Page 27 of Lady Sophia’s Lover (Bow Street #2)
Hearing the grim fury in Ross’s voice, Matthew heaved a great sigh.
“All right, I apologize for last night—I suppose Miss Sydney has offered her version of the story, casting herself as the virtuous victim. And I will admit, I was somewhat the worse for drink. My friend Hatfield had opened a damn fine brandy, and it went to my head.” Adopting an air of indifference, Matthew wandered to the well-worn globe in the corner and spun it idly.
“That isn’t good enough, Matthew. Yes, I intend to discuss your behavior of last night, but first we will deal with another matter that has presented itself.”
Matthew looked surprised. “What do you mean?”
“I had a meeting with Mr. Tanner this morning.”
“Who is Tanner?”
Ross shook his head in annoyance. “Our estate agent. The man who has managed our land and properties for the past ten years.”
“And you’ve already met with him this morning? Good God, do you ever rest? The last thing I want to discuss is some trivial business matter—”
“It’s not trivial,” Ross interrupted curtly. “And it doesn’t concern business. It appears that one of our tenants has approached Tanner with the complaint that his unmarried daughter is several months pregnant.”
Matthew’s expression became guarded. “What has that to do with me, if some peasant wench is carrying a bag pudding?”
“Her family claims that you are the father.” Ross watched his brother’s face closely, and his heart sank as he saw the look of guilt in Matthew’s gray-green eyes. A curse escaped his lips. “The family’s name is Rann. Did you seduce the girl or not?”
Matthew’s face twisted into a surly grimace. “It was not seduction. It was mutual desire. She wanted me, I obliged her, and no one was the worse for it.”
“No one was the worse?” Ross repeated incredulously. “Tanner says the girl is not yet sixteen, Matthew! You’ve taken her innocence and given her a fatherless babe—and betrayed Iona in the process.”
Matthew looked unrepentant. “Everyone does it. I could name you a dozen men who have taken their pleasure outside the marriage bed. A bastard child is an unfortunate consequence—but that is the girl’s concern, not mine.”
Somewhere in the midst of his fury, Ross was shocked at his brother’s callousness.
It was not lost on him that Matthew had done exactly what Sophia’s lover had done to her—used her, deceived and abandoned her.
“My God,” he said softly. “What am I to do with you? Have you no conscience? No sense of responsibility?”
“Conscience and responsibility are your preserves, brother.” Matthew spun the globe again; it nearly teetered off its axis.
“You’ve always been held up to me as an example of supreme morality.
Sir Ross, the paragon of manhood. No one on earth could live up to the standards you set, and I’ll be damned if I’ll even try.
Besides, I don’t envy you your sterile, joyless life.
Unlike you, I have some passion—I have a man’s needs—and, by God, I’ll indulge them until I’m in my grave! ”
“Why don’t you indulge them in your wife?” Ross suggested acidly.
Matthew rolled his eyes. “I was bored with Iona a month after we were married. A man can’t be expected to be satisfied with one woman forever. As they say, variety is the very spice of life.”
Ross was sorely tempted to blister his ears with a scalding lecture. However, the obstinate set of Matthew’s jaw made it clear that he was going to remain stubbornly unrepentant. He would never willingly face the consequences of his actions.
“Exactly how much ‘variety’ have you enjoyed?” Seeing Matthew’s blank look, Ross clarified his question impatiently. “How many women have you seduced besides the Rann girl?”
A vaguely smug expression settled on Matthew’s face. “I can’t be certain…nine or ten, I suppose.”
“I want a list of their names.”
“Why?”
“To discover whether or not you have fathered any other bastard children. And if so, you are going to provide for their support and education.”
The younger man sighed grumpily. “I don’t have any money to spare—unless you give me an advance on my allowance.”
“ Matthew ,” Ross said, his gaze menacing.
Matthew held up his hands mockingly. “All right, I yield. Scour the countryside for my illegitimate off-spring. Take away what little money I have. Now, may I join my friends?”
“Not yet. There is something you should know. From now on, I will ensure that your indolent way of life is over. No more lounging at the club and drinking all day; no more gambling or chasing women. If you attempt to visit your usual haunts, you’ll find that you are no longer welcome.
And you will be refused credit wherever you go, for I will make it clear to shopkeepers and list-makers alike that I will no longer be responsible for your debts. ”
“You can’t do that!” Matthew burst out.
“Oh, but I can,” Ross assured him. “From now on, you are going to work for your allowance.”
“Work?” The word seemed unfamiliar to Matthew. “Doing what ? I’m not qualified to work—I am a gentleman!”
“I will find something appropriate for you,” Ross promised grimly. “I am going to teach you responsibility, Matthew, no matter what it takes.”
“If Father were still alive, this would never happen!”
“If Father were still alive, this would have happened years ago,” Ross muttered. “Unfortunately, much of the blame is mine. I’ve been too busy at Bow Street to pay attention to your activities. That is going to change, however.”
A string of curses issued from Matthew’s lips as he moved to a cabinet and rummaged for a glass and a decanter.
Pouring himself a brandy, he tossed it down as if it were medicine, then refilled the glass.
The liquor appeared to brace him. Taking a few long breaths, he glared into Ross’s implacable countenance. “Are you going to tell Iona?”
“No. But neither will I lie to her if she ever comes to me with questions about your fidelity.”
“Good, then. My wife will never ask—she does not want to hear the answers.”
“God help her,” Ross muttered.
After taking another swallow of brandy, Matthew swirled the liquid in his glass and gave a moody sigh. “Is that all?”
“No,” Ross said. “We have one more issue to address—your behavior toward Miss Sydney.”
“I’ve already apologized for that. I can’t do any more than that…unless you would like me to open a vein?”
“That won’t be necessary. What I wish to emphasize is that you are to treat her with absolute respect from now on.”
“There is only so much respect I am going to show a servant, brother.”
“She isn’t going to be a servant for much longer.”
Matthew raised an eyebrow in mild interest. “You’re going to dismiss her, then?”
Ross gave him a hard, purposeful stare. “I’m going to marry her. If she will have me.”
Matthew stared back with total incomprehension.
“Holy Mother of God,” he said raspily, and stumbled to the nearest chair.
He sat down heavily, the whites of his eyes on full display as he regarded Ross.
“You’re serious. But that is madness. You would be a laughingstock.
A Cannon marrying a servant! For the sake of the family, find someone else.
She is only a woman—there are a hundred others who could easily take her place. ”
It took all of Ross’s will to keep from doing his brother bodily harm.
Instead he braced his hands on the desk, closed his eyes for a moment, and battened down his temper.
Then he turned and sent Matthew a gaze filled with black fire.
“After all the years I’ve spent alone, you ask me to reject the one woman who makes me complete? ”
Matthew seized on his words. “That is my point. After so many celibate years, you’re half mad from deprivation.
Any woman would seem desirable. Believe me, that creature is not worthy of your affection.
She has no sophistication, no style, no family.
Take her as a mistress, if you fancy her.
But I advise you not to marry her, because I guarantee that you will soon tire of her, and then you’ll be well and truly shackled. ”
Abruptly Ross’s anger died. He felt nothing for his brother except pity.
Matthew would never find true love or passion, only hollow imitations.
He would spend the rest of his life feeling dissatisfied, never knowing how to fill the emptiness inside.
And so he would turn to artificial pleasures, and try to convince himself that he was content.
“I will not attempt to presuade you of Sophia’s worth,” Ross said quietly. “However, if you say one word to her that could be construed as critical or condescending, I will castrate you. Slowly.”