“I’m going to start keeping my pistol more closely at hand. Perhaps if I shot you, you’d learn some manners.”

“You can try.” Brand leaned back in the chair and laced his hands behind his head. “I’m only here for a day or so.”

“Oh?” Anthony eyed his younger brother with a bleary eye. Brand appeared to be in amazing spirits. “Bastard.”

Brