Page 82 of The Baron Takes a Bet
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Mannion?”
“Ah, I only mean your mother was absolutely against me purchasing Felton Manor off her, even though I offered her exactly what it was worth,” he said as if he was being generous by being fair. “But she wouldn’t have it. A stubborn lady, she was, but I am grateful that you’ve at least come to your senses.”
Holly shook her head, unsure of what she was hearing.
“What are you speaking about, Mr. Mannion?”
“The sale of Felton Manor, of course,” he said as if she should know. “I had papers drawn up at your brother’s request. It was our whole reason for coming to London. Well, that and all this, of course.” He nodded around the room.
Holly’s stomach dropped as she stared.
“Excuse me?” she asked, feeling suddenly light-headed. “Jasper requested papers be drawn up?”
“Yes.”
Jasper had threatened to sell Felton Manor for months, but she never believed he would actually do it. He wasn’t even of legal age to do so. He couldn’t have had the papers drawn up until the following week.
“Mr. Mannion, I’m not sure what my brother said to you, but he isn’t the executor to the property yet.”
“Well, I know that.”
“Then you must forgive me, because it sounds as though you’re sure that someone has sold you Felton Manor.”
“Well, yes, your husband has.”
“My…husband,” she said slowly as it dawned on her.
Gavin sold Felton Manor? But it hadn’t even finished being renovated. And indeed, he wouldn’t have done something so outrageous behind her back. Would he?
Suddenly desperate to speak with him, Holly made her excuses to Mr. Mannion and moved along the edge of the ballroom, following Gavin and Katrina as they moved effortlessly with the other dancers. A slight ringing filled Holly’s ears as pain seized her heart.
How could she have been so foolish? Apparently, Gavin and Jasper had decided to get rid of her family home without mentioning it to her. She was furious at the betrayal, buteven more surprisingly, her heart hurt. Why did she feel so heartbroken?
Unable to keep up with their dancing, Holly walked quickly, only to be stopped by Clara.
“Holly,” her friend chirped until she saw her face. “Oh my, what’s wrong?”
Holly opened her mouth to speak when a sudden commotion erupted behind them in the ballroom doorway. Confused, both women strained their necks to see over the crowd. The familiar, walnut-colored hair that bobbed back and forth in a devil-may-care way made Holly’s insides twist.
Good god,no.
“—I’ve reason enough to challenge you, but I’d feel remorse for killing a child.”
“Go on then!” Jasper’s voice pierced her ear through the gasps and chatter. “Let us settle this like gentlemen!”
Holly was suddenly frantic. Jasper was going to kill himself, and she didn’t know what to do. Thankfully, Clara gripped her wrist and pulled her down the way.
“We’ll find Silas at once. He’ll do something,” Clara said as they moved. “What on earth is Jasper even doing here?”
“I don’t know,” Holly said, unsure herself. As if conjured by magic, Gavin’s form suddenly crossed their paths.
Clara stopped at once but kept herself between Gavin and Holly, for which Holly was grateful. She wasn’t sure what was worse, her brother making a scene or Gavin’s betrayal.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, but before either could answer, the commotion became more distant. Someone seemed to have led the arguing men out of the ballroom and into the hallway, though the voices carried through. Gavin frowned. “Was that Jasper?”
Holly wasn’t sure what to do, much less say. She wanted to run after Jasper to settle whatever new issue he had created, butshe knew it would be an empty attempt. She and her brother could not seem to cooperate on anything nowadays. A part of her wanted desperately to lean on Gavin, but the audacity of his betrayal for selling Felton Manor was too great. She tried to get away from him, from everyone in that crowded room.
Miserably, tears began to sting her eyes. She didn’t want to ruin Katrina’s evening, but she couldn’t bear to stay, not when Jasper might be in the process of landing himself in a duel that could end in his death. She saw Clara and cleared her throat.
