Having the upper hand, Matt found it surprisingly easy to smile as he greeted the bounder. “Mr. Molton. Please take a seat.” He waited until the older man lowered himself into a leather chair. “Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
“You may not be happy, my lord, when I’ve said what I intend to.”
Matt raised an inquiring brow. “Indeed, sir, and why is that?”
Molton frowned. “I know what you’ve been up to and with my niece. I’m sure you wouldn’t want your wife to know about it.”
This was going to be more entertaining than Matt thought. He assumed a perplexed demeanor. “Your niece, sir? I understand you have several. To which one are you referring?”
“Grace, Lady Grace Carpenter.” Growing agitated, the man spat out her name.
Matt placed his elbows on the desk and regarded Molton with spurious interest. “Oh, Grace, is it? I see, and what do you suspect me of doing with Grace?”
By this time, Molton’s face was turning an interesting shade of reddish-purple. Matt idly wondered if there was a name for the color.
“You have ruined her,” the older man proclaimed dramatically.
Matt regarded Molton over steepled fingers and widened his eyes. “Have I? I think you should make yourself plain, sir. I’ve no wish to go round and round with you. Exactly how have I ruined Grace?”
“Play the innocent all you want.” Molton’s eyes narrowed. “You will not get away with this perfidy.”
“Until I know what perfidy you are speaking of, I don’t know how I could get away with it, as you so elegantly phrased it.” Matt wondered how much longer this was going to continue. Then again, it was rather like playing a fish on the line.
Spittle formed at the corners of the man’s mouth. “I had a man watching this house, and he saw Grace enter yesterday afternoon and not come out until this morning.”
Ah, now they were getting somewhere. Was it control of the children’s funds or blackmail the man intended? Matt leaned back in his chair and grinned.
Molton’s jaw dropped. “You don’t deny it?”
Matt opened his eyes even wider. “But my good man, why should I? She did indeed spend the night with me. Although why it is any concern of yours, you have yet to explain.” He lifted his hand and made acomemotion. “You do intend to tell me, do you not? Or are you wasting my time?”
Half rising from the chair, he leaned forward. “I know she’s attached to those brats of hers.”
Suddenly, the fun of egging the man on was gone, and it was all Matt could do to stop himself from leaping over the desk and grabbing the cur by his neck. “I take it you mean her brothers and sisters?”
Settling back down in the chair, Molton replied, “I do. Seems to me, under the circumstances, you understand, that it wouldn’t be hard to have them taken away from her.”
Acting his part, Matt frowned slightly. “You don’t strike me as the sort of man who is overly concerned with the children or your niece’s morals.”
“Couldn’t care less about a bunch of kids. As for my niece, she can spread her legs for anyone she wants.” The man’s mouth twisted into a humorless grin. “It’s not them I’m after.”
“Your sense of familial affection astounds me,” He drawled. Herndon was right. Grace’s uncle was a bounder and a loose fish. “Why don’t you open your budget and tell me what it is you do want.”
“Money. I’ll mind my own business for a payment on my bank account, say quarterly, until my niece is either married or until Stanwood comes of age. Then I want that ten thousand pounds she’s getting.”
Matt curled his lips as if amused. “Mr. Molton, the descriptions of you did not do you justice. It will, however, be a cold day in hell before I give you so much as a farthing.”
Molton stood, scowling. “You’ll pay, my lord, or she will. I’ll spread it all over Town that she’s your mistress. One way or the other, I’ll get what I want.”
There was a shuffling in the hall and Grace’s clear voice. “Don’t worry, Thorton, I won’t bother him for long.”
Matt moved quickly toward the door and placed his hand protectively on her waist when she entered.
She stopped in surprise. “Forgive me. I was not aware you have a visitor. I shall come back later, if you’d like.”
He put his arm around her and drew her closer. “It’s no matter, my love. He was just leaving.”
Grace’s forehead puckered as she looked at Molton. “Do I know you?”
