Edward’s long, thin fingers turned white as he squeezed his hands together. “The choice is yours,” he said.
“Very well, then.” Nate leaned back in his chair. “I shall have to get a job. I wonder what people will say when they hear that the Earl of Westerly’s brother has had to resort to teaching French to schoolboys. What a stain on our family that will be. Papa would turn in his grave.”
“You won’t do that. We both know you are far too lazy and spoilt to work. You’ve never worked a day in your life.”
Nate crossed his legs. “You’re right, brother. I certainly wouldn’t make a good role model for young boys. However, I’m an excellent lover, and the Dowager Reeves has been begging me to move in with her. She’s already ostracized from society, so the gossip won’t bother her.”
“It might interest you to know that the Dowager Reeves moved to France two months ago—with her newest lover.”
Nate felt chagrined. How had he not known about that? “Well, I’m sure I can find another desperate widow who will take me in,” he said coolly.
“It’s time you stopped this foolish talk,” Edward said. “I will not allow you to disgrace our family name. Now, I expect you and your horse to be at Rotten Row on Saturday morning at ten o’clock sharp, do you understand?”
“Sorry, Edward.” Nate stood up. “But I really must go now. If you are to cut off my allowance, then I need to take the money I have left to the gambling tables and triple it.”
“We both know that’s a losing battle for you,” Edward said dryly. “Now, why don’t you sit down so we can finish our discussion.”
Nate moved toward the door.
“Fine. If you refuse to marry, then I have one other proposition for you.”
Nate turned. “What is it?”
“I recently acquired a property that needs managing. It’s rather large to my understanding—a great deal of land. I haven’t had time to see it.”
“A recently acquired property you haven’t even seen? How so?” Intrigued, Nate returned to his seat.
“I took possession of it from a gentleman who could not pay his debts.”
Nate blinked. “Do you mean to say—was it that chap who put a bullet in his head with his own pistol?”
Edward shifted in his seat. “He chose to sit down at the card table and gamble his home. Then he lost. What do you think I should have done? Forgiven his debt? He played as a gentleman, and gentlemen pay their gambling debts.”
“Well, you could have shown some mercy—worked out some sortof payment plan. It’s not like you need the money.”
“No, I don’t. But the property is now making itself useful.”
Edward’s coldness was vile. “I won’t manage it for you like some servant,” Nate said.
“It’s not for me; it’s for you. I am prepared to sign over the deed to you.”
“You want to unload your bloody acquisition onto me to rid yourself of the shame?”
“I have no shame over collecting what is owed to me, brother. Now, if you don’t want the property, then you always have the option of marrying. But if you refuse both propositions, know that you will no longer have access to the Regent’s Park townhouse.”
“You can’t throw me out of my home. It’s scandalous. People will gossip.”
“That is why I am partially gifting you a new home.”
“Partially gifting? How do you partially gift something? Isn’t that an oxymoron?”
“You will own ninety percent of the property, and I will retain ownership of a mere ten percent. That will ensure that I can go to the property whenever I wish. But more importantly, it means you will not be able to sell the property without my consent. Moreover, you must agree not to return to London without first asking my permission, which I will only grant for extenuating circumstances.” Edward’s face was a marble slate.
Did his brother possess any feelings at all?
“So, you intend to banish me for life?”
“Not at all. You decide your future. For instance, if you decide to marry Miss Eamont, you will be free to live in London, and you will have all the wealth you desire.”
