chose the center of the couch, not touching Nick, but not as far as he could get from Nick, either.
“Tell Father Ethan what wickedness you’ve been up to, though if it involves whips and blindfolds, I’m not going to listen until we’re halfway through this brandy.”
“That would bother you?”
“No,” Ethan said. “Well… maybe. I did brand your ass, you’ll recall. Wouldn’t want to think your early experiences gave you a taste for the unusual.”
“Perish the thought.” Ethan was stalling, perhaps as nervous about hearing Nick’s confidences as Nick was about imparting them. “I offered Leah a white marriage.”
There followed a considering sip of libation.
“So you do have a taste for flagellation. Interesting. There are places that cater to such whims, you know.”
“Ethan, I’m serious.”
Ethan shifted down the couch to Nick’s side, bringing the decanter with him. “This has to do with Leonie, doesn’t it?”
“You remember her name.”
“Of course I do.” Ethan frowned while he propped his feet up. “How is she?”
“Sweet,” Nick said, his smile wistful. “Dear, more lovable than any female has a right to be.”
“It isn’t a matter of either a wife or Leonie, Nick,” Ethan said, his voice containing a hint of sympathy.
“For me, it has to be.”
“I have wandered this wicked world for the past fourteen years, Nicholas, searching in vain for a force equal to your stubborn will. Alas, you see before you a disappointed man.”
From Ethan, this was commiseration.
“We’ve wasted years, Ethan,” Nick said quietly. “I’m sorry for that.”
“Spare me.” Ethan sipped his drink with exquisite indifference. “Lest I confess to the same regret.”
They fell silent, each content with that much progress.
“You ought to just tell Leah about Leonie,” Ethan said. “Leah’s a tolerant woman and would understand. Other men have mistresses, by-blows, entire second families.”
“I more or less did tell Leah.” Nick knew he hadn’t fooled Ethan. To a brother’s ears, “more or less” left acres of room for prevarication. Entire shires and counties, in fact.
“What did Leah say?”
“I hurt her feelings, offering her only appearances when she knows my caring for another prevents me from offering more.” Nick frowned at his empty glass. He passed the glass to Ethan, who obligingly refilled it. “Leah didn’t reject the idea of marriage to me outright, but she still might. Don’t suppose you’d be interested?”
“Are you procuring for Leah now too?” Ethan asked pleasantly.
“That was mean, Ethan. Any husband will do for her. It doesn’t have to be me.”
“No woman should have to find herself wed to me, Nick. I have no title to pass along, and my wealth is all a product of that dreaded scourge referred to by your kind as trade. Leah is an earl’s daughter, and she could do better than me.”
Nick shook his head, which made the room swim a bit, though not unpleasantly. “No, she can’t. Her father will not dower her, she is plagued by old scandal, and she is too much woman for the average prancing ninny in search of a sweet young thing. Leah has been through too much to sit docilely stitching samplers while her husband gambles the night away.”
Ethan bumped Nick’s shoulder gently. “Correct me if I’m wrong. Isn’t that exactly what you’ve asked her to do, except—let’s not forget the details—you’ll be heating the sheets with your lightskirts—one hears you have a taste for plural encounters, though to the delight of all concerned—while she’s stitching the night away?”
“I hate you, Ethan.” Nick slouched down, sprawling against his brother in his misery. “I really do.”
“Drink your brandy,” Ethan said softly. “I’ve missed you, too.”
Seven
Inbreeding being undesirable beyond a certain point in any species, Nick had agreed to exchange bulls with his neighbor, David Worthington, Viscount Fairly. While Fairly’s bull was a mature gentleman content to propagate the species wherever the duty arose, Nick’s bull was a strapping young fellow of four, and while not mean, Lothario was obstinately attached to the herd Nick had first put him to as a two-year-old.
Lothario was also, fortunately, attached to the man who had hand-fed him as a calf, and thus it became necessary for Nick to personally escort Lothario two country miles to Lord Fairly’s estate.
Ethan cheerfully declined his brother’s invitation to share the errand.
“Something amiss?” Ethan asked as Nick slammed into the front hall looking once again harried.
“Oh, please.” Nick bounded up the steps. “Aggravate all you dare, Ethan, for there’s nothing I’d like better than to pound on somebody for a bit.”
“Didn’t enjoy your constitutional with Lochinvar?” Ethan drawled, grinning.