Basingstoke’s grin faded. He crossed the room to the small sideboard and poured them both a healthy glass of brandy. “That was meant to be in jest.” He handed Dylan a drink. “Given the look on your face, I assume it was in poor taste.”
Dylan nodded, but he couldn’t contain a small contented smile. “Natalia agreed to marry me tonight.”
“You’re marrying Lady Natalia Sinclair?” Basingstoke sank into the chair across from him. “Bloody hell, Blake. Good for you! However did you manage it?”
Dylan leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. “I lied to her, of course. And then there was that spectacular scene in the garden, when I made damn sure no one else would ever want her.”
Basingstoke laughed. “A bit upset with you, is she?”
“Upset doesn’t even begin to describe the lady’s emotions.” Dylan shook his head and met Basingstoke’s amused gaze. “It’s not a laughing matter. I can assure you.”
“Don’t worry. She’ll come around eventually, and if she doesn’t, you can spend all her money on the fair Cassandra.”
“Natalia is worth ten of Cassandra.”
“Ah.” Basingstoke stared at him speculatively. “Forgive me. I didn’t realize you’d fallen in love with the girl.”
“I’m not in love with her.” Dylan denied it automatically, but his words felt false. Would it be so wrong, if he were to fall in love with his own wife?
Only if she doesn’t love me back.
“I think youarein love with her.” Basingstoke chuckled. “I never thought I’d see the day.” Still laughing, he reached forward to touch Dylan’s glass with his own. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’m happy for you, my friend. I truly am.”
Dylan downed his glass, more at ease. He could always count on Basingstoke to say the right thing. “Will you stand beside me at the wedding?”
“Of course,” Basingstoke agreed, but he looked troubled. “As long as you’re certain you wouldn’t rather have Michael do the honors.”
Dylan shook his head and tossed down the rest of his drink. He concentrated on the slow burn of alcohol, instead of the ache in his heart. “Michael wanted her for himself. As you can imagine, he wasn’t too pleased with the way things turned out.”
Basingstoke shook his head. “Rough luck on his part. But you need the girl far more than he does. I’m sure he’ll get over it.”
Dylan made an impatient gesture. “His anger is more than justified. I’m surprised he didn’t write me off long ago.”
“He’ll come around. Michael’s not a bad sort under all that conservative bluster.”
Dylan doubted his brother would ever forgive him, but he held his tongue. He’d never gotten anywhere in an argument with Basingstoke.
“I have one other bit of news,” Dylan told his friend, in an effort to change the subject. “Before our row, Michael told me my grandfather left me Aldabaran.”
“Well. That’s news worth celebrating.” Basingstoke smiled and poured Dylan another drink. “I know how much you love that place.”
“Father has known all along but chose not to tell me. I can’t imagine his reasons. You’d think the old bastard would have sent me there with his blessings, merely to get rid of me.”
Basingstoke didn’t seem surprised by the old man’s perfidy, but then he’d been privy to all Dylan’s many fights with the earl over the years. “You haven’t confronted him?”
“No.” Dylan gave a rueful laugh. “I’ve had my hands full with confrontations during these last few days.”
Basingstoke chuckled. “Yes, I suppose you have.”
“Michael thinks I should wait. He says I should go to Edinburgh first, make sure everything’s in order.”
“Michael’s probably right.” Julian shook his head. “If there’s a way for the old man to keep you from having what’s yours, I’m sure he’ll try to find it.”
Dylan ran his hand through his hair in agitation. If both Michael and Basingstoke thought he should wait to confront his father, perhaps he should take their advice. He had enough to worry about already, without adding another acrimonious scene with his father into the mix.
Still, he burned with the need to make his father pay for all the pain he’d caused. He wanted to look in the old man’s eyes and see his fury when he realized Michael had betrayed him and told Dylan the secret hidden for so long.
But that could wait for some other time. Right now, he needed to secure his estate and regain Natalia’s trust.
