14. The Penitent Brother Tells His Tale #2
Miles took a swig of brandy and began. “It started innocently enough. A visit to a gaming club with some friends. A hand of cards here, a few wagers there. It was—well, thrilling, Alex. The green tables, the rush of winning—or nearly winning. The camaraderie, the laughter. It was intoxicating.” He gave a bitter laugh.
“But then, one night, the stakes climbed higher. Before I knew it, I was down a thousand. Frank was making a fortune at the Hazard table, and the proprietor suggested that, since my luck with cards had fled, I might try my hand at the dice instead.” He shook his head.
“That thousand turned into two, and suddenly, I was caught—trapped.”
He swirled the contents of his goblet, then raked a hand through his hair, his voice dropping to a whisper.
“I couldn’t believe it. I told myself it was just a run of terrible luck, and that I’d win it back the next time.
So I tried other tables, smaller stakes.
And I did win—here and there—just enough to keep hope alive.
But never enough to make a dent in what I owed.
That’s the cruel thing about it—it keeps you chasing, always thinking you’re just one hand away from freedom.
It isn’t only the debt that ensnares you; it’s the promise that you can escape it.
Every win, every little victory, feels like a step forward, but in truth, it’s just another tightening of the noose. ”
He looked up, his eyes dark with self-reproach.
“So there it is. One night, one foolish decision, and now my life is not my own. Every shilling I make, every wager I place—it’s all for them.
And the worst part? I’ve no one to blame but myself.
I walked into it with my eyes wide open.
That’s how they catch you. They call it ‘The Bitter Grip’—and not without cause. ”
Alex, who had been listening in silence, now spoke. “The Bitter Grip? Don’t tell me you were lured to Sixes they’d soon discover I had none.
But a secret engagement to a lady, whose name, as a gentleman, I could not possibly reveal—and which they could not disprove—seemed a sound idea at the time.
And indeed, it bought me the time I needed for you to arrive and bail me out.
So, will you, Alex? Will you pay off all my wretched debts? ”
“First,” Alex said calmly, “you will tell me how Lucinda became entangled in this farce.”
“Oh, she’s not! She knows nothing of my debts—or my fictitious heiress.
It’s only that Aunt Bella took it into her head to match her with Lord Creswell.
And since that pompous fool is always partial to a generous dowry, he laid siege to her in earnest. So Lucinda told him we were secretly engaged to rid herself of him. ”
“She was convinced that would work?” Alex sounded incredulous.
“Lu is always convinced of the success of her schemes. Don’t you remember what she was like?”
Alex remembered. All too well.
Miles continued. “The truth of the matter is, I’m in two separate sticky webs and the spiders are unwittingly working together.”
In his wingback, Johan’s shoulders shook.
“Ignore him,” said Alex. “Continue to shed light on these webs of yours.”
“Well, you see, the web of Lucinda’s making was a bother, but understandable, given her predicament.
Aunt Bella can be relentless as you well know and I felt for her.
It wasn’t till I realized Creswell had been asking Lucinda if she knew the name of my so-called fiancée, that Lu, being Lu, saw an opportunity to put a hurdle in his path. ”
“I find it in my heart to pity the man,” Alex murmured. “The news of her engagement does tend to lay one low.”
“It brought out his jealous streak something monstrous. So don’t waste your time pitying him!” Miles said hotly. “Don’t you see? He must be working for my bloodsuckers. No one else knew of my lie. He was only asking on the Bittermanns’ behalf.”
The swirling brandy in Johan’s hand stilled. His glass clinked as he set it down. “Did you say Bittermann?” There was an edge to his voice. “Do you mean Lilith Bittermann and her beast of a brother?”
Miles nodded. “Lilith and Rudi Bittermann. Do you know them? Lady Bitter, with her icy smirk, is always so polite, so understanding, as though she’s doing you a favor by letting you owe her more. And Rudi…well, let’s just say you don’t want to see him collecting.”
All merriment left the Dutchman. “I know exactly who they are.”