Page 6 of The Pleasures of Passion
“There’s a woman I’m leaving behind,” Niall said. “I asked her to go with me, but she refused, on account of her sickly mother. She may, however, come to you in a few months asking that you send a letter to me, and if she does, I request that you treat her kindly and help her in any way you can.” He met his father’s gaze. “I promised to send for her when she’s ready to join me. I love her. I mean to marry her if I can.”
Alarm sparked in his father’s face. “You didn’t tell her about Clarissa, did you?”
“Of course not. I made a vow to you, and I intend to keep it.”
“Thank God. If I’m not even telling your mother, you’d damned well better not be telling some adventuress you fancy yourself in love with.”
Niall stiffened. Father still didn’t entirely trust him. Not that Niall could blame him. Father was a gentleman through and through, with a strict code of honor. He had no truck with young men sowing their wild oats. Ever since Niall had done so a bit too enthusiastically in his salad days, his father always seemed to be expecting him to prove himself.
By God, what did he have to do to show he’d reformed in the past year? “I don’t ‘fancy’ myself in love with her. Iamin love with her. And she’s not ‘some adventuress.’ She’s respectable.”
“Well, that’s something at least.” His father searched his face. “Who is she? Do I know her?”
Now came the hard part. “I don’t believe so. Her name is Miss Payne, and she’s the daughter of a fellow named Sir Oswald Payne. He’s—”
“I know Sir Oswald.” His father’s face clouded over. “Damned wastrel has lost nearly everything gambling. I’m surprised he hasn’t yet landed in debtors’ prison. He has few connections and practically no money.”
Niall sighed. This was precisely why he’d hesitated to tell his parents about Bree.
“And when the hell did you meet his daughter, anyway?” Father demanded.
“Last summer, when you were too busy renovating Margrave Manor to accompany Mother to Bath so she could take the waters. While she and I were there, so were Miss Payne and her parents.”
“Your mother never mentioned them.”
“Because Mother never met them. Miss Payne is not yet . . . out.”
“God help us,” his father muttered. “So she’s what? Fifteen? Sixteen?”
“Seventeen,” he said defensively. “She’ll come out next season. I happened to encounter her in the park in Bath one day when we were both taking a walk. We were introduced by a mutual acquaintance.”
“Ah.” Father looked relieved. “So you haven’t even met her parents yet.”
“No. I’d hoped to wait until her come-out and have you meet her formally first, but—”
“Good, good, always best to be cautious in these things. If Sir Oswald knew that a man of your consequence was sniffing round his daughter, he’d be angling to gain any advantage from it. At least you weren’t so stupid as all that.”
Niall bristled at Father’s typically dismissive tone. “I don’t think I was stupid at all. I didn’t rush into my friendship with Miss Payne. I took my time making sure she would suit me as a wife. And I truly believe she will.”
“A wastrel’s daughter?” Father shook his head. “Take care, my boy. There’s a reason rank separates people. Look at your sister, taking up with that fellow Whiting. I should think you would be more cautious.”
“Youweren’t,” Niall snapped. “You married a rich Cit who proved flighty as a finch.”
“Only because your grandfather gambled so much that he left me no choice,” Father said irritably. “But you don’t have to take such a chance in marriage. Fortunately you can marry a solid girl, someone with the right rank, breeding, and connections.”
“Or I can marry for love. Which is what I prefer.”
Father snorted. “Love? What you’re feeling is lust, pure and simple. I take it this young woman is pretty?”
“Yes, but—”
“She didn’t turn you down because of her ailing mother, I can assure you. She turned you down because you can no longer be her savior.”
“What do you mean?”
The pity in his father’s eyes sliced through his confidence. “What good would you be to her once you two are in hiding in Spain? She won’t be able to lord it over her friends as a viscountess or show off her fine town house or prance about to balls on the arm of an earl’s heir. And after I’m gone, she won’t have the advantages of being a countess.”
I haven’t snagged anyone yet.
