Anthony snorted impatiently. “Of course I love her. She’s my sister.”
“I loved my brother,” Gareth said quietly. “Besides my grandmother, he was the only person I had in this world.”
“You do not intend to mend your rift with your father, then,” Anthony said.
“No.”
Anthony did not ask questions; he just nodded and said, “If you marry my sister, you will have all of us.”
Gareth tried to speak, but he had no voice. He had no words. There were no words for what was rushing through him.
“For better or for worse,” the viscount continued, with a light, self-mocking chuckle. “And I assure you, you will very often wish that Hyacinth were a foundling, left on a doorstep with not a relation to her name.”
“No,” Gareth said with soft resolve. “I would not wish that on anyone.”
The room held silent for a moment, and then the viscount asked, “Is there anything you wish to share with me about him?”
Unease began to seep through Gareth’s blood. “Who?”
“Your father.”
“No.”
Anthony appeared to consider this, then he asked, “Will he make trouble?”
“For me?”
“For Hyacinth.”
Gareth couldn’t lie. “He might.”
And that was the worst of it. That was what would keep him up at night. Gareth had no idea what the baron might do. Or what he might say.
Or how the Bridgertons might feel if they learned the truth.
And in that moment, Gareth realized that he needed to do two things. First, he had to marry Hyacinth as soon as possible. She—and her mother—would probably wish for one of those absurdly elaborate weddings that took months to plan, but he would need to put his foot down and insist that they wed quickly.
And second, as a sort of insurance, he was going to have to do something to make it impossible for her to back out, even if his father came forward with proof of Gareth’s parentage.
He was going to have to compromise her. As soon as possible. There was still the matter of Isabella’s diary. She might have known the truth, and if she’d written about it, Hyacinth would learn his secrets even without the intervention of the baron.
And while Gareth didn’t much mind Hyacinth learning the true facts of his birth, it was vital that it not happen until after the wedding.
Or after he’d secured its eventuality with seduction.
Gareth didn’t much like being backed into a corner. Nor was he especially fond of having to have to do anything.
But this…
This, he decided, would be pure pleasure.
Chapter 13
Only one hour later. As we have noted, when our hero puts his mind to something…
And did we mention that it’s a Tuesday?
“Enh?” Lady Danbury screeched. “You’re not speaking loudly enough!”