Page 51 of Indecent
“Truth be told, I’ve had about enough of my cousin,” Mort grumbled. “I may go out on my own. If I do, you’re welcome to come train with me.” He took another drink of ale, then speared Bennet with a weighty glower. “Just know that I don’t truck with fixed fights or money-making schemes.”
“Nor do I anymore.” It had taken a botched kidnapping to make him see what a selfish blackguard he’d been.
“Good. Don’t bother going back to Fred’s even to resign. Don’t give him the satisfaction.”
“I’ll take that advice, thank you.” Bennet caught sight of Lucien coming into the members’ den. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with Lord Lucien.”
Mort nodded, and Bennet stood to approach Lucien.
“Lucien,” he said, upon reaching the man’s side. “Might I have a word with you in your office? It won’t take long.”
Lucien’s dark brows arched briefly, then he gestured for Bennet to go ahead and leave the members’ den. Bennet went straight into the office and heard the door shut.
“How did things go with Mrs. Merryfield and Miss Conkle?” Lucien asked.
“Well enough, thank you. I appreciate the introductions.”
“I’m sensing hesitation,” Lucien said slowly.
Bennet frowned. “You provoked me to think about alternatives after we spoke the other night. While I do need money as soon as possible, I’d like to find an investment scheme that will offer some security.”
“Do you mean in place of marriage?”
Yes, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to commit to that out loud. The last thing he wanted was for a rumor to start that although he was marrying for money, he didn’t really want to marry at all. Except it wouldn’t be a rumor since it was flatly true.
“I don’t know,” Bennet said. “But I’d like to try to make an investment. Do you have any you recommend? I can’t afford much.” He rubbed his left hand along his jaw.
Lucien’s gaze arrested on Bennet’s hand. “Why don’t you sell that ring? That looks rather dear.”
Bennet straightened his hand in front of his chest, then quickly dropped it to his side. “I couldn’t. Besides, I don’t think it’s worth much.” It would never be worth more in money than it was in sentiment—not to Bennet.
Lucien stepped closer, his gaze fixing on Bennet’s hand. “May I see it?”
Reluctantly, Bennet lifted his hand. Lucien stared at it a moment, then sucked in a breath. “I’ll be damned,” he breathed. “That crest is from my grandmother’s family.” He lifted his head to pin Bennet with a fiery stare. “Where did you get it?”
Unease rippled along Bennet’s shoulders. “I won it in a card game, but I don’t remember where or from whom. I’ve had it awhile.” Telling Lucien the truth wasn’t an option.
“It belongs to my family, to my Aunt Christina, I believe, since my grandmother is gone. My grandmother is wearing it in a portrait at my father’s house. It’s in his study.”
Bennet’s gut clenched. He couldn’t give it up. How had Prudence’s mother gotten it?
Lucien frowned. “It’s not fair of me to ask you to just give it to me, especially with your current hardship.” He focused on Bennet, his eyes glinting with determination. “I propose you give me the ring, and I’ll invest a good sum on a solid, secure investment—guaranteed to pay good money and sooner rather than later. That would be more beneficial to you than giving you money outright, but I could do that too if you prefer. Would you agree to either of those scenarios?”
Fuck.Bennet didn’t want to give up the ring at all. But how could he refuse? He’d dragged Lucien in here out of desperation and to decline such an offer would raise questions, not the least of which would be whether Bennet was sane.
He definitely didn’t want to answer that.
He wanted to say that he couldn’t agree, that he’d fibbed and the ring actually belonged to someone else for whom he was holding it for safekeeping. But that would only arouse more questions—and Bennet already had plenty of those. He wanted to ask Prudence how her mother had gotten the ring. Perhaps she didn’t know.
“You’re quite hesitant,” Lucien noted. “And you haven’t yet sold that ring despite your need. Does it mean something to you?”
Bennet recalled Lucien’s speech about friendship, how honesty was necessary. And here Bennet was lying to him repeatedly. But he had no choice. He couldn’t tell him where he’d really gotten the ring or why he didn’t want to part with it. Yet again, he was hiding things, as he’d always done. With everyone, including Prudence, the person who’d seen him at his most vulnerable. “I rarely gamble. In fact, I haven’t since I won this ring. It seemed a token of good fortune, so I haven’t wanted to give it up.” The story fell from his lips with ease, but then he’d spent a lifetime crafting tales to appease various members of his family so that it was now second nature. The truth was that Bennet didn’t gamble at all. Not after seeing what it had done to his father.
“Let me think on it,” Bennet continued. Prudencehadtold him to sell it. Still, he’d speak to her first, particularly since learning where this ring really came from. He narrowed one eye at Lucien. “You’re certain this is your family’s ring?”
“Completely. It’s a very old coat of arms from my grandmother’s family, going back many generations. I remember it quite distinctly.”
So curious. Bennet was eager to speak to Prudence about it.
