Page 43 of The Baron Takes a Bet
“Aunt Marnie, I’m thirty-one years old,” he said, the edge of frustration tinging his voice. “Stop acting like I’m ten and you just won custody.”
She turned on her nephew.
“Won? Won? John didn’t want you, remember? He practically laughed in my face when I asked for an allowance to bring you up.”
“Yes, I am aware,” Gavin answered, exasperated. “You’ve mentioned it.”
Holly’s frown increased at the old woman’s words. John wasn’t the type to cast out anyone, and she doubted that he would have refused this woman money to bring up his only nephew and heir. His own flesh and blood.
“Ungrateful boy! And now, when you’ve finally succeeded in inheriting the title, he’s got you shackled to some local wench who is undoubtedly aware of his depraved sexual—”
“That is enough,” Gavin said loudly, shocking everyone into silence.
Holly had never heard Gavin speak so forcefully, and apparently, neither had his aunt, who did a very good job at cowering. Just then, a long, irritated meow sounded from the corner of the room, catching everyone’s attention.
“That blasted animal,” Marnie mumbled, stepping back. “It attacks everyone. I’ve only been here since this morning, and it nearly mauled me alive when I arrived.”
Holly stood on her tiptoes, peering around Gavin’s shoulder as she saw a swish of grey in the corner. There, sitting on a green velvet pillow, was the cat Holly had been told she’d inherited. Pauline Musgrove.
“Supposedly it doesn’t like raised voices,” Holly said, remembering what Mr. Armstrong said, earning her a raised eyebrow from Gavin. Holly gave him a partial smile. “Or so I’m told.”
“Gavin, you must listen to me,” Marnie tried to interject, but he held up his hand to silence her.
“Aunt Marnie, it’s been a long journey and I’d rather discuss this all another time. Now, I’m aware how you feel about Uncle John, but the fact of the matter is Holly and I are married.” His aunt huffed indignantly. “And as upset as you are about it, I assure you we’re taking all the necessary actions to dissolve it.”
“Well, thank goodness—”
“But I will not accept anyone disparaging her,” he said, his eyes meeting Holly’s. “Do I make myself clear?”
Holly couldn’t tear her gaze away from his, a bubbling of hot and cold coursing through her. He would defend her for as long as they were together, but what if they really were to be separated by an annulment? Would Gavin still try to protect her?
“That’s because you are a gentleman, no thanks to that wicked brother of mine,” Marnie said sourly after a moment. Sheturned. “And by the sounds of it, you’ve already begun to handle this farce. Which is good. We don’t want John to win.”
Gavin rolled his eyes as the old woman turned toward the door.
“Yes, heaven forbid a dead man get the best ofyouby marryingmeoff.”
The sarcasm of his words seemed to land directly at his aunt’s feet.
“I’ll be retiring then, since you’ve gone into one of your fits,” she said. “I’ll be taking my old room. I hope John didn’t turn it into a brothel.”
“You’re staying here?” Gavin asked, his tone annoyed.
“Yes, to make sure this one,” she nodded at Holly, “doesn’t keep her claws in you. Good evening,” she said, and with a dramatic twirl, she left.
Holly, woozy from all she had heard, faced Gavin.
“John’s sister, I assume?”
“Yes. Aunt Marnie. She brought me up when my father died. After John refused to do so,” Gavin said, swallowing the last of his drink.
Holly’s brow knitted together.
“Forgive me, but that doesn’t sound like John,” she said, approaching him. “Why would he refuse to raise you?”
Gavin shrugged, pouring himself another as the tension faded from his shoulders.
“Aunt Marnie always said it was because he was too busy, philandering with his vices or consorting with derelicts. It doesn’t matter. I’ve not cared about it for some time.”
