If Niall’s argument with Bree hadn’t already killed his erection, this visit to Stoke Towers would certainly have done so. The servant who’d shown him to Edwin’s study had walked as if on eggshells. The very air in the manor house was subdued, as if its denizens were holding their breaths for Clarissa.

Had her situation worsened? God, what would he do if it had?

Edwin walked in, looking even more somber than usual. “I suppose you’ve come because you heard about your sister’s troubles.”

Niall braced himself for anything. “Yes, when I came by your town house this morning, her lady’s maid told me. How serious is it?”

“Dr. Worth says that a woman can sometimes have a little blood at this stage, that it’s not unusual.” Edwin let out a shuddering breath. “But I can’t stop thinking about the possibility that she might lose the babe.” His eyes looked a bit wild. “I don’t know how I’d bear it. How she would bear it.”

“If Dr. Worth says she’ll be fine, then she will be,” Niall said to soothe the man’s agitation. “You trust him, don’t you?”

“With my life—but it’s not my life at stake. Still, he says that if the bleeding doesn’t become heavy, then it’s naught to be concerned about.”

“So, where is Clarissa now?” Niall asked.

“In her bedchamber. The doctor says she needs plenty of rest.”

“Of course.” Niall eyed his friend closely. “I don’t suppose I could see her?”

Edwin’s face closed up. “No visitors for a while, Dr. Worth said.”

“Even family?” Niall said, though he wasn’t entirely surprised by Edwin’s answer. He’d already known he might not be able to talk to her.

“Yes, even family. And especially not your mother. At least not until Dr. Worth can be sure this isn’t anything more than normal. He was very firm on the ‘no visitors’ rule.”

“It’s probably a good one.”

“Yes,” Edwin said absently.

“She doesn’t mind, does she?”

“No, she doesn’t want to risk the baby any more than I do.” Edwin stared out the window. “I only wish there was something more I could do to help. I feel so . . . bloody useless.”

If ever Niall had been in doubt about his brother-in-law’s feelings for Clarissa, those doubts were dispelled. The man was obviously distraught. “I’m afraid this is one area in which a husband isn’t much good to a woman, other than to keep her company—which might be more helpful than you’d think. Clarissa’s unaccustomed to being cut off from people, so she probably welcomes your companionship.”

Edwin snorted. “You’d think so, but no. She says I fuss over her too much, that I’m as bad as an old woman.”

Niall let out a laugh that made his brother-in-law scowl at him. “Sorry, but that sounds exactly like something Clarissa would say.”

With a distracted nod, Edwin walked toward the door. “I don’t mean to be inhospitable, old man, but—”

“Actually, I didn’t just come to find out how Clarissa is doing,” Niall put in. “I need to speak to you about something important.”

That arrested Edwin. “All right. I can spare a little time.” He walked over to a brandy decanter. “Something to drink?”

“Oh yes,” Niall said. In some ways, discussing Clarissa’s assault would have been easier with her than her husband. Now that the moment was upon him, he wasn’t sure how to begin.

He waited while Edwin poured them each a finger of brandy, then took a drink to steady his nerves. “Warren told me that you know why I fought that duel with Joseph Whiting.”

Though Edwin’s gaze darkened, he nodded.

“I realize this is difficult to talk about,” Niall went on, “but here’s my situation.”

As succinctly as possible, he laid out the details of the aftermath of the duel. Niall revealed everything that had happened between him and Bree years ago, including telling Edwin the lies Father had told Bree in an apparent attempt to save Niall from himself.

He even explained Fulkham’s scheme, and how that had brought him and Bree back together again. Niall knew he could trust Edwin with that secret, since Edwin was indebted to Fulkham for the latter’s refusal to let Edwin be prosecuted for the death—in self-defense—of Whiting’s other cousin, Durand.

Edwin asked more questions about Fulkham’s scheme than Niall expected, and Niall answered impatiently, wanting to get to the important part of the discussion—his desire to tell Bree the truth about the past.

But at last, Edwin seemed satisfied with Niall’s answers. Only then did he discuss what Niall had revealed about his past with Bree. “Clarissa and I guessed that there’d been something between you two, but we had no idea of the full extent of it. She’ll be astonished. When I can tell her, that is.”

That arrested Niall. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not about to reveal any of it now. She already feels guilty that you went into exile because of what she sees as her ‘error in judgment’ by letting Whiting get her alone.”

