Page 77 of The Pleasures of Passion
“I can see why, though I gather that his father’s disapproval didn’t stop my fiancé from going out on the town with the marquess in their later years—at least before he left the country.”
“Oh yes, those two gentlemen were thick as thieves for a while. Had some wild times, from what I hear.” He clucked his tongue at the horses. “But the young master changed in that last year before he got sent away. Started paying better attention to the estate and even reconciled with his father. So that duel he fought took us all by surprise. Didn’t seem like something he’d be wont to do anymore.”
She eyed him closely. “Do you knowwhyhe fought the duel?”
“Afraid not. The whole thing was kept hush-hush.” He looked at her. “But don’t you believe what the gossips say about it. He wasn’t the sort to fight over a mistress. We never heard nary a word about a mistress until he fled the country.”
That didn’t mean he hadn’t had one. “Why are you telling me this?”
The servant shrugged. “If you’re going to marry his lordship, I think you should hear how he really is, not who the gossips say he is.” He shot her a veiled look. “He’s not a fortune hunter. I don’t know who cooked up that nonsense about him, but it’s a lie. He doesn’t need to marry for money.”
Fulkham had done his job so well that word had trickled down to Niall’s servants. Well, at least they didn’t believe it. Nothing like a loyal servant to take the true measure of a man, no matter what the world said about him.
“Besides,” the underbutler went on, “I can tell that the master truly likes you. That’s why he’s marrying you, I daresay.”
She bit back a smile. “I hope you’re right. Because I truly like him.” Except for when he was being so secretive.
Meanwhile, his servant seemed perfectly willing to tell every secret he knew about his master. Perhaps she could get him to reveal more. “Do you happen to know what his meeting with Lord Blakeborough this afternoon is about?”
The underbutler shrugged. “It might be about her ladyship’s condition.”
“Clarissa?” Her heart caught in her throat. “Is something wrong?”
He blinked at her. “He didn’t say?”
“I’m sure he would have if he’d had the chance,” she said quickly, not wanting to squelch his eagerness to tell all. “But we were too busy discussing the estate to talk about his sister.”
“Well, she’s having a bit of trouble with the babe. From what I hear, it’s nothing to be overly concerned with, but Lord Blakeborough isn’t taking any chances. That’s why he brought her out here. To get her away from the city and visitors and such.”
Visitors like her and Aunt Agatha and Silas, who might be “too boisterous” for a woman in her condition. Did Niall really think she would do anything to jeopardize the health of his sister?
Goodness gracious. The man was a piece of work, keeping everything close to his chest while she confided in him regarding everything.
You didn’t tell him about Reynold’s suicide.
She scowled. That was different. It had naught to do with him.
It had everything to do with him. If not for what your husband found out about you and Niall, Reynold might still be alive.
A plague on her noisy conscience for being right. And, Lord forgive her, she was glad Reynoldwasn’tstill alive. What did that say about her?
It said that she wanted what Niall was offering—passion, family, a future. She wanted to be his wife, to share his thoughts, to have his heart. She wanted to have picnics with him and engage in scandalous outdoors lovemaking and, yes, give him children, lots and lots of children who’d be playmates for Silas and a comfort to both her and Niall in their old age. It was all she’d ever wanted.
The question was, did she want those things so badly that she was willing to overlook his secrets and his youthful peccadilloes and his refusal to trust her?
Of that, she wasn’t sure.
Fifteen
If Niall’s argument with Bree hadn’t already killed his erection, this visit to Stoke Towers would certainly have done so. The servant who’d shown him to Edwin’s study had walked as if on eggshells. The very air in the manor house was subdued, as if its denizens were holding their breaths for Clarissa.
Had her situation worsened? God, what would he do if it had?
Edwin walked in, looking even more somber than usual. “I suppose you’ve come because you heard about your sister’s troubles.”
Niall braced himself for anything. “Yes, when I came by your town house this morning, her lady’s maid told me. How serious is it?”
“Dr. Worth says that a woman can sometimes have a little blood at this stage, that it’s not unusual.” Edwin let out a shuddering breath. “But I can’t stop thinking about the possibility that she might lose the babe.” His eyes looked a bit wild. “I don’t know how I’d bear it. Howshewould bear it.”
