and loving. But I am sure you know all that already.”
“Harumph” was Brent’s only reply.
Jess knew he should apologize for his behavior but it would be a lie to say he was sorry for it. “I’m sorry for the pain I caused her, sir. I apologize for the embarrassment I caused you and her sister and the countess. I was hoping that you would accept my apology and we could move on.”
“So you have the land back from Lord Crenshaw’s estate?”
“Not yet, sir,” Jess admitted, “but I have already taken steps in that direction and am assured that the land is not part of the entail.”
“Hmmm, we’ll see.”
“But I do not need to wait for the eventuality. My family owns other land that is mined and I am sure that something can be worked out to our families’ mutual advantage.”
“Does not your brother have first claim on that?”
“Not if I think of it before him.”
Brent made a sound that was part laughter and part respect.
“For how long would you be willing to lease the property, my lord? And the mining rights?”
Here was the hard part, Jess thought. “For as long as Beatrice will allow it.”
“What does that mean?”
“I want to marry your daughter, sir. I would have said that I will lease the land to you as long as our marriage lasts, but since I have been involved in a divorce already, that might not convey the depth of my commitment to her.”
“You want to marry her? Or is it that you feel compelled to offer for her after she provided you with an alibi?”
“My behavior with your daughter has not been admirable. But as someone pointed out to me recently, I can change any time I choose to. I choose to now, and with Beatrice at my side I know that change will last.”
Mr. Brent shook his head and Jess’s heart fell. Was he going to say no?
“The girl is willful and opinionated, my lord.”
“Two things I love about her, sir.”
Brent looked at him with interest, as his whole body relaxed a little. “She is endlessly curious.”
“What I love best.” Jess could not help smiling at the thought.
“You will give up gaming,” the older man commanded. Jess’s smile had apparently darkened Brent’s mood again.
“That I cannot do,” Jess said.
Brent’s face went from dark to stormy.
“I will always take chances in life, but I will no longer do it in gaming hells. I took a chance when I offered you the coal mine.”
Brent nodded and even smiled a little. There was no doubt in Jess’s mind that Brent liked to gamble in his own way. How else to explain the man’s willingness to let his daughter marry someone who only hoped to be able to provide the coal mine he had promised?
“I will gamble with you on the mining operation, on the ship-owning adventure. And I will take the biggest gamble of all.”
“And that is?” Brent stood up.
“That Beatrice will accept my proposal and the two of us will take a chance on a future together. Forever.”
“I am almost convinced.”
Jess suspected that Beatrice’s father had a sentimental streak ten feet wide.
“If you can convince my girl then I will permit it. But I warn you that if you break her heart, I will break you down to a man with no money, no reputation, and nothing but air to live on.”
“If I hurt her, sir, it will be no less than I deserve.”
JESS WANTED A drink to bolster his courage. He washed his face with cold water instead. He wanted to wait until evening when he would have a better sense of how she felt about him today. Instead he went to look for her right away.
At least he knew how to draw her attention and how to convey his feelings for her in a language she would understand.
Nora Kendrick had agreed to help him, telling him where and when he might run into her and Beatrice. He found the two walking through the art gallery, discussing various paintings.
Beatrice did not seem surprised to see him, which made Jess ever so grateful that Nora was on his side. Nora excused herself, and Beatrice gave Finch back to his mistress reluctantly. “I think I shall have to find myself a puppy when I return home.”
“The right sort can be amazingly good company,” Nora agreed. “I can see if any of Finch’s littermates have pups, if you would like.”
“Thank you, the thought that I will hear from you once we leave Havenhall