Page 46 of Brazen

Chapter Thirteen

“Bloody hell,” Magnus cursed.

Sir Stirling stood just inside the room with Magnus’s father and brother.

Magnus looked at Stirling. “I had no idea you knew we were here.”

Stirling angled his head. “My apologies, when Everston told me he’d directed you here, I should have realized you required privacy.”

His father’s eyes shifted from Magnus to Mia, then back to Magnus again. “Privacy, indeed,” he murmured. “I see you have finally decided to follow family tradition. Is this by chance the same lady who is rumored to have seduced you?”

“Oh dear,” Mia whispered.

“I did warn you how quickly the news would carry,” Magnus said gently. He turned his attention to the marquess and said, “Father, meet my fiancé, Lady Mia Allerton. Mia, may I present my father, the Marquess of Thachton.”

“A pleasure to meet you, my dear,” he said.

She paled, but said, “My lord.”

“I shudder to think what would have happened had we arrived two minutes earlier,” his brother said. “Count yourself fortunate you have the Forbes timing, Magnus.”

“Duncan,” Magnus warned.

“No need to get upset,” his brother said. “Good timing comes in quite handy.”

Magnus looked at Mia. “This is my brother, the Earl of Thachton.”

Magnus tensed when his brother crossed the room to Mia. He lifted her hand from where it lay on her lap—wholly inappropriate, but that was the Earl of Thachton for you—and bent over her fingers.

“A pleasure, my lady.”

Suspicion lit her eyes, but she said in a civil tone, “My lord.”

He released her and straightened. “Call me Duncan.”

The marquess crossed the room and sat on the opposite end of the couch from Mia. Stirling took a nearby chair, but Magnus remained rooted to the spot beside where Mia still sat.

“I am surprised to see you, sir,” Magnus said. “I did not expect you for at least another month.”

“Unexpected business arose with your uncle.”

“Blane?” Magnus blurted before catching himself.

There was only one thing the marquess set his pleasure aside for: family. How in the world had the marquess heard that Blane was harassing him?

“Duncan and I arrived at Barkely Hall late last night,” his father said. “Imagine our surprise when we rose this morning to hear rumors of you conducting an affair with your neighbor.” He smiled enquiringly at Mia.

Duncan chuckled. “I heard she was straddling his—”

“Duncan,” Magnus snapped.

“We are in civilized company, Duncan,” the marquess said. “Behave accordingly.” He regarded Mia. “I can see why you tempted him, my dear.”

“For Christ’s sake, Father,” Magnus muttered.

“Easy, lad. I do not seduce my sons’ wives.”

Embarrassment warmed Magnus’s cheeks.