Page 93 of The Pleasures of Passion

Niall supposed thatcouldbe the reason. But a more likely one was that Payne had used his brother to pay off business debts with counterfeit notes, knowing that if the notes were discovered, Sir Oswald would be blamed. And if they weren’t discovered, then Payne would make a tidy sum.

“If he was doing all of this from France, why did he decide to come visit you?” Niall asked. “Just to make sure you were . . . er . . . paying his business debts properly?”

“Or to torment me about putting the family property up to let. Who knows, with him? But I’m done with him after this.” He stared at Niall. “And you should be, too, if you know what’s good for you. After he found out how badly we lost last night, he went off in a huff to talk my daughter out of marrying you.”

That sparked Niall’s temper. “What?”

“Said he heard some rumors about you and other women. I told him it was probably the usual nonsense, but he’s on his way over there right now to give her a lecture.”

“The hell he is.” Niall doubted that Bree would be swayed by her uncle, but if the bastardwasthe counterfeiter, Niall didn’t want him anywhere near Bree.

“I have to go,” he said, turning for the door. There was no telling what Payne really intended to do. Especially if he had any suspicion that Niall was trying to unmask him.

“Give my brother what for. I’m tired of his nonsense.” Sir Oswald downed some more brandy.

He wasn’t the only one. Payne had essentially separated Bree from Niall years ago, and for that alone, Niall would make the man pay.

Now he could only pray that Payne’s reason for going to speak with her was merely to talk her out of marrying Niall. Because if there was more to it than that, if Payne had figured out that Niall was in league with Lord Fulkham, and was intending to use her to get back at the men who were threatening his criminal enterprise . . .

Then God help him, Niall would tear him limb from limb.

Twenty

Brilliana was in the drawing room drinking coffee and refining her design for Wedgwood when Aunt Agatha’s footman came to tell her she had a visitor.

“Now?” It was awfully early for formal calls. Which meant her visitor was probably Niall. And she still wasn’t ready to give him his answer. “If it’s Lord Margrave—”

“No, ma’am. He says he’s your uncle. A Mr. Toby Payne?”

“Oh,” she said, inexplicably disappointed. “Please show him in.”

As the footman went to fetch Uncle Toby, she rose. How odd that he would come here to visit. Then again, he’d seemed very glad to see her the other day, and in truth, she’d been glad to see him.

When he entered, she went to greet him with a kiss on the cheek, then bade him sit down. “Would you like some coffee? Or I can send for tea.”

“Nothing for me, thank you.”

She dismissed the servant, then resumed her place on the settee, setting aside her sketchbook and pencils.

“You still draw, do you?” he asked, leaning forward to look at what she’d been working on.

“Yes.” She couldn’t keep the pride from her voice as she added, “Wedgwood is considering one of my designs.”

“Ah. Very wise of them.”

An awkward silence fell between them.

At last he cleared his throat. “I know you’re probably wondering why I’ve come.”

“I assumed you just wanted to see your favorite niece,” she teased.

When he didn’t even smile, it gave her pause.

“Actually,” he said, “I . . . er . . . came to speak to you about your fiancé.”

That put her instantly on her guard. “Lord Margrave? Why?”

There was something decidedly different about Uncle Toby today. He looked agitated, even wary. How strange. She’d always thought of him as an amiable sort, unruffled by life’s troubles.