The Earl's Wallflower Bride (15 page)

She opened her mouth to speak when someone
answered from behind her. “It’s good to see you again, brother,”
the gentleman called out.

Warren’s gaze went to the person behind her,
and she caught the spark of annoyance in his eyes.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw a
gentleman, probably five years younger than Warren standing in the
hallway near the drawing room doors. The two shared the same golden
hair color and facial features. There was no denying they were
related.

“I think my half-brother would like to speak
to me alone,” Warren told her. “Perhaps it’d be best if the butler
shows you to your bedchamber so you can put your things where you
want them.”

“I don’t mind making her acquaintance,” the
gentleman said as he went over to her and bowed. “I heard Warren
was to marry today, but he neglected to give his family an
invitation.”

“His family?” she asked.

“Didn’t he tell you about us?” he responded,
looking hurt.

“Well…” She glanced at Warren, who didn’t
look the least bit happy by their visitor.

“That’s enough, Byron,” Warren said, stepping
between them. “I believe the matter you wish to attend to has to do
with me.” Warren turned to her. “I need to talk to him alone.”

Deciding it’d be best if she didn’t get
involved in this matter, she nodded and went over to the butler. On
her way up the stairs, she chanced another glance at Warren and
Byron. It didn’t take much to realize why Warren hadn’t mentioned
his family. The tension between the two gentlemen was hard to
miss.

Byron’s gaze went to her, and he smiled at
her in a way that made her shiver. She couldn’t pin down why a
gesture meant to be friendly should unnerve her, but it did. Even
as upset as she’d been with Warren, he never once gave her such a
strange feeling. Looking away, she continued up the stairs.

***

“Your wife is beautiful,” Byron said as
Warren shut the doors to the drawing room. “I can see why you
didn’t tell me about her.”

Warren turned to face his half-brother, not
bothering to hide his displeasure. “You can’t touch her. She’s a
lady. She’s not one of those women who spend time in bed with
everyone they meet.”

Byron gasped and pressed his hand over his
heart. “I don’t always go after those types of ladies. I’ve had a
virgin or two in my time.”

Warren gritted his teeth. Words couldn’t
describe how much he loathed these times with his half-brother.
“You’re not to go near my wife. I don’t want you looking at her. I
don’t want you talking to her. You will have nothing to do with
her. Do you understand?”

Byron shrugged. “I suppose it’s just as well.
Virgins are boring. They get squeamish at the slightest thing. And
it takes time and effort to get past their maidenhead. Ladies
who’ve been around are much easier and more entertaining. Plus,
they aren’t afraid to do new things.”

With a scowl, Warren snapped, “I’m not
interested in hearing about your debauchery.” He crossed his arms.
“Why are you here?”

“You refused to acknowledge my missive, so I
had to pay you a visit.”

“I already gave you the monthly stipend
Father’s will requires. You won’t get any more money until next
month.”

“I had an unexpected expense come up.”

“A night of gambling isn’t an unexpected
expense.”

“I was sure to win,” Byron told Warren as
Warren walked over to the decanter. “It was unexpected that I lost
the money. Besides, how did you know that’s how I lost the money?
Have you been following me?”

Warren snorted. “I have better things to do
with my time than worry about what you’re doing to ruin your life.”
He poured himself a glass of brandy and then put the lid back on
the decanter. “Your problem is that I know you. If it wasn’t
gambling, you would have wasted your money on wine and immoral
women. You’re much too predictable.”

“As are you. Once again, you fail to give me
the courtesy of a drink.”

“I have to waste my hard earned money to
furnish your lavish lifestyle and reckless spending.” In fact,
Warren had to do it for his stepmother as well, but at least she
didn’t make it a point to show up in his townhouse to annoy him.
Shooting Byron a sharp look, Warren added, “The last thing you need
is brandy anyway. You get drunk often enough as it is.”

“
Well, I’m perfectly sober
right now.”

“Good. Then you’ll understand me when I tell
you that you’ll have to wait until next month to get more money. If
you don’t like my answer, then find a way to earn an honest living.
It’d give you an appreciation for the value of money.”

“You’re a selfish gentleman, Warren. You have
more wealth than you’ll ever need. Our father gave you the largest
portion of the inheritance.”

“Because I inherited the title,” Warren
interrupted. “You should be glad I did, too. If it’d gone to you,
you would have squandered all the wealth away. Then where would you
be?”

Byron chuckled. “I would have married a
wealthy lady. I hear your wife is the daughter of the Duke of
Hartwell. He has a sizable estate.”

So they were back to Iris. “She’s my wife,
and because of that, she’s under my protection. You will not have
anything to do with her.”

“I don’t want her. In fact, I don’t care if I
ever see her again, even if she is a pretty thing. All I need is a
little raise in my monthly allotment. I want an extra crown.”

“No.”

“Half a crown?”

“No!” Warren slammed his glass on the desk,
and since it was still full, some of the brandy spilled out and
splattered on the smooth surface. Irritated, he yanked his
handkerchief out and wiped the desk. “You’ll have to make do with
your current allotment. It’s not my fault you’re reckless with your
money. If you took the time to save some—”

Byron let out a loud, frustrated sigh. “Yes,
yes, yes, I’ve heard all this before. If only I was boring like you
and saved and invested, then I’d be worth something. Spare me the
speech. I don’t care to hear it. You want to know why no one likes
you? It’s because you’re always telling others what to do.”

“Well, your example leaves a lot to be
desired. How many illegitimate children do you have by now?
Children you don’t bother providing for with that money I give you
each month, I might add.”

