gaming hell, they were one of a kind.

Would she share his bed this night?

Would she approve of his actions this day?

Not that he would ever tell her, but, somehow his visit to the Westleighs, the family to which he would never truly belong, had left him feeling abandoned.

He wanted the comfort of her arms, her kiss.

He looked up to cross the street and saw Ned approaching from the other side. He stopped and waited. He might as well inform Ned about the afternoon’s events.

Ned walked right past him, not pointedly cutting him, as was typical of him, but apparently utterly oblivious.

Rhys called after him, ‘Ned!’

Ned stopped then and shook his head as if in a daze. He finally turned around. ‘Oh, Rhys. I did not see you there.’

He must be dazed. He called him Rhys, not Rhysdale.

He peered at Ned. ‘Are you unwell?’

Ned laughed. ‘Not at all. Merely thinking.’

The man looked like a sapskull. ‘What is so engrossing?’

Ned grinned. ‘Nothing.’

Oh. A woman.

A man only acted in such a manner when he was a besotted fool. ‘May I pull your head from the clouds?’

Ned sobered. ‘What is it?’

‘I’ve come from your father.’ Their father, he meant. ‘I have forced the issue with him and I am satisfied that my introduction to society will happen soon. I am prepared to transfer the money back to you. Your original investment and some modest profits.’

Ned brightened. ‘My father came through? I feared he would not.’ He grasped Rhys’s arm. ‘This means … This means … We may retrench. We may actually pull out of this!’

Rhys recoiled from this unexpected camaraderie. ‘Do not be so hasty. It is not all song and celebration. I am afraid this matter has caused your mother some distress. For that, I am regretful.’

‘My mother?’ Ned’s demeanour blackened. ‘Did Father tell her?’

‘I did,’ Rhys said. ‘Although not by design. She encountered me in the hall.’

Ned lowered his head, his euphoria gone.

Rhys felt badly for him. ‘Think, Ned. She would have to know of this.’

‘I realise that,’ Ned responded. ‘I just hate what this does to her.’

Rhys actually felt sympathetic to Ned. ‘If it is any consolation, she knew who I was as soon as I told her my name.’

Ned nodded. ‘That does not surprise me. I am certain, though, that she did not know the state of our finances.’

‘Yes, I do think that shocked her,’ Rhys admitted. ‘I admired her. She handled the whole situation with exceptional grace.’

Ned glanced up at him. ‘She is an exceptional woman.’

Rhys clapped Ned on the soldier, surprising himself that their conversation was devoid of hostility. ‘Come with me to Coutts Bank. I’ll transfer the money to you right now.’

‘Excellent!’ Ned’s mood improved. ‘But I must be done by four o’clock.’

‘We’ll be done,’ Rhys assured him.

Celia excused herself after two of her mother-in-law’s friends came to call. Adele had already begged to be excused so that she might ready herself for her ride in Hyde Park.

It was endearing to see Adele so excited and happy. This past year of mourning had been so difficult. First the shock of their financial situation, then what amounted to an eviction from the only home Adele had ever known.

And now Luther thought he could court Adele?

Not if Celia could help it.

Although Celia was unsure about Neddington, as well.

But she was getting ahead of herself. Adele was engaged only for a ride in Hyde Park, not marriage.

Celia retreated to her bedchamber.

Her lady’s maid emerged from her dressing room. ‘Good afternoon, ma’am.’ She lifted a gown she carried in her arms. ‘I came in for this. Needs some mending.’

‘Thank you, Younie.’ Celia smiled. ‘I am surprised to see you here, though. I thought Adele would be running you in circles to get ready for Hyde Park.’

‘Oh, I am to go to her in one half hour,’ Younie said. ‘After she has rested so the dark circles under her eyes disappear.’

‘What dark circles?’ Adele looked as fresh-faced as ever.

Younie chuckled. ‘The ones in her imagination, I expect. It is best to go along with these notions, though. You cannot convince a girl that age of anything.’

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