"Marcus, what are you saying? Is this some sort of cruel jest?"
"If you choose to wed Juliana Dorchester, rest assured that you will he able to keep her in suitable style. You will continue to have full access to your income. Tomorrow I shall have my man of affairs draw up papers that will protect your inheritance."
Bennet looked completely nonplussed. "I don't understand. Are you telling me that you will give your approval to my betrothal to Juliana?"
"Yes." Marcus paused. "On the morrow I shall make it clear to Dorchester that I have no objection to the announcement of an engagement."
"But earlier this evening you implied that you would never tolerate it."
"I said a great many things earlier this evening. I regret all of them. You have my apologies."
"Your apologies." Bennet sounded thunderstruck. Marcus raised his eyes to meet Bennet's. "My only excuse is that I believed that I was protecting you from suffering a fate similar to my own." "Juliana is not Nora, damn it." "You are correct," Marcus said. "She is not Nora." Bennet shook his head as though to clear it. "I do not know what to say."
"You are my brother, the only family I have. I would no more cut you off than I would cut off my right arm. In truth, I would sooner lose my arm than your affection and trust.»
"I do believe you really mean what you are saying." Marcus turned his glass in his hand and watched the
firelight dance through the facets. "You may instruct Dorchester to have his man of affairs call upon mine to begin work on the marriage settlements. This sort of thing takes a great deal of time, you know. Several months is not unusual when there is so much money involved."
"Uh, Marcus, I haven't actually asked for Juliana's hand yet."
"No?" Marcus shrugged. "Well, I expect there is no great rush now that you know that there will he no objection from me."
"I shall speak to her at once," Bennet said eagerly. "She will no doubt wish to send the announcement to the papers before the end of the Season."
"No doubt." Marcus took another swallow of brandy. The end of the Season was a month and a half away.
"Marcus, I don't know what to say." Bennet ran his fingers through his carefully tousled curls. "I was not expecting this change of heart from you."
"Neither was I," Marcus said under his breath. Bennet frowned. "What was that?"
"I acted in haste and I have since had time to evaluate my actions. I pray you will forgive me."
"Yes, of course." Bennet hesitated. "Thank you. I cannot tell you how much this means to me. You will see that Juliana is a fine, gracious lady. She will make me an excellent wife."
"I expect you will want to set the wedding date sometime in the spring of next year?"
'.'Next year?" Bennet looked disconcerted. "That is a long time off."
"We might he able to manage with a six-month engagement, but a year is a more acceptable period, I'm told."
"Well, as to that, I had not really considered a proper engagement period. To be perfectly frank, Marcus, I was looking into hiring a carriage to take Juliana and myself to Gretna Green."
Marcus nearly strangled on his brandy. "I see." "Are you all right?"
"Yes." Marcus recovered, took a breath, and then another swallow of the brandy. " Gretna is out. I'm sure Mrs. Dorchester will want to plan a fashionable wedding,for her only daughter."
"No doubt. And Juliana does try to be a dutiful daughter. It is one of her many virtues."
"Indeed."
"Well, then." Bennet grinned. He looked as though a tremendous weight had been removed from his shoulders. "I shall discuss the engagement with Juliana and let you know what length of time we wish to choose."
"Of course. Your decision entirely. just he certain to allow Dorchester 's man of affairs sufficient time to confer with Barclay."
"Marcus, I don't mind telling you that I find myself amazed by this turn of events."
"Do you?"
"You must admit that it is not like you to change your mind, especially on a matter such as this. You have a rule against altering a decision once it's made."
"Perhaps I am mellowing as I age."
"It is even less like you to apologize."
Another rule broken, thanks to Iphiginia. "I am aware of that."
"Would you mind telling me what brought about this sudden transformation?"
"I have had time to reflect and upon reflection, I feel I was mistaken."
Bennet eyed him closely. "What about the other business?"
"What other business?"
"Juliana said that you not only threatened to cut me off if I married without your approval, you also announced your own intention to wed." Bennet toted his head curiously. "Was that a bluff, too?"
"No."
Bennet smiled. "I am pleased to learn that." "Are you?"
"Of course I am. I've been telling you for an age that it is high time you remarried. I warned you that if you were to continue along your present path you would be in imminent danger of turning into one of your own clockwork automatons."
"I trust I shall avoid such an end."
"So?" Bennet gave him an inquiring look. "Who is she?"
"I am not prepared to make a formal announcement yet. There are, ah, certain details to he worked out."
"Yes, yes, I know." Bennet made an impatient movement with his hand. "if there is a great deal of business to be gotten out of the way in my marriage, I can envision how much there will be in your situation. After all, you've got the future of the title to consider."
"Yes."
"But surely you can confide in me, Marcus. I'm your brother." Bennet chuckled. "Is it the Chumley chit?"
"No."
"Elizabeth Anderson, perhaps?" "No."
"Let me see." Bennet tapped his finger on the mantel. "I know, Henderson 's daughter. What's her name? Charlotte?"
"I am going to marry Iphiginia Bright."
Bennet's mouth fell open. "The devil you are." Marcus frowned. "You are not to say a word about
this until I tell 'you that you may do so. Is that understood? This must remain a secret for now."
Bennet opened and closed his mouth twice before he managed to speak. "Damnation, Marcus. You cannot possibly be serious about marrying Mrs. Bright."
"But I am serious."
"She's your mistress, for God's sake."
"She is the lady I intend to wed. I told you that I will not tolerate any disrespect."
"But you're the Earl of Masters." Bennet slammed his hand against the mantel. "It's one thing to conduct a liaison with a woman such as Mrs. Bright. It is quite another thing to marry her."
"Give me one good reason why I should not marry her," Marcus challenged.
"One? I can give you a dozen. A man in your position is expected to marry a young lady, not a mature woman. Someone from a good family. Fresh out of the schoolroom. Unstained. Untouched. Your bride should be a respectable innocent-a virgin, to be perfectly blunt-not a notorious widow with whom you have been having an affair.»
"Iphiginia Bright is just the right age for me." Marcus propped his elbows on the arms of the chair and steepled his fingers. "She is from a good family. She is respectable. You may put the word about that anyone who disagrees with me is free to do so over a pair of dueling pistols."
"Damn it to hell, Marcus, you cannot mean that."
door. "I shall pray that you come to your senses before You do anything so rash as to send word to the papers."
"I would not hold my breath if I were you." "Damn it, this is abominable." Bennet yanked open the door. He turned to glance over his shoulder. "She has done something to your brain, that's what it is. I can only hope that you will recover from this strange fever before it is too late."