“You have made that your habit, yes.”
“But have you paid me a visit once since I arrived?”
“I saw you in Cornwall only last month,” Nicholas reminded her.
“That is not the point.” Then she leaned back and said, “Well, you surely have fallen into it this time, haven’t you?”
“So it would seem,” he replied dryly, then turned to face the two Malory men.
The older man came forward to greet him cordially. Big and blond and green-eyed, Edward Malory looked nothing like his brother Anthony, and everything like his brother Jason. He was an inch shorter than Nicholas’ own six feet, but his build was stockier.
The younger Malory man stood rooted to his place by the fireplace. Dark blue eyes seemed to be envisioning Nicholas’ dismemberment. Malory’s vivid blue eyes and coal-black hair announced to Nicholas that Regina Ashton was Anthony’s blood relation. It was more than that. She actually bore a startling resemblance to Anthony, even to the slight slanting of the eyes. Good God, he wondered, could Regina be his daughter? That would mean he’d sowed his oats a bit young, but it wasn’t impossible.
“We haven’t met, Nicholas,” Edward Malory said and introduced himself. “But I knew your father Charles very well, and I’ve known Rebecca for some years.”
“Edward invests my money for me, and very nicely, too,” Rebecca explained. “Didn’t know that, did you, scamp?”
Well, that explained how they’d gotten his grandmother here on such short notice. The proximity to family was starting to make him nervous.
Edward continued, “And I believe you know my youngest brother, Anthony?”
“We’ve crossed each other’s paths in the clubs from time to time,” Nicholas replied, making no move toward Anthony.
Anthony didn’t acknowledge him at all except to fry him with his eyes. He was as tall as Nicholas, and just as broad in the shoulders, too. A hellion since he was sixteen according to Derek. Nicholas wagered there were worse scandals in Anthony’s past than this silly flap over Regina. What the hell did Anthony have to look so condemning about?
“That one wants your head on a platter, scamp,” his grandmother spoke in the growing silence. Ellie tried to shush her, but she wouldn’t be shushed.
“I am already aware of that, madame,” Nicholas said, facing Anthony. “Do we name the time, my lord?”
Anthony chuckled wryly. “By God, I really think you’d rather. But much as I would love to accommodate you, I have promised to let them deal with you first.”
Nicholas looked around at the others. Sympathy poured from Ellie’s brown eyes, and Edward looked resigned. Nicholas’ nervousness increased suddenly, and he fixed his gaze on Anthony again.
“My lord,” he said stiffly. “I would like to settle with you.”
“My niece would have it otherwise.”
“She what?”
“She’s too kindhearted by half,” Anthony sighed. “Doesn’t want to see you hurt—more’s the pity.” He shook his head.
“Nevertheless, I do believe—”
“No, by God!” Rebecca thundered. “I wasn’t around to stop those other duels you involved yourself in, but I’ll stop this one. I’ll have you thrown in jail first, my boy; see if I don’t.”
Nicholas tried to smile. “The man wants satisfaction, madame. I can offer no other.”
“Lord Anthony will settle for something other than a duel because he loves his niece. We may be thankful for that.”
“We? I cannot be thankful, madame.”
“We can do without your satirical wit, too,” she said. “You may be a damned arrogant, irresponsible pup, but you are the last Eden. You will get yourself an heir before you go throwing your life away on a dueling field.”
Nicholas flinched. “Nicely put, madame. But what makes you think I don’t already have an heir to give you?”
“I know you better than that. Although it often looks as though you’re trying to populate the world, you have no bastards. And you know I would never accept one, anyway.”
“Is this necessary, Rebecca?” Eleanor asked hastily.