“There’s no proving any of those children are
mine.”

Warren was ready to answer when it occurred
to him they’d done this same routine every time they talked. Why
was he wasting his time? He had a bride to think about. He didn’t
need to spend the afternoon with his reprobate half-brother.

“I’m not giving you any more money than the
amount Father made me promise to give you,” Warren said.

To this day, Warren still hated that their
father made him swear to give Byron and his stepmother any money.
The only one he didn’t mind providing for was his half-sister,
Opal. She’d been ten the last time he saw her, and that was six
years ago. Given the unfortunate accident when she was thirteen,
she’d never even see a Season. So she needed the money.

Warren sighed. He didn’t want to think about
it. This was his wedding day, and he intended to spend it with his
wife. He picked up his glass and headed out of the room. “If you
don’t leave, I’ll have the butler escort you out,” he told
Byron.

“That money is as much mine as is it yours,”
Byron called out from behind him.

Oh? Did Byron take the time to save and
invest? Instead of asking the rhetorical question, Warren chose to
ignore him and summoned the butler.

Chapter Thirteen

I
ris noted the change in Warren’s demeanor the moment he came
to the open door of her bedchamber. His grip on the glass in his
hand was a little too tight, and his posture was stiff.

“I was wondering if everything meets with
your approval,” Warren greeted as he came in. “If not, then I can
make any changes you require.”

He offered a smile, though it didn’t reach
his eyes, further giving evidence that whatever had transpired
between him and his half-brother had bothered him. However, for her
sake, he was struggling to be pleasant, and she supposed that
counted for something. It meant he cared at least a little if he
was willing to see to her comfort.

“Everything is fine,” she replied. Then,
scanning the room, which reminded her so much of the one she’d
grown up in, she asked, “Did you ask my father on ways to decorate
this room?”

He hesitated for a moment before answering.
“Yes. I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I thought it was the safest
way to go.” With an uncertain look, he added, “Are you
disappointed?”

“No. I think that was a very practical thing
to do.”

“You do?”

Catching the bewildered tone in his voice,
she felt the hint of a smile tug at her lips. “I happen to like the
practical way of handling things. There are fewer surprises that
way. Things are more predictable. Stable. I like knowing what to
expect.”

“I do, too.”

They grew silent, and after an awkward moment
passed between them, she figured maybe she would give him the
benefit of the doubt. He’d been honest with her in the carriage. If
he was still standing in her doorway, then it indicated he wanted
to talk to her. He had nothing to gain from doing so before it was
time for bed.

Clearing her throat, she asked, “Would you
like to see the old Sovereign I own?”

She noted the interest in his expression.
“You’re willing to show it to me?”

“Well, you seemed interested when my father
mentioned it.”

“I am,” he said, stepping further into the
room. “I’ve only seen a drawing of one.”

“It’s one of my most prized possessions.” She
went to the valise on her vanity and opened it. “I won’t let anyone
touch it. Well, except those I trust.”

She slipped on a pair of gloves. Next, she
pulled out the small leather pouch from the inside pocket of her
valise. After she loosed the strings, she took the coin out. Then
she walked over to him.

“I’m afraid I don’t have gloves on,” he
said.

He made a good point. She went back to her
valise and took out a handkerchief. “You can use this.”

With a nod, he set his glass on the dresser
then came back to her. As he took the handkerchief, their fingers
brushed, and an involuntary shiver raced up her spine. Oh, how she
hated that! Her body was much too responsive to him. She’d thought
she was safe by focusing on something important to her, but it
seemed no matter how much she prized the coin, it failed in
comparison to him. Marriage to him was going to only complicate
things. As much as she wanted to hold onto her anger at the way
he’d treated her—thereby adding a layer of protection around her
heart—it seemed the tactic wasn’t going to work.

Forcing aside her dismay, she waited as he
smoothed the handkerchief on his hand. She gently put the coin on
his palm. Then she removed one of her gloves and gave it to
him.

“You don’t expect me to put that on, do you?”
he asked, a hint of a smile on his lips.

Despite her nervousness, she chuckled. “Of
course not. You’d stretch it out. Then what use will it be to me? I
figure you can use it to turn the coin over.”

“I don’t blame you for being careful with
this coin. I would be, too, if it was mine.” He studied the
portrait of King Henry VII in his full coronation regalia then
turned the coin over. The back featured the royal arms resting on a
double rose. “It’s exquisite. The drawings don’t do it
justice.”

“No, they don’t. It’s a shame the Royal Mint
stopped making them. The new Sovereign is attractive in its own
right, but I prefer the beauty of this coin.”

“Seeing it for myself, I’m inclined to agree
with you.” He turned the coin over again and continued studying it.
“How did you get this?”

“I wasn’t able to get it directly. I had my
father’s help.”

He glanced up at her. “You did?”

“My father takes my money and invests it in
ventures I think will pay off. In this case, I had him put a good
sum of my money into a jeweler’s business.”

“Because you like jewelry?”

Once again, she caught a teasing tone in his
voice and couldn’t help but smile. “No. My mother’s the one who
fancies adornments, not me. I thought the jeweler gave a convincing
argument to my father when he came over to ask my father for money
to start the business. He claimed he could design the jewelry
better than his competitors.”

This time Warren stopped studying the coin so
he could study her. “Your father lets you in the room while he
discusses potential business ventures?”

“My father discusses business during our
dinner parties. That way I can hear what the gentlemen are saying.
The gentlemen aren’t aware I’m also listening to them, carefully
weighing the pros and cons of investing in their business.”