Page 81 of The Pleasures of Passion
An odd expression crossed his face as he gazed at her. “I would have told you, but I was sworn to secrecy in the matter. She’s very popular in society, as you well know, and Edwin didn’t want all her friends trooping out to bother her just now.”
“Understandably,” Aunt Agatha said, softening only a fraction. “But I should think we are more than mere ‘friends.’ Lady Blakeborough will become my niece’s sister when you marry, after all.”
Her lecturing tone brought a faint smile to his lips. “Duly noted, Lady Pensworth. I shall keep that in mind the next time I am sworn to secrecy. And if it makes you feel better, my brother-in-law warned me not even to tell Mother. So I could hardly reveal the secret to you in good conscience.” He flashed Brilliana a veiled glance. “Edwin tends to be cautious.”
“Not telling his mother-in-law about her own daughter’s difficulties?” Aunt Agatha retorted. “I would box the impudent fellow’s ears.”
“I’m sure you would.” His tone turned ironical. “Fortunately, my mother would probably prefer not to know. She isn’t the sort to sit by a sickbed, even her daughter’s. And believe me, Clarissa would consider her not being there as something of a blessing.”
My mother is the most indiscreet person in the world, Brilliana remembered him saying. Perhaps that hadn’t been quite the exaggeration she’d assumed.
Aunt Agatha crossed her arms over her bosom. “Then you have a most peculiar family, Lord Margrave.”
“Indeed I do,” he said, obviously not the least insulted. “In any case, I’m glad that the two of you now know of Clarissa’s situation. I am entirely ignorant about women’s . . . matters, and you may be able to enlighten me as to how serious my sister’s condition actually is. I keep hearing differing accounts.”
With that, he proceeded to give them a thorough recitation of what the doctor had said about Clarissa. Though it still chafed Brilliana that he hadn’t confided in her before, she could see how he might be reticent under the circumstances.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“I think the doctor is right,” Aunt Agatha said. “It doesn’t sound terribly serious yet. Still, he was wise to have her sent to the country. In my day, women were not as active as they are now in the weeks before their confinement. I honestly don’t know what some of them are thinking.”
Brilliana laughed. “If you’ll recall, Aunt, the day before Silas was born, I attended a dinner party with twenty guests. And his birth went perfectly well.”
Silas bounced energetically on the seat, as if to confirm her assertion.
Niall’s gaze narrowed on her. “There were no difficulties at all?”
“None.”
“You needn’t worry, my lord,” her aunt said. “My niece is of sturdy enough breeding stock for anyone.”
“Aunt Agatha!” Brilliana cried.
“What?” the baroness said. “That’s what he wanted to know—whether you could produce his heir without incident.”
A flush spread up Niall’s neck. “Actually, I was . . . er . . . that is . . .”
“Pay my aunt no mind.” Brilliana flashed the woman a quelling glance. “She has a tendency to treat all men as boors who must be chided routinely.”
Aunt Agatha sniffed. “Lord Margrave does keep an erotic watch at the ready.”
Niall scowled. “I swear, I will throw the damned thing out the window if you two don’t stop bringing it up.”
He drew it out of his pocket, and Silas jumped up. “Jack, Jack!” he cried.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Niall muttered and hid the watch once more.
Brilliana couldn’t help but laugh, and after a moment, her aunt joined her, which broke the tension.
From then on, the conversation was more amiable. Niall entertained Silas by bouncing the boy on his knee. Brilliana entertained Aunt Agatha by relating the entirety of their tour of the estate. And Aunt Agatha entertained Niall with her usual droll comments.
By the time they reached the Pensworth town house, all was well. Unfortunately, it was nearing ten o’clock, when Niall was supposed to join Papa for a card game, so after he saw them inside, he merely brushed a quick kiss to Brilliana’s cheek before dashing back out.
As Brilliana watched him hurry down the steps, her aunt came up next to her. “He’s got rather more in his favor than he lets on, doesn’t he?”
Brilliana bit back a smile. “That’s high praise, coming from you.”
“Yes, well, I still don’t like his reasons for marrying you—all that nonsense about needing a wife for his heir and your needing a father for Silas. But ifyoudon’t mind those reasons, who am I to protest?”