When Niall tensed at the very idea, Edwin added hastily, “Trust me, I’ve fought to disabuse her of that notion. You and I see that bastard for what he was—a rank blackguard—and I think I’ve convinced her that she wasn’t at fault for what happened.”

“Thank God. I have never blamed her for my exile. And I have certainly never regretted fighting that duel. If you could have seen her lying there beneath Whiting, crying and bleeding—” He caught himself as Edwin paled. “Sorry—I don’t know how much of it she told you.”

“Everything, I think. But it took weeks, even after we were married.” His voice hardened. “That man nearly destroyed her. And I refuse to let him take one more thing from us. Which is why I’m not telling her any of this until after the babe is born.”

“That’s fair,” Niall said. “I had hoped to gain her permission to reveal the truth about the duel to Bree, who still believes that I fought over some mistress, but if you think Clarissa shouldn’t be bothered with it—”

“I do. If she learns that you lost your only love because of what happened to her that night, it will eat at her, and she doesn’t need that burden right now.”

The finality of the words struck a chill through Niall. “I understand. And you’re probably right.” He stared his brother-in-law down. “But I hope I at least have your permission to tell Bree the truth.”

When Edwin said nothing, merely turning aside to gulp a generous portion of brandy, Niall’s blood pounded in his ears.

“Edwin,” Niall said firmly, “Bree believes I betrayed her with another woman. She’s balking at marrying me precisely because she knows I’m keeping secrets from her. I have to tell her.”

“Of course you do. Just not yet.”

“Damn it, man—”

“This is my wife we’re talking about!” Edwin faced Niall, a hint of desperation in his features. “And my child, possibly my heir. If any of this got out, if people knew that Clarissa was raped all those years ago—”

“Bree would never jeopardize Clarissa’s health or reputation. They’re friends, for God’s sake.”

Edwin glowered at him. “Not close ones. Not the way Clarissa and my sister are friends. All it would take is one word from Mrs. Trevor to the wrong person, and Clarissa could be embroiled in an enormous scandal. You know that.”

“She would never speak of it to anyone. She cares about your sister—about me—too much to do such a thing.”

“Really? The woman married another man instead of waiting for you.”

“To save her family from debtors’ prison.”

“Exactly—and she’s bound to resent you because you left her to endure that. For all you know, she may eventually resent you for helping to get her father prosecuted as a criminal.”

“After what that bastard did to her by gambling her future away, she’ll probably cheer when he’s arrested.”

“And what about after her name is dragged through the mud and her reputation permanently besmirched? After her son is forced to live with the ensuing scandal? No matter what Fulkham promised, if her father proves guilty, there will be a trial and, no doubt, a conviction. She’ll have to endure gossip and rumor—”

“She doesn’t care about that.”

“She should. And so should you, for that matter, if you mean to marry her.”

That shook him a little. “I would brave any scandal to have her.”

“You say that now. You may not be so easy about it when it dogs you—and your family—for years.” He looked grim. “Trust me, I know.”

It dawned on Niall then that Edwin’s brother Samuel had put the family through quite a number of scandals. No wonder Edwin was being so wary.

“My point is,” Edwin went on, “if she grows to resent you for it, she may grow to resent Clarissa, too. All of this—the duel, your exile, her being forced to marry another man—began with Clarissa’s rape. You may not resent your sister for it, but you don’t know that Mrs. Trevor will feel as you do.”

Niall frowned. “Don’t be absurd.”

“When you tell her the truth, you’re taking a chance. You can’t be absolutely sure of her.”

“But I can.” At least he was fairly sure he could. Granted, Edwin had a point about her resentment, but Bree would never hurt Clarissa to strike back at him. Would she?

We’re different people now.

He scowled. Yes, they were. But surely not that different.

Edwin crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m sorry, I can’t be quite as sure of Mrs. Trevor as you. I simply don’t know her character well enough for that, and since you’re thinking with your cock, I daresay neither do you.” Even as Niall bristled, Edwin added, “Promise me you won’t tell her yet. You’re putting not only your own life and future at stake, but Clarissa’s and mine. After the babe is born, I don’t care what you do, though it will be on your head if Mrs. Trevor lets one word of it slip to anyone. But until then . . . I can’t risk it.”

Though Niall understood Edwin’s caution, it made him angry that the man couldn’t trust him to know what was best. “And if I lose Bree?”

“You won’t,” Edwin said firmly. “If you do, then she didn’t truly care for you in the first place. I married Clarissa without knowing anything of her past, after all.”

