“You are an unspeakably horrible arse,” he said, glaring at him.
Francis looked at though he might protest for a moment, but blew out a breath and lowered his shoulders instead. “I should have been here to guide and advise you.”
“I do not need your guidance or advice,” he said. “In this matter or in anything else.”
Standing up to Francis lit an even greater fire within him. He took a step toward his brother, feeling like an equal as he faced him for perhaps the first time.
“I have not needed your help in anything this whole time that you have been gone,” he went on, marching right up to Francis. “While you were off honeymooning with your bride, I have discovered Montrose’s Achilles’ heel, and I have begun to form a plan to defeat the man once and for all.”
Francis’s eyes widened in shock, then narrowed. “What is this plan? I do not wish you to confront Montrose in any way about anything.”
A lash of indignation snapped through Joseph. He immediately worried that Francis wanted to know what he’d discovered so he could take it all away from him.
“I have discovered the men to whom Montrose owes money,” he said. “I have learned of their character and what they are capable of. I have also determined how Montrose has made the Duke of Westminster his latest target, and how he has left himself vulnerable through speculation on a land deal.”
“Westminster?” Francis exclaimed in surprise. “Montrose has set his sights on the Duke of Westminster?”
“He has,” Joseph said. “But he will not succeed in bringing the man down.”
“Of course, not,” Francis said, beginning to pace. “Westminster is far too important for even a man like Montrose. And he does not have the moral failings of Montrose’s usual targets.”
Francis paced a few more steps, and his frown deepened. When he reached the end of the room, he turned back to Joseph.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “You must be mistaken. It does not stand to reason that Montrose would attack Westminster. Something else must be going on.”
Joseph gaped at him. “I can assure you, Francis, Westminster is Montrose’s target. I have investigated the matter thoroughly, and I am certain.”
“I do not doubt that you think you’ve uncovered something,” Francis began, sounding horrifically condescending.
“I have discovered the truth,” Joseph insisted. “You have not been here these last few weeks. You have not seen the things I have seen.”
Francis’s expression turned pitying. “Joseph, I know you mean well, but you need to leave these sorts of things to the grown men.”
Joseph’s eyes went wide with bitter indignation. “I am a grown man, Francis,” he said, forcing himself to stay as calm as possible. He wanted to rattle off all the reasons why he was just as good as Francis, but Danny Long’s words about not complaining were loud in his head. “You may believe whatever you’d like about me, but your prejudices will only get in the way of making an evil man pay for what he has done, to us and to other families.”
“Joseph—”
“I am quite certain of what I have discovered,” Joseph spoke over him, raising his voice just a little and battling not to raise it more. “I have had help in my investigations as well. Help from a reliable source.”
“Miss Garrett?” Francis asked with a teasing smirk.
Joseph’s eyes went wide. Was that what his brother thought of him? That he and Ellen had bene mucking about, like children in a schoolyard attempting to call the bully out?
“Not that it is any of your concern,” he said in a tight voice, “but no. I have become friends with Mr. Danny Long in your absence, and I have found his help to be of great use.”
Francis shook his head and crossed his arms. “I do not know this man. I do not trust anyone I haven’t met. You will end your connection with Mr. Long immediately and you will step away from anything having to do with Montrose. This is my problem, as head of our family, and I will deal with it in my own way. Besides,” he added before Joseph could get a word of protest in edgewise, “there is another family matter that needs to be resolved, now that I am home. Before I departed for Lisbon, I discovered information of a very delicate nature about Prince Petrus of Aegiria.”
A strange kind of hurt twisted in Joseph’s gut. His brother had dismissed all of the work he’d done and all of the discoveries he’d made out of hand. It felt very much like Francis was attempting to send him back to the nursery. And what was this business about Prince Petrus? It was no concern of his. It felt as though Francis was trying to distract him from the mission he knew was before him by dangling a shiny bauble before his eyes.
“Well, brother, there you have it,” he said, stiffening his back. “You have whatever this thing is with Prince Petrus to sort through, and in the meantime, I will continue with my quest to defeat Montrose once and for all.”
He didn’t wait for Francis to say more, although Francis did call after him as Joseph marched past him, heading toward the hallway.
“Joseph, come back here this instant. I am not through with you,” Francis called.
“Yes, but I am through with you,” Joseph said in return. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go tell Mother that Ellen is about to become her daughter-in-law, and then I have a great deal of business to see to.”
“Joseph!” Francis snapped after him.