Page 106 of The Pleasures of Passion
“Well, nothing would prompt my mother to become more responsible,” Niall said. “She’s entirely too old to change.”
And too featherbrained,Brilliana thought, but it wasn’t as if Papa was any sort of scholar. The two of them were matched evenly there.
A frightening thought.
“Speaking of your uncle,” Niall said, “how do you feel about the sentence imposed upon him?”
She sighed. “I confess that I’m relieved he only got transportation. I know what he did was wrong, but—”
“I understand. And our laws are absurdly draconian with regard to such matters, anyway.” Niall shook his head. “No one should have to hang for counterfeiting.”
“I agree.” She smiled up at him. “Thank you for convincing Lord Fulkham to be lenient with him.”
“Only because I knew you would wish it. I was none too happy when I realized your uncle was trying to embroil you in his scheme.” Niall slid his arm about her waist.
Aunt Agatha came up to them holding Silas by the hand. The minute Silas saw Niall, he cried, “Jack, Jack!”
When Niall grinned and reached into his pocket, Aunt Agatha said, “Margrave! You wouldn’t!”
“It’s notthatwatch. It’s a perfectly respectable image of ladies dancing in a wood.” Niall wound the music-box portion of the pocket watch, then held it out to her. “Here, see for yourself.”
Aunt Agatha examined it while Silas tugged on her arm, trying to get his plaything. “I suppose that’s all right.” She handed it to Silas, who stared at it entranced as the music tinkled away. “But couldn’t you get him one with puppies or something?”
“They don’t make them with puppies,” Brilliana said dryly. “Trust me, I checked.”
Her aunt rolled her eyes. “Well, at least the dancing ladies are fully clothed. That’s something to be thankful for.”
“Of course they are,” Niall said irritably. “How much of a rogue do you think I am, anyway?”
Aunt Agatha stared at him over her spectacles. “Enough to capture my niece’s heart, when I thought no one could.”
When Niall blinked at that compliment, Brilliana laughed and slid her hand into the crook of his arm. “He does have a way about him, doesn’t he?”
“Jack! Jack!” Silas cried, and held the watch up to Niall. “Papa! Fix Jack!”
The soft look that crossed Niall’s face touched Brilliana’s heart. Silas had recently taken to calling Niall “Papa,” and every time he did, Niall looked so pleased that she wanted to kiss them both.
He wound the watch again and handed it to Silas. This time the boy toddled off to show it to Grandpapa Payne, who was now flirting most decidedly with Grandmama Margrave. Lord help them all.
“I’d best make sure the boy doesn’t get into any trouble,” Aunt Agatha said. She paused a moment. “Though I know it’s too early for this, since you only got married a month ago, I do hope to see more children running about your house soon. Silas needs someone to play with.”
It was all Brilliana could do to keep a straight face. “He does, indeed.”
As soon as her aunt was out of hearing, she and Niall burst into laughter.
Placing her hand on her belly, Brilliana whispered, “How on earth are we going to convince her that our child was conceived on the right side of the blanket?”
“Dr. Worth will never tell. And honestly, eight-month babes are rather thick on the ground in London.”
“But this may be a seven-month babe.” Brilliana worried her lower lip with her teeth. “Perhaps we should go away to have it.”
“Since it’s the Earl of Margrave’s heir, no one will be counting the days.”
“And if it’s a girl?” she said tartly. “Children do come in two flavors, you know.”
He smirked at her. “Then she’ll be the spitting image of her mother, and people will be so blinded by her beauty that they won’t even think to count.”
“You are such a rogue!” When he frowned, she added softly, “Truly, Niall, I mean that as a compliment. You will always be a wild rogue to me, even when you’re a respectable old married man with children and grandchildren and a penchant for port. Because the part of your roguery that I love is the part that makes me feel young and free and full of life.”
