Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (267 page)

Scott

trust Canton. Protection is honourable. Coveting is not. That's the difference between him and Lucien-one of them, at least.' Beldon shrugged.

stared at her brother. His insights, as usual, made perfect sense. When it came to people, Beldon was a genius. 'I think you could have been a splendid fortune teller, Beldon. You see people so much more clearly than the rest of us do.' She rose, laying her

on the table. 'Excuse me, brother.

I have to go mend fences with Val.'

The music drew her down the hallway. Valerian was an exquisite musician, his playing both technically perfect and emotive. Tonight, he played a quiet nocturne.

She listened for a while at the doorway, unwilling to interrupt. 'The piece is very soothing,' she said softly.

'That's why I chose it. I hoped it would help clear my head and my heart,' Valerian said, his fingers still on the keys, his back to her.

'Has it?'

moved to stand behind him,

her hands on his shoulders, gently kneading away the tension there.

'To a certain extent.' Valerian sighed. 'That feels good. I think I will feel better once I apologise for my boorish behaviour.'

'I came to apologise for mine. I didn't mean to defend Lucien. He assures me that he remains my friend, but I think my refusal of marriage has fractured that friendship regardless. I have not sought him out, even in correspondence, since I declined his second proposal.'

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The Viscount Claims His Bride

'His second? I hadn't known.' Valerian stiffened, leery of such news.

'He asked again the last night in

But I have

refused him. He has no reason to hope that my feelings will change. However, he wrote today, citing his prolific friendship for me.'

Valerian nodded, confirming what she had suspected.

mentioned it in passing.' He put off

her hands and stood. 'I am sorry for the way I behaved at supper, but I am not sorry about my motives for doing so. May we speak reasonably for a moment? Do you think our anger has subsided enough for that?'

took his arm and they began to stroll the halls, coming to the long portrait gallery that ran the length of the second floor. Their anger had indeed passed and the peace between them was a balm to her earlier agitation.

'What shall we talk about?'

said after a

while, sensing Valerian's reluctance to break the quiet.

'In all honesty, have you considered why Lucien felt compelled to offer for you?'

'I did think about it, but I could not come up with a reason beyond his need for an heir.'

'I did not say it well at dinner, but have you considered that the reason is that he would gain control of Cambourne when you married?

to you

would solidify the cartel's success. Without the mining interests, the cartel is nothing but businessmen with venture capital. Without Cambourne, they can't regulate prices or control the supply and demand in the marketplace for ore.'

Scott

took a deep breath. 'No, I had not thought of that. I overlooked the issue of holdings simply because he had no obvious need for my wealth. He has plenty of his own.'

Valerian gave a deprecating snort. 'A man like Canton always wants more. He's greedy and ambitious. He can never have enough. I fear that that avarice puts you in danger, my dear.'

'I can handle Lucien,'

said. 'You forget

I've been on my own for some time now. I know how to take man's measure.'

Valerian stopped their strolling and turned to face her directly, placing his hands on her shoulders. 'If you will not be guided by your lover, be guided in this by your friend and listen to my advice as that friend. Canton will not brook your refusal lightly, not because his feelings are hurt-I doubt the man has any-but because it now puts his purse at risk. He must have Cambourne or give up his dreams of a cartel entirely. Your refusal has put him in an untenable position. Short of trying to coerce you into selling out or breaking up the unentailed holdings, he has no options left.'

'Coerce?'

said. 'I am far too intimidat-

ing to be forced.'

'Coercion doesn't have to be obvious, Philippa.

It could be sabotage.'

Sabotage.

blanched at the word. Surely

Lucien would not betray her in such a way? He'd been a steady friend, someone she'd counted on in numerous ways. Friends didn't sabotage each other, they respected each other's decisions.

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The Viscount Claims His Bride

'You mean like causing accidents to happen at the mines?'

'Possibly.'

'Well, I wouldn't worry on that account. Accidents now hurt his profit, if he later acquired the mines.' No, she felt confident that Lucien would not resort to such ridiculously extreme tactics.

'What did Lucien write to say?' Valerian said, veering on to another topic of conversation.

'Only to reassure me of his friendship,'

said, glossing over the letter's contents. She was more than glad she'd waited to discuss Lucien's concerns.

Tonight was definitely not the time to mention them.

She had too much to think about. Valerian's comments had placed Lucien's letter in an entirely different light. She had thought that the letter seemed odd, not Lucien's usual style. Now she wondered if the letter hadn't been a strategy of some sort. Lucien would see Valerian as an obstacle. If Valerian were out of the way, perhaps Lucien believed she might reconsider his offer. But the consequences were too terrible to think of. She couldn't believe even Lucien would see a man dead or ruined simply to achieve a goal.