“It is unfortunate, but yes, I am. At least the tie is quite distant.”
Nicholas chuckled. “Most ladies would not think it unfortunate to be connected to an Earl.”
“Really? Then they haven’t met the present Earl of Penwich. I am happy to say I haven’t seen the man for many years, but I doubt he has changed much. He is indeed a pompous…”
He grinned. “Whoareyour people, then?”
“I am an orphan, sir.”
“I’m sorry.”
“As am I. But I do have a loving family on my mother’s side who saw to my upbringing. And now it is only fair for you to tell me who you are.”
“Nicholas Eden.”
“Fourth Viscount of Montieth? Oh dear, Ihaveheard about you.”
“Scandalous lies, I assure you.”
“I doubt it.” She grinned up at him. “But you needn’t fear I’ll think badly of you. After all, no one is quite as bad as Tony, or his brother James for that matter, and I love them both very much.”
“Both? TonyandJames Malory?” He was utterly stunned. “Good God, you don’t mean you’re James Malory’s mistress, too!”
Her eyes widened for a moment. She bit her lip hard, but it didn’t work. The laughter broke through in spite of her.
“I fail to see any humor,” Nicholas began coldly.
“Oh, but there is, I assure you. I was afraid you might think Tony and I…oh, this is famous! I must tell Tony…no, I better not. He won’t think it’s funny. You men are so stuffy sometimes,” she sighed. “You see, he’s my uncle.”
“If that is what you prefer to call him.”
She laughed again. “You don’t believe me, do you?”
“My dear Miss Ashton—”
“Lady Ashton,” she corrected him.
“Very well—Lady Ashton. I’ll have you know that Jason Malory’s son, Derek Malory, is one of my closest friends—”
“I know.”
“You do?”
“Yes, your best friend, actually. You went to school with him, though you finished a few years before he did. You took a liking to him when others did not. He loved you for that. I loved you, too, for befriending him, though I was only eleven at the time he told me about it and I had never met you. Where do you think I heard about you, Lord Montieth? Cousin Derek used to go on and on about you when he came home on holiday.”
“Why didn’t he ever mention you, then?” Nicholas snapped.
“Why would he talk about me?” she asked. “I’m sure you and he had better things to talk about than the children in your families.”
Nicholas frowned darkly. “You could be making all of this up.”
“Of course I could.” She left it like that, without trying to convince him.
Her eyes sparkled with laughter. Damnation, she was beautiful.
“How old are you?” he asked.
“So you’re not angry anymore?”
