Page 100 of The Pleasures of Passion

Thank goodness. Swiftly, she considered the artwork. What about the griffin? It seemed to be part of the bank’s emblem, so surely the bank would notice if it were changed into a dragon.

No, that was too like. A winged stallion, like Pegasus?

Yes. Perhaps that would work.

While her uncle was away from the table, she toiled over her altered copy of the image. But the longer she worked on the paper meant to “exonerate” Papa, the angrier she got. How dared Uncle Toby try to drag her into his criminal enterprise?

He left the window to pace the room. Why was he so fidgety? What more was he planning?

At least one good thing had come out of this. Since her uncle had insisted on sneaking into the house so Papa and Jenkins wouldn’t know they were around, she had to believe that Papa wasn’t part of the counterfeiting scheme.

Unfortunately, with no one knowing she was in the house, even if Niall thought to come here looking for her, Jenkins would turn him away.

She worked in silence, taking as much time as she dared. Uncle Toby had just turned toward her, obviously annoyed, when a sound wafted up from the floor below.

“I need to see my niece, blast you!”

Aunt Agatha? What the devil? How had she known to come here?

There was a long silence, during which Brilliana could imagine Jenkins trying to dissuade Aunt Agatha.

It clearly didn’t work, for the bellowing voice continued. “What fustian! I know she’s here, sir. I must see her.Now.”

“Why has she come?” Uncle Toby hissed.

“I have no idea. But if you don’t let me go talk to her, she will make a ruckus until you do. Or worse yet, search every room until she finds me.”

As if her aunt had read her mind, the woman shouted, “Brilliana? Where are you? I must speak to you at once!”

“Well?” Brilliana asked her uncle. “Shall I go down?”

Uncle Toby scowled. “Only if you can get rid of the woman.”

“I shall try.” Thank goodness for Aunt Agatha. She had an uncanny ability to recognize when something was amiss.

Her noncommittal answer seemed to give him pause. “I’ll go with you, my dear.”

His insistence on accompanying her would have distressed her if not for one thing. Uncle Toby was no match for Aunt Agatha. No one ever was.

Brilliana waited until his back was turned, then surreptitiously grabbed the paper she’d been copying, as well as the half copy she’d already made, and slid them into her apron pocket.

Then she let him hurry her out into the hall. “I’m up here, Aunt Agatha! What do you need?”

Her aunt started up the stairs, shouting to Brilliana all the while. “Margrave told my servant that you jilted him!”

Somehow Brilliana doubted that, but she played along. “That is true.”

“What? Have you lost your mind?”

With an eye to her uncle, who was avidly listening, Brilliana cried, “I don’t think that’s any of your concern, Aunt!”

“I daresay it is. I’m providing you with a dowry—and that is enough to give me a say in your choice.” Aunt Agatha reached the top of the stairs to confront Brilliana. “What in heaven’s name are you thinking, to be jilting a man of Margrave’s consequence?”

Uncle Toby stepped in. “Margrave is a gambler. Who cares about his consequence?” He eyed her closely. “And what are you doing here, anyway? Who told you to come here?”

Brilliana held her breath, hoping her aunt could allay his suspicions.

“Not that it’s any ofyourconcern, sir,” Aunt Agatha said in her most imperious voice, “but as I was walking home I saw the two of you pass by in a hackney. When I questioned my footman about it, he told me that my niece had gone off with her uncle, and that you had given your brother’s house as your destination.”