Page 65 of The Pleasures of Passion
He suppressed a curse. “I’ve waited seven years for this,” he said irritably. “I’m not inclined to wait seven more.”
Heading for the gate, he fought to tamp down his temper. Enough of this. If she thought to drag him about by a leading string, she would be sorely disappointed. He wanted her, but not at the cost of his dignity.
“Wait, Niall!” she cried out behind him.
He halted, then turned to glare at her.
Her expression fraught with uncertainty, she stood up. “If you wish, I shall talk to my aunt about your invitation to an outing, perhaps sometime later in the week—”
“I have to go to Margrave Manortoday, Bree. Now, if possible.”
She blinked.
“I told you,” he went on, “my business there is urgent. Will you go with me or not? Because you and I both know that your aunt will do whatever you wish.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “So it’s time for you to decide. What exactly is it that you wish?”
Twelve
Brilliana’s stomach knotted. He was the most impatient fellow she’d ever met.
Sometimes she adored that boldness. And sometimes she wanted to throttle him for it. Because it smacked a bit too much of bullying, and she’d had more than enough of that from Papa.
“I don’tknowwhat I want, don’t you see?” she said. “I’ve never before had the chance to choose.”
“Yes, apparently Trevor couldn’t resist gaining you at the expense of your choice.”
That was certainly a hit direct. And perversely, she felt compelled to defend her late husband. “It wasn’t like that. Reynold loved me. He was upset that his father forced my hand, but he was as trapped as I. If he’d refused to marry me, Papa and Mama would have gone to prison. He couldn’t let that happen. And neither could I.”
Niall snorted. “Igave you the chance to choose all those years ago. You could have chosen me.” He scowled at her. “Instead, you chose your family—your mother.”
“She was ill, and you weren’t. Of course I chose her.”
Apparently that argument held some sway with him, for he let out a frustrated breath. “Damn it, Bree. I hate this.”
“So do I.” Shewantedto throw caution to the winds. But the last time she’d done that, she’d ended up with a man who’d fought a duel over another woman. Or so the gossips—and his own father—had said. “Fine. I’ll go with you. We’ll take Aunt Agatha and Silas, and we’ll see what happens.”
It would give her a chance to see how he was with Silas over an extended period of time. And to see if Niall would make a good manager—or help her to be a good manager—of Camden Hall.
To see if he cared about her beyond the bedchamber. So far, he’d said lots of nice things, but nothing about love.
Not that she blamed him. This wasn’t about love for her, either. Because loving Niall was what had landed her in trouble the first time. If she hadn’t fallen so hard for the scoundrel, she might have learned to love Reynold later.
But Niall had spoiled her for any other man. So if she let him court her again, it would merely be because it was practical. She refused to give him her heart only to have it trampled upon again. She’d never survive that twice.
He eyed her warily. “And after our ‘outing,’ you’ll give me your decision about my courting you?”
“Yes.” She supposed she owed him that much. “I promise.”
That seemed to mollify him. “Very well. That sounds fair.” An enigmatic expression crossed his face. “And after our outing, I may be able to . . . help your decision along.”
She assumed he was speaking of using his “wickedness” against her again. “We will have Silas and Aunt Agatha with us. So there will be no wickedness.”
“If you wish,” he said.
That was a noncommittal answer if she’d ever heard one, but it was enough. Because she didn’t want any more seductions. Truly, she didn’t.
You can lie to him, but you can’t lie to yourself.
Oh yes, she could. She’d been doing it for years. “Then I suppose we should go speak with Aunt Agatha.”