Niall gritted his teeth. “You married Clarissa because it was the only way to keep her safe from Durand. And while I’m enormously grateful for that, it doesn’t change the fact that neither of you thought you had a choice. Bree does have a choice. And right now, she’s not inclined to make it in my favor.”

“All the more reason you shouldn’t be spilling secrets to her.”

“For God’s sake—”

“This matter with her father may go on for weeks, anyway, and Mrs. Trevor has to stay engaged to you until that’s done, right? So just let it ride for the time being. I’ll see how matters progress with Clarissa’s health, and if I feel that it’s safe for you to reveal everything to Mrs. Trevor, I’ll tell you.”

Niall glared at him.

Edwin glared right back. “I should hope you would care enough about your sister to protect her.”

“That’s a low blow, given what I did to protect her,” he clipped out. “If not for my keeping her secrets all these years, you two wouldn’t even be married, I suspect.”

“Then you suspect wrong,” Edwin said hotly. “I loved her long before I realized it. I would have married her even knowing what that bastard did to her.”

“So you say. But none of us can ever be sure what we’d do if circumstances were different.”

Edwin stiffened. “If you will not do this for your sister, then do it for me. I ask you, as my closest friend in the world, to keep quiet about the truth until Clarissa has the babe.”

Damn him. Edwin knew that Niall owed him more than he could ever repay, for saving Clarissa from Durand. “I’ll think about it. That’s all I can promise.”

With his heart in his throat, he headed for the door.

“Niall!” Edwin called out.

Niall halted to glance back at him. “What?”

“I know I’ve been lax in thanking you for fighting Whiting all those years ago, but you have my eternal gratitude for that. If he had lived, she would have suffered a great deal, her reputation dragged through the mud at his hands. And I do recognize that your silence is what has enabled Clarissa to live scandal-free all these years.” He rubbed his temples. “I’m merely asking you to keep her secrets a short while longer. Three more months at most.”

Bitter words threatened to boil out of Niall, but there was no point. Edwin would not be reasoned with. “Tell my sister that I hope she feels better soon.” He stalked out the door.

But as he walked back to Margrave Manor, he weighed his choices. He had to decide if he was willing to ignore his brother-in-law’s demands in order to gain the woman he desired. Did he trust Bree enough to risk his sister’s health and reputation? His connection to the family he’d so desperately missed?

Much as he hated to admit it, Edwin had made some good points. Bree did resent him—that was clear from her guilt over her husband’s death. Niall wanted to believe her resentment stemmed only from not knowing the truth about the duel, but what if it ran deeper? What if it had to do with how he’d handled his escape from England, treating her concerns as trivial and not making better plans for a way for her to reach him?

Because Edwin was right about those long-ago mistakes, too—everything that had happened to Bree had been a direct result of Niall’s actions on Clarissa’s behalf.

If Bree resented Clarissa for it, made any remark to a maid or her aunt or anyone that somehow got out, Edwin would never forgive him. Niall would never forgive himself. The possibility of Clarissa’s being hurt was something he couldn’t just set aside.

Still, he honestly didn’t know how much longer Bree would wait for him to be open with her. If he lost her by being overly cautious, he wasn’t sure he could ever get her back. And that price was so high, he didn’t think he could pay it.

Brilliana had never seen Niall so quiet. While the carriage raced back toward town long after sunset, he stared out the window, seemingly oblivious as Silas rolled about and chattered and made a general nuisance of himself on the seat next to Niall.

Had Niall heard some bad news regarding his sister? Brilliana dearly hoped not. But did she dare bring it up after he’d been so reluctant to share her condition?

“I pray that Lady Blakeborough is well,” Aunt Agatha said, as if reading Brilliana’s mind. “And the babe.”

Niall looked startled. “Yes, my sister is well,” he said warily. “Why do you ask?”

“Your servants were quite concerned. They even asked me how she might be faring.” Her aunt sniffed. “I had to admit that I had no idea. Which shocked them, since they knew you were completely aware of her recent difficulties. I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t tell us of such things. We are about to become your close rela—”

“Enough, Aunt Agatha,” Brilliana said curtly. “His lordship is clearly distraught over the situation. I’m sure he didn’t tell us about Clarissa’s health because he didn’t want to worry either of us.”

With a sharp breath, Niall settled back against the seat. “Clearly, I am going to have to have a word with my servants.”

“They’re merely concerned,” Brilliana said. “Don’t chide them for that. They adore Clarissa as much as we do.”

An odd expression crossed his face as he gazed at her. “I would have told you, but I was sworn to secrecy in the matter. She’s very popular in society, as you well know, and Edwin didn’t want all her friends trooping out to bother her just now.”

