Page 38 of Tall, Dark & Wicked
“Katherine never does anything purely because it’s the right thing to do, as well you know. Good Lord, you don’t suppose she’s carrying on with him again, do you? I thought that was over and done with long ago. She married Whitfield and thankfully moved away. When we were younger, I never understood why Father tolerated Katherine’s relationship with Morwick, though now, of course, I see why.”
Petra winced at the sudden tightening of her stomach.
Fine porcelain rattled. “Your sister assures me nothing has occurred…yet.Perhaps we should allow her to pursue the diversion of Morwick, something to take her mind from Whitfield’s loss. She’s always had an odd fascination for him. I would have much preferred she pursue the elder brother, but Morwick is rather appealing I suppose, in a savage sort of way. Allow Katherine her little affair. No one outside of Brushbriar need know about it.”
Simon cursed. “It’s distasteful.”
“Don’t be such a prig. Would you rather she marry him? I am hopeful she will show an interest in Haddon.” The sound of glass meeting china sounded again.
“Mother, really. Drinking brandy this early in the morning? It’s a good thing you don’t venture to London. I can’t have you drunkenly stumbling about. Imagine what my detractors would say. My mother a sot, and my sister—”
“It’s for my cough. Dr. Stubbins assured me having a little brandy in my tea was beneficial.”
Another cough sounded. “You won’t have any detractors, Simon, unless your future wife does something scandalous.”
Petra pressed her palms against the wall, careful to make no sound.
“Doubtful. I chose Petraspecificallyfor her decorum and obedient nature. She’s as docile as can be. Well-mannered. Attractive, but not overly so. And she hasn’t a reckless bone in her body. If anything, she’s a tad dull. It’s unfortunate her family is related to the Duke of Dunbar, but I can turn such a thing into an advantage.”
I’d no idea I was so boring and tedious.Petra was clenching her fists so tightly she could feel the press of her nails into her palms.Nor my family connections so questionable.
“She strikesmeas stubborn,” Lady Pendleton said. “The way she looked me straight in the eye upon her arrival doesn’t speak of a docile nature. Best you take a firm hand with her right from the start.”
“What about Morwick?”
Yes. What about Morwick?Petra was sorting through the conversation trying to determine exactly what the pointwas, but all she could think about was Morwick with Katherine and Simon’s rather poor assessment of her character.
“There’s no proof, so you must cease your worry.” Lady Pendleton began coughing again, and Simon stayed silent until she was finished.
When he finally spoke, Petra was surprised to hear fear instead of his usual measured confidence. “If Morwick were to evertrulysuspect, not even my sister’s numerous charms would keep him from the truth. He’d go to his cousin, the duke.”
“Yet another reason to keep him and his mother close. And marriage to Petra would assure some relationship with the duke. Sometimes I think it would have been easier if Morwick had…” The words lowered and trailed off.
Petra sidestepped her way back down the hall, careful to make no sound as she did so. Eavesdropping never did anyone any good,especiallyPetra. Simon wanted her because she was dull and possessed not a lick of spirit. Morwick and Katherine’s involvement with each other was common knowledge. Lady Pendleton liked brandy in her tea and was potentially a sot. That was the only piece of information she’d gleaned that Petra found amusing. The remainder of what she’d overheard Petra found curious, though she wasn’t sure what she should do with the information or exactly what it all meant. Until she did, Petra meant to keep things to herself.
Once she reached a suitable distance, Petra turned and made her way loudly back down the hall again, toward the parlor. “Lord Pendleton? Simon?”
A moment later, Simon’s dark head poked through the open doorway. “Are you perchance looking for me?” He spoke in a cheery voice, as if he hadn’t just been telling his mother what an obedient dimwit she was. “Shall we take a walk?”
14
Brendan crossed and uncrossed his legs within the confines of the coach. Why couldn’t manufacturers of coaches and carriages make a conveyance to accommodate a man of his height? He wasn’t the tallest man in England, for God’s sake. There was a gent in Buxton who was far larger than Brendan, though Big Tom farmed sheep and likely had little need for a coach.
“Really, Brendan. Can you not settle? Even as a child, you were forever flip flopping about like a tiny goldfish struggling to find its way back into a pond.” Mother’s deep blue eyes twinkled in amusement. “I do miss those days.” She straightened. “Whatever are you nervous about?”
“I’m not a child, Mother. I haven’t been for some time. Nor am I a goldfish. If you haven’t noticed, I have overly long legs and the coach is a small space. Discomfort is what I am feeling.”
“Unsettled.” She corrected him. “You have been for some time.”
“Yes, since we climbed into this coach to head to Brushbriar. The mere thought of eating at Simon’s table for the next few daysunsettlesme to no end.” Mother didn’t know about Oxford; why should she? He’d told no one. Even now, the memory rankled him. He should have allowed Simon to be beaten to a pulp that night.
A very unladylike snort filled the coach. “Fine. Continue to be obtuse. Perhaps you are only wishing to catch a glimpse of Katherine. Awful girl.” His mother’s nose wrinkled as if she caught a whiff of something unpleasant.
“Mother, I hate to spoil your assumptions, but I’ve already seen Katherine. I visited Brushbriar a few weeks after her return to offer my condolences on the passing of Lord Whitfield. She’s smashing in widow’s weeds, by the way.”
“I’ll not pretend I’m unhappy things didn’t work out between you two. You would have been estranged within a year. Tales of her escapades still echo throughout theton. Affairs should be discreet, not be flaunted for all to see.”
Mother had worried needlessly. No woman, even Katherine, was worth the potential damage to his heart; at least, he’d assumed such.
