Page 35 of The Pleasures of Passion
The unfair words were such a slap in the face that they lessened her sympathy considerably. Belligerence still lurked inside him, after all. “I fulfilled that duty long ago, Papa,” she said quietly, “and you know it.”
Something flickered in his gaze. Regret? No, Papa never felt regret.
Niall cleared his throat, reminding her that she wasn’t here alone, and she started. “Papa, may I introduce Niall Lindsey, the Earl of Margrave.”
“Her fiancé,” Niall added in a strangely protective tone as he took her hand and planted it firmly in the crook of his arm.
Papa scowled at her. “You have a fiancé, girl? And this is the first I’m hearing of it?”
She bristled. “For one thing, it just happened last night. And for another, it’s not as if I’m some wide-eyed innocent who requires my father’s permission to—”
“Forgive me for not speaking to you first, sir,” Niall said in an ingratiating tone as he squeezed her hand. Hard. “I was simply so swept up in my plans and afraid of letting her get away that I blundered right in.”
Well, wasn’t he just the smoothest fellow ever? And judging from the slight softening in Papa’s features, her father had fallen for it. She wasn’t sure whether to admire Niall for his swift thinking, or find him even more suspicious a character.
“But I do mean to start this marriage off right,” Niall added, making a point of caressing her hand, which perversely freed a cloud of butterflies in her belly. “That’s why I wanted to make up for my blunder by coming to meet you at once.”
The way he’d refused to do seven years ago, when he’d had the chance.
That memory scattered the butterflies. He’d toyed with her heart and then had gone on to live his life as he pleased. So no matter what plans he wanted to lure her into privately now, she would resist.
She caught Papa watching her. Dear Lord, she simply must get better at hiding her feelings. “Yes,” she said, forcing a smile, “we wanted you to be aware of the engagement.”
“And to be part of the wedding plans, of course,” Niall said.
She bobbed her head. She’d forgotten that Papa had to be more intimately involved with them, if Niall was to uncover his secrets. Heavens, she wasn’t good at all with this subterfuge.
But Papa brightened considerably. “Well then, that’s excellent. Always knew she’d marry again. Too pretty not to.”
Brilliana stifled a sigh. That had been the only part of her Papa had ever noticed—her looks and what they could bring him.
Niall cast her a surprisingly tender glance. “Too pretty for the likes of me, no doubt. But I shall endeavor to be worthy of her.”
Even knowing that the words were merely part of his role, they made her heart flip over—drat the man. She really must do something about these ridiculous reactions to him.
“Worthy of her!” Papa snorted. “Don’t be silly. You’re an earl. You’re more than worthy of her.”
“For God’s sake, Oswald,” said a new voice from down the hall, “the man is trying to pay my niece a compliment. Don’t ruin it.”
She blinked. “Uncle Toby?”
“In the flesh,” he said jovially as he approached. Her uncle had aged, too, but unlike Papa he still seemed hale and hearty. His dark eyes still gleamed with ever-present humor, and his clothes were of the finest quality, as always.
He came up to envelop her in a hug, then held her out to survey her. “I thought I heard your voice down here. By thunder, but itisgood to see you. You’re looking well.”
“As are you.” She beamed at him. “And I’m pleased as punch to see you, too. It’s been a long time.”
Niall nudged her, and she quickly performed the introductions. “Lord Margrave, may I present Mr. Tobias Payne, my father’s younger brother and my favorite uncle? Uncle Toby, this is Lord Margrave, my fiancé.”
“Your fiancé?” he said with a firm shake of Niall’s hand. “Then a lucky man indeed.”
“I quite agree, sir,” Niall remarked. “I’m afraid I was unaware that Sir Oswald had a brother.”
“That’s because I’m rarely around,” Uncle Toby said. “I live in France.”
“Exactly,” Brilliana put in. “So what are you doing in London?”
“Bedeviling me, that’s what,” Papa muttered.
