It was a question whether Charles’s red face was from embarrassment or anger. “That’s not possible,” he said stiffly.
“Really? Did you suffer some injury?” The moment the words were out a truly fiendish idea came into Brandon’s head, and this time his smile was genuine, pleased with himself.
Charles growled. “Don’t be absurd! My wife has a delicate constitution—having another child at her age would be difficult.”
“If I recall she’s probably not much older than Mrs. Cadbury. She married young.”
Charles looked positively apoplectic. “Do not mention my beloved wife’s name in the same breath as that whore.”
Brandon’s lazy smile vanished along with his sorely strained good humor. “And I would suggest you not use that word when you’re discussing Mrs. Cadbury,” he said softly.
Charles has never been one to notice subtleties in people’s behavior. He sniffed. “And why not? Has she already become your mistress? Fast work, considering you only arrived here yesterday, but then, there’s no need for seduction with a creature like her. It’s just a matter of finding the right price. You needn’t worry—I’m sure Miss Bonham won’t object as long as you’re reasonably discreet, though I could wish your choice was a little less notorious.”
But Brandon was back under control now, even if he really, truly wanted to throw his smug brother out a window. “I’m not in the market for a mistress at the moment,” he said coolly. “And I’m afraid your grand plans have come to naught. I have no intention of getting married, ever. I imagine that will bring a great deal of relief to that poor girl—who is she, by the way? She looked as if she were about to faint when she caught sight of my elegant visage. You might at least have warned her you were attempting to wed her off to a horror.”
At least Charles didn’t protest Brandon’s description of himself—Brandon would have had to hit him if he did. “You mistake the situation,” Charles said in an effort at civility. “Of course she’d be shocked by your appearance—it’s almost impossible to prepare someone for it. And she is Miss Frances Bonham.” Charles looked at him, as if expecting him to react to the name.
Brandon didn’t say anything. Emma Cadbury hadn’t been shocked by his appearance. She’d looked at him, at both sides of his face, and she hadn’t even blinked. “Agreed,” he said.
“This marriage is a perfect arrangement for both of you. Your reputation is in the gutter, and you’ve dragged down all of the family’s efforts to prove themselves respectable, ruined all the progress we made over decades!”
“All the family’s efforts?” he echoed with a hoot of laughter. “I don’t recall Benedick or Miranda doing much to walk the straight and narrow, and I think our parents would be greatly amused to hear they’d been trying to salvage the family honor. That was long gone generations ago, and even my sins, at least the ones you know of, are no worse than our grandfather’s.”
“Will you stop arguing with me?”
“No. Not as long as you’re spouting nonsense.”
Charles ignored him. “Miss Bonham is in a similarly difficult situation.”
“You mean she’s ruined herself? Soiled goods? She looks awfully timid for a scarlet woman.”
“Of course not! Miss Bonham is all that is respectable. She’s also an heiress.”
“I’m very happy for her. She should have no trouble attracting an acceptable husband, and I expect you know, interfering sort that you are, that I have more than enough money on my own.”
“No one ever has enough money,” Charles said gloomily. “Her brother also left her
a large estate that borders on the edge of Marchings, but there are strings attached.”
Brandon’s laugh was not pleasant. “Now we get to the crux of the matter. Her land adjoins yours, and you think bringing it into the family would be a good idea. Why don’t you just buy the place from her if, as I understand, she’s now an orphan?”
Charles gave him a sour look. He’d always been a pinchpenny, a changeling among the imprudent Rohans, and he never paid for something if he could avoid it. “It’s more complicated than that. Although Miss Bonham is twenty-two she should still be able to manage the rigors of childbirth, though as you can see she’s a very timid soul. She’d never interfere with you in any way. You’ll need to bring her companion along as well, but Miss Trimby gives Miss Bonham all the company she needs. You just need to marry the girl, get a couple of sons on her, and spend her money. That’s hardly a great sacrifice, is it?”
“There’s just one flaw in your clever plan, brother,” Brandon said, enjoying himself.
“What’s that? Whatever it is, I’m sure we can dispose of it.”
“I’m impotent.”
It was even better then he’d imagined. Charles looked aghast. The emotions that chased each other across his face were swift and revealing. First horror, then embarrassment, followed swiftly by distaste and frustration.
“You’re joking.”
“I’m afraid I’m not. My war injuries were quite severe. “
“But. . . but. . . you were part of the Heavenly Host! Licentiousness is. . .”
“I liked to watch.” In fact, it was close enough to the truth. He’d found no pleasure disporting with the paid companions, and the opium had left him uninterested in doing more. It was an ugly memory, and he quickly banished it. “While I suspect that Miss Bonham would be more than happy to dispense with my stud services she might find that when she’s older she develops an interest in bedsport.”