“Understandably,” Aunt Agatha said, softening only a fraction. “But I should think we are more than mere ‘friends.’ Lady Blakeborough will become my niece’s sister when you marry, after all.”

Her lecturing tone brought a faint smile to his lips. “Duly noted, Lady Pensworth. I shall keep that in mind the next time I am sworn to secrecy. And if it makes you feel better, my brother-in-law warned me not even to tell Mother. So I could hardly reveal the secret to you in good conscience.” He flashed Brilliana a veiled glance. “Edwin tends to be cautious.”

“Not telling his mother-in-law about her own daughter’s difficulties?” Aunt Agatha retorted. “I would box the impudent fellow’s ears.”

“I’m sure you would.” His tone turned ironical. “Fortunately, my mother would probably prefer not to know. She isn’t the sort to sit by a sickbed, even her daughter’s. And believe me, Clarissa would consider her not being there as something of a blessing.”

My mother is the most indiscreet person in the world, Brilliana remembered him saying. Perhaps that hadn’t been quite the exaggeration she’d assumed.

Aunt Agatha crossed her arms over her bosom. “Then you have a most peculiar family, Lord Margrave.”

“Indeed I do,” he said, obviously not the least insulted. “In any case, I’m glad that the two of you now know of Clarissa’s situation. I am entirely ignorant about women’s . . . matters, and you may be able to enlighten me as to how serious my sister’s condition actually is. I keep hearing differing accounts.”

With that, he proceeded to give them a thorough recitation of what the doctor had said about Clarissa. Though it still chafed Brilliana that he hadn’t confided in her before, she could see how he might be reticent under the circumstances.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“I think the doctor is right,” Aunt Agatha said. “It doesn’t sound terribly serious yet. Still, he was wise to have her sent to the country. In my day, women were not as active as they are now in the weeks before their confinement. I honestly don’t know what some of them are thinking.”

Brilliana laughed. “If you’ll recall, Aunt, the day before Silas was born, I attended a dinner party with twenty guests. And his birth went perfectly well.”

Silas bounced energetically on the seat, as if to confirm her assertion.

Niall’s gaze narrowed on her. “There were no difficulties at all?”

“None.”

“You needn’t worry, my lord,” her aunt said. “My niece is of sturdy enough breeding stock for anyone.”

“Aunt Agatha!” Brilliana cried.

“What?” the baroness said. “That’s what he wanted to know—whether you could produce his heir without incident.”

A flush spread up Niall’s neck. “Actually, I was . . . er . . . that is . . .”

“Pay my aunt no mind.” Brilliana flashed the woman a quelling glance. “She has a tendency to treat all men as boors who must be chided routinely.”

Aunt Agatha sniffed. “Lord Margrave does keep an erotic watch at the ready.”

Niall scowled. “I swear, I will throw the damned thing out the window if you two don’t stop bringing it up.”

He drew it out of his pocket, and Silas jumped up. “Jack, Jack!” he cried.

“Oh, for God’s sake,” Niall muttered and hid the watch once more.

Brilliana couldn’t help but laugh, and after a moment, her aunt joined her, which broke the tension.

From then on, the conversation was more amiable. Niall entertained Silas by bouncing the boy on his knee. Brilliana entertained Aunt Agatha by relating the entirety of their tour of the estate. And Aunt Agatha entertained Niall with her usual droll comments.

By the time they reached the Pensworth town house, all was well. Unfortunately, it was nearing ten o’clock, when Niall was supposed to join Papa for a card game, so after he saw them inside, he merely brushed a quick kiss to Brilliana’s cheek before dashing back out.

As Brilliana watched him hurry down the steps, her aunt came up next to her. “He’s got rather more in his favor than he lets on, doesn’t he?”

Brilliana bit back a smile. “That’s high praise, coming from you.”

“Yes, well, I still don’t like his reasons for marrying you—all that nonsense about needing a wife for his heir and your needing a father for Silas. But if you don’t mind those reasons, who am I to protest?”

Her aunt started to turn for the drawing room, then paused to look back at Brilliana. “Besides, I would take a rogue with a sense of humor and a genuine concern for his sister over a selfish, stodgy fellow any day. Good choice, niece.”

Then she marched off, leaving Brilliana to stare after her with her mouth hanging open. Her devil-may-care fiancé had somehow managed to charm even Aunt Agatha out of her disapproval.

Could the end of the world be far behind?