Page 31 of Tempting the Earl

Roderick’s black brows arched. “Of course it is.”

“The man could have a number of reasons to come to London,” Colin suggested and realized he was trying to convince himself as much as his brother, who was giving him an incredulous stare.

“But I suspect he only has one.”

Colin sighed. He couldn’t disagree. “Tell me, then...what do you think he intends?”

Bentley said nothing as he appeared to consider the question carefully. “It’s hard to say. He’s made it clear he harbors a deep resentment for the earl’s actions toward his mother and wants nothing to do with us.”

“Yet, here he is.”

“Right.”

Both men stared at each other in silence.

After a moment, Bentley declared, “We have to speak with him.”

“We do.” Colin gave a short nod. “But I’d like to give him a chance to come to us first.”

Black brows lowered. “How long?”

“A week, perhaps.”

His brother groaned his displeasure. But before he could pose an argument, Colin continued. “With the level of hostility and distrust he displayed in his correspondence, any undue pressure on our part will likely only succeed in proving his point and pushing him away. This is a time for patience.”

It took another moment, but Bentley eventually tipped his head in acknowledgement. “Do you plan to have Nightshade keep a man on him?”

Colin’s forehead furrowed briefly. “I doubt such an action will endear us to him.”

“Then we have to be sure he doesn’t find out about it.”

“More deception,” Colin muttered.

Bentley arched a brow. “You had to know this process wouldn’t be easy.”

Colin clenched his jaw. “Of course. But that doesn’t mean we must perpetuate the same self-serving behavior that created the situation in the first place.”

There was a pause. Then Bentley sighed. Long and deep. “You’re right.”

Colin widened his eyes at the admission and Bentley chuckled. “Don’t look so blasted shocked. I can admit when I’m in the wrong.”

“It’s the first I’ve seen it.”

“Because I’m so rarely wrong,” Bentley quipped with a tilted grin.

Colin resisted the urge to shake his head. He wondered if it would always be this way with this brother. One moment they were arguing. The next they shared a joke.

“I’ll instruct Nightshade to notify us only if Thomas gives an indication that he plans to leave town again. We don’t need any other specifics on his activities. He has a right to some privacy.”

“I suppose I agree with that plan.” Bentley’s eyes narrowed. “But if our brother reaches out, you’ll let me know. You won’t arrange a meeting without me.”

Colin nodded. “Agreed.”

“I may never forgive you for going to Scotland alone and meeting Cailleach without me.”

“The delay in your introduction didn’t seem to be a problem,” Colin replied. “The girl was quite taken with you.”

Bentley grinned. “She was, wasn’t she? And the feeling is mutual. She’s a charming creature. Clearly, Miss Morgan had a lot to do with that. She’s quite charming herself.” His smile shifted into an irritating smirk. “Oh, that’s right. You said the two of you haven’t gotten along very well.”

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