Page 63 of The Pleasures of Passion
Turning to look, he spotted Bree sitting on a bench with Silas gamboling nearby, accompanied by the nurse. Perfect. Now he needn’t deal with the aunt at all until he got Bree’s approval.
He strolled over and paused at the gate to watch the domestic scene, his heart flipping over in his chest. She was so good with the boy, and the lad clearly adored her. What a mother she would make to their own children. And God, how he wanted to see Bree’s belly heavy withhischild, the first of many.
He began to understand a little of his brother-in-law’s overprotectiveness. Because if it had been Bree instead of Clarissa having difficulties with her pregnancy . . .
No, he wouldn’t think of that. Bree had already had one child with no trouble; he didn’t see why she couldn’t have another. And Clarissa would be fine, too. The maid had as much as said so.
“Silas!” Bree called out. “Stop pulling up the verbena. They’re for everyone to enjoy.”
“That’s his favorite color,” the nurse said. “You should paint him holding some, mistress. The purple would make a pretty picture.”
“It would,” Bree said. “But I’m not doing watercolors just now. I’m working on another Wedgwood, now that they’ve shown some interest in my designs.”
“You heard from them?” the nurse asked.
Bree nodded. “Just this morning. They said they’d like to see more, and they gave me some ideas of what they’re looking for.”
“Congratulations, mistress!”
“Oh, they haven’t accepted them yet, but the letter was encouraging.”
He sucked in a breath as a long-forgotten memory of finding Bree sketching a classical statue of Aphrodite in a park rose to his mind. Years ago, she’d dreamed of designing for the famous pottery. Apparently that dream had never died.
Slipping through the gate, he came up behind her to look over her shoulder at her sketchbook. More than ever, he was humbled by her talent. She had a knack for black-and-white images. He could easily imagine her sketch of Cupid appearing on a Wedgwood vase.
The nurse glanced up and gave a start to see him there, but young Silas broke into a grin and toddled toward him.
Niall pressed a finger to his lips, then leaned over Bree’s shoulder. “Silas makes an excellent Cupid.”
She jumped, then turned to lift an eyebrow at him. “You, sir, are very sneaky.”
“Yes, well, you knew that about me already.”
He tipped his head in the direction of the secluded area where they’d made love the evening before, and she rolled her eyes before returning to her sketching.
“Why have you come here so early?” she asked.
“To watch you draw.”
She snorted. “Somehow I doubt that.”
He laughed. “Actually, I’m here to invite you to join me for an outing.”
Her hand paused mid-stroke. “What sort of outing?”
“A jaunt to Margrave Manor. I have urgent business there, and I did promise to give you lessons in running an estate.”
Her expression softened markedly. “Nurse,” she said to the servant, “why don’t you take Silas over to the fountain and let him throw some pennies in it for good luck?”
“Yes, mistress. He do love throwing pennies, our lad.”
Once they were well away, Bree asked, “What about Papa and your mission?”
Niall took a seat beside Bree and laid his arm across the back of the bench. “Wewillhave to return by evening, since I agreed to play cards with him and his friends again tonight.” He ran a finger down the back of her neck. “But before then, I want some time alone with you.”
“Stop that,” she murmured, though she didn’t move away. “Did you learn anything about the counterfeiting last night?”
“Not so far. Your father and I won, but none of the notes were fakes. I went through them carefully, then sent them off to Fulkham to be sure. I doubt he’ll find anything. Giving counterfeits to tradesmen is one thing; distributing them among one’s friends is quite another. Besides, the card games may not be how your father is passing the notes on.Ifhe’s even the one passing them on.”
