“And this is the secret you have kept from me? The fact that you attended these clandestine nuptials?”
Tobias rubbed the back of his hand. This wasn’t getting any easier.
“Unfortunately, this is only where the matter began.”
His uncle sat back in his chair. “Go on.”
“When Miss Sangford realized who I was, she blackmailed me.”
“And who are you to be blackmailed?” the earl asked with a tilt to his head.
“Sophia’s secret beau, and your nephew.”
“Ah.” His uncle nodded, seeming to understand. “She wanted money for her silence on your relationship.”
“I’m afraid it’s worse than that.”
“Tell me.”
“She wanted an introduction to you.”
“Tome? Why?”
By now, Tobias was in a sweat. His uncle, by comparison, was entirely calm, the truth of his betrayal still eluding him. But that was about to change.
“She… Well, the fact is…she hoped to… I mean… She thought she could capture your affection, and with it, your wealth and title.” The miserable words were finally said. Tobias bowed his head in shame.
Of all the things his uncle might say, of all the reactions Tobias had imagined, what followed so shocked him that he could only stare, aghast.
Uncle Edmund laughed. He laughed loud and long. Tears of mirth gathered and were dabbed away with a long finger, while he continued to chortle. Tobias could only watch, mystified, until his uncle finally reached for his handkerchief and noisily blew his nose. He folded and returned it to his pocket, patting the dark fabric and then wiping his eyes with the heel of his palm once more.
“Poor Miss Sangford,” he said, slightly more serious now. “What a disappointment for her. Though from what Lord Howell told me, not entirely undeserved.”
“What did he say?” Tobias asked, still dazed from the turn of events.
“Just that he’d seen her entering the library after me and rushed to warn me of her—shall we say—interests. It had taken longer than he’d liked because he’d had to wade through a tide of enthusiastic mothers trying to introduce their daughters. But that is neither here nor there. The point is, she had tried her luck with him before.”
“The nerve of that woman,” Tobias said more in wonderment than anger. “What does she think qualifies her for such a match?”
“Of course, she never stood a chance,” his uncle agreed. “The viscount is an excellent judge of character, especially for one so young.”
“No wonder she was so facetious toward him in the library.”
“Miss Sangford’s reaction to being rejected was unpleasant, to say the least.” His uncle shook his head. “Sour grapes, you know. She spoke rather uncharitably about the viscount, which only made it harder for him to find a suitable match. Rather like your Miss Dunbar.”
“I wish you wouldn’t call her that,” Tobias said sulkily.
Uncle Edmund waved a perfunctory hand. “You know what I mean.” He placed his palms firmly on the desk. “Right, shall we get back to it?”
“Sorry?”
“I assume we’re done. You met a woman of low substance who threatened to tell your secret unless you introduced her to me. You did so. As you can tell”—he shrugged—“we are not now, in fact, courting. Your secret connection with Miss Grant is safe, albeit unresolved. Was there anything else?”
“I went behind your back,” Tobias explained, feeling a little foolish for having to clarify to his uncle what, exactly, his wrongdoing had been. “I arranged a scenario that put you at risk, protecting Sophia and myself instead of you. But Miss Sangford said that she would only guarantee her silence if I remained silent too.”
“A difficult situation, and most unfortunate. I am glad it is resolved.”
“Uncle.” Tobias threw up his palms in exasperation. “Why aren’t you angry with me?”
