Forbidden Nights With The Viscount

‘Much as I am enjoying our excursion to Gunter’s, we could have taken tea in the committee room. Except there is a matter I feel I must discuss with you that demanded a greater degree of privacy than would have been afforded in a Parliamentary chamber.’

Foreboding souring her gut, she said, ‘Then by all means, let us discuss it.’

‘I spoke with my brother not long ago. As you know, we...are not close, and he generally does not seek me out unless he wishes to dispute with me about something. The matter he wished to dispute about this time...was you.’

So she was to be a bone of contention? Not if she could help it! But perhaps she should hear him out before rushing to conclusions. ‘What was the nature of that dispute?’

Hadley shrugged. ‘You’ve read the journal reports—and so has George. Apparently my half-brother thinks you favour him—or he believes your father approves of him, and would favour his suit. He warned me to stay away from you.’

Some of the anger, hurt and despair of the episode with Sir Francis rose up, nearly choking her. ‘And so you sought my company to spite him?’ she spit out at last. ‘Do you think to beguile me, and then boast to him about it?’

He straightened, frowning. ‘Not at all! How could you imagine such a thing? Besides, if I were trying to charm you and boast of my conquest, would I have told you about our disagreement?’

‘Do you think you could charm me?’

His irritated expression smoothed, a roguish smile replaced it, and he smiled at her, that smile that made her knees weak. ‘Do you think I could?’

‘If you did, and we were compromised, we might be forced to wed. Then you’d be stuck with me for life—a fate which ought to give you pause,’ she said tartly, mollified.

His smile faded. ‘I would never do you the harm of marrying you.’

Before she could figure out that odd comment, he continued, his expression serious, ‘But that’s not what I meant to talk about. Did you speak with my half-brother about our meeting in Chellingham?’

It was her turn to be puzzled. ‘No, I’ve not seen him since I returned to London. Why do you ask?’

‘As far as you know, George is not a friend of your cousin Mr Armsburn?’

‘They are acquainted, certainly, but not close.’

‘The only place we’ve met, before today, was Chellingham. My brother specifically mentioned how detrimental to your reputation it would be if others discovered you’d been alone with me at the inn there. If you did not relate our encounter to George, and your cousin or his aide, Mr Proctor, didn’t inform him, how could he have known about it?’

Maggie paused a moment, thinking. She’d spoken with Aunt Lilly, but that lady would never divulge, even to her friends, confidential information about her niece, particularly if it involved a gentleman and would therefore make her the subject of gossip and conjecture. She was quite certain she’d not mentioned their meeting to anyone else.

‘I don’t know,’ she confessed.

‘Then it seems my suspicions were justified. Outlandish as it sounds, in order for my half-brother to have known that you’d accompanied me to that inn in Chellingham, he must have been keeping you under surveillance.’

She shook her head a little, not sure she could have heard him correctly. ‘Are you trying to tell me that your brother has someone...spying on me?’

‘You weren’t aware of it?’

‘Absolutely not!’

He nodded, looking grim again. ‘Your father wouldn’t have asked him to do such a thing, would he?’

‘Why would he? I had my cousin and Proctor to watch over me. If Papa had thought I needed additional protection, he would have chosen someone I know better than your brother to provide it. And I am sure he would not have done so without informing me and explaining the need for it. No, I don’t think Papa authorised this. Shall I ask him?’

‘Perhaps you should. I wouldn’t want to accuse my half-brother unjustly.’

The enormity of what he’d just told her registered. ‘Why in the world would your half-brother want to have me watched?’

‘He told me he intends to ask for your hand. Perhaps, with the turmoil over the Reform Bill and rumours flying of possible electoral violence, he wanted to make sure the woman he wants to marry didn’t come to any harm.’

‘Or he wished to make sure the woman he plans to marry did not behave in a manner of which he doesn’t approve!’ she retorted, more and more indignant as the implications registered. ‘The effrontery! How dare he have someone tail me as if I were a...a petty thief he was trying to prove guilty of larceny!’

Giles’s lips twitched. ‘I didn’t think you’d find the idea very appealing. May I assume from this that you are now even less likely to consider an offer from my half-brother?’

‘If he has indeed so grievously imposed on my privacy, you may assume the chances of my accepting an offer from him to be non-existent!’

He smiled at that. ‘Then I am almost glad of his arrogance. But...there is one thing more I feel I must say, before we drop the unpleasant matter of my brother.’ He paused, his smile fading. ‘I do hope you won’t feel I’m telling you this just because the two of us do not get along.’

‘I think I can count on your honesty.’ She hesitated, unsure how much she could or should say, given how brief their acquaintance was. ‘Even though I understand that you have not been...kindly treated, either by your father or your half-brother.’

He grimaced. ‘We are estranged, that is certain.’

She respected his reticence, and admired his restraint in not pouring out the complaints her comment invited—complaints, according to what Aunt Lilly had told her, he would be well justified in making. ‘So, what else did you wish to tell me?’

‘Would your father compel you to wed a man of his choice, even if you had no particular desire to do so?’

‘I cannot imagine he would. Besides, should he try to, I am of age, and have property and assets of my own over which he has no control. There would be no way he could force me to marry against my wishes.’

Giles nodded. ‘So I thought. However, George has been...much indulged by his father.’ Maggie noted he did not say ‘our’ father. ‘He is quite used to getting whatever he wants. And it seems he wants to marry you. He believes your father would favour his suit, and that you would follow your father’s guidance in the matter of the choice of a husband.’

She gave a short laugh. ‘No wonder he seems so little interested in charming me, and so much more interested in beguiling Papa.’

‘George can be quite...unpleasant, when he is prevented from obtaining what he desires. If he does in fact make you an offer, and you refuse him, just...be careful.’

She’d been about to take another sip of her tea, but at that, she looked up to stare at him. ‘You don’t mean he would try to...force me! Or harm me, for refusing him!’

‘No, no, probably not that. He would be more likely to start some malicious gossip in an attempt to blacken your name. So if you do refuse him, you might wish to be on your best behaviour.’ He winked at her. ‘No trysts at secluded inns in small market towns.’

She laughed. ‘I will keep that in mind, Mr Hadley.’

‘Very well. Now, much as I hate to bring this tryst at a very public place in the huge metropolis to an end, I fear I am due at a meeting in half an hour. Can I escort you home first?’

‘No, I have some errands to complete.’ Even more reluctant than he to have their time together come to an end, she added on impulse, ‘Father is hosting a dinner tomorrow night for some friends, not a policy meeting, but a wide-ranging discussion of political ideas. The guests will be quite varied in background and opinion. Would you like to attend?’

‘Are you sure your father would want me?’

‘Papa enjoys a free exchange of opinions. I know he would be interested in hearing more of yours. And let me assure you in advance, your half-brother will not be invited.’

‘Will you be acting as hostess?’

‘For the dinner. I shall probably leave the gentlemen to their discussions afterward.’

‘Then I should be delighted...’ He paused, frowning. ‘I should be delighted, but I was not exaggerating George’s malevolence. I didn’t note anyone tailing us to Gunter’s, so he may not discover that you accompanied me here, but my presence at your father’s dinner will surely excite enough comment to reach his ears. Probably, the knowledge will merely increase his enmity towards me, which is a matter of no import—the fact that I breathe daily increases his enmity. He might, however, seek you out for an explanation. I would not have you harassed.’

His concern that she not be drawn into a squabble between brothers dissipated the last of the caution generated by Aunt Lilly’s warning. ‘I refuse to allow your half-brother to dictate whom I may or may not invite to my home. If he tries to take me to task for it, I assure you, I am quite capable of putting him in his place.’