Renham. Of course. Heathbrook should be glad of it, but it bothered him to have Scovell find out that way.
His friend took a seat, angling himself to watch as Heathbrook filled his own plate. “Please tell me this is a genuine betrothal and not some machination you’re using to aid your cause at the Court of Chancery.”
“Keep your voice down, for God’s sake,” Heathbrook growled, and walked over to close the breakfast room door. “I don’t need that theory circulating among the servants.”
“But is it true?”
Heathbrook sighed. Scovell knew him too well. “Of a fashion.”
“Issheaware of the true nature of your engagement?”
“Of course. I would never lie to a woman about something like that.” He set down his plate of toast and his cup of tea. “She and I made a bargain. She agreed to it.”
“Ah. So, what exactly are you doing forher?”
Taking a seat at the table, he told Scovell that the French passports of Giselle and her mother had been forged by Beasley. Then he revealed how Vaughan Jones had frightened her over the truth, which had led to his bargain with Giselle.
“Thatarse.” Scovell snorted. “Can’t believe Jones is tormenting Mademoiselle Bernard now. Someone ought to take a cat-o’-nine-tails to him.”
“Are you volunteering?” Heathbrook asked, faintly amused by Scovell’s bloodthirsty proposition.
“Can’t. I don’t own a cat, and I’m not in the navy anymore. I resigned my commission.”
“So, you finally did it, did you?”
Scovell nodded. “I had my reasons. But back to Mademoiselle Bernard—”
“MissBernard. That’s what she prefers, or so she says. And I hadmyreasons for my bargain with her, so let’s talk about something else.”
“You mean, like your court appearance today? That’s actually why I’m here, you know. To wish you good luck.”
“I appreciate it.” Heathbrook ate a bit of toast. “By the way, I ran into the lads in Hyde Park while I was driving with Giselle. My mother’s bloody cousin hadn’t even told them I’d been trying to gain custody of them! They thought I’d abandoned them.”
“Damn. What a scoundrel!”
“Exactly. On top of that, he insulted Giselle by assuming she was my mistress.”
Scovell chuckled. “I can just about guess how that went over.”
“She blistered his ears, I tell you. And I cheered her on while she did it.” He paused to drink some tea. “But look at me, talking about my troubles when you’re in the thick of your own. How is your brother?”
“It’s touch and go, I’m afraid. Good days and bad days.”
Heathbrook sighed. “Like Morris.”
“Yes. My sister-in-law is desperate to see him well, of course, but the doctor says we should prepare ourselves for the worst. I’m having a hard time with it.” He shook his head, his brown eyes looking lost. “He’s the only one of my brothers who ever dared to stand up to my father on my behalf. I hate to see him at death’s door.”
“I know.” Rising and patting Scovell on the shoulder, he went to pour himself more tea.
“I just had to … get out of there for a bit. I was suffocating in that place. My other brothers are there and my sister-in-law does nothing but weep and I—” He shook his head.
“If anyone understands, it’s me. My father took weeks to die.” And yet, not once did he apologize for anything he’d done. It still hurt. Although toward the end, it had seemed as if he’d been trying to say something …
But no, that was probably just wishful thinking. “You’re welcome here anytime, you know, whenever you need to escape your brother’s sickbed. Although, if the court makes me guardian, even just of nurture, I’ll be taking the boys to Longmead.”
“And leave your ‘fiancée’ behind?” Scovell asked. “That hardly seems fair.”
“Actually, she and her mother will be coming with me.” He wasn’t about to leave her here where she could be preyed upon by the likes of Vaughan Jones … or Percy Tindale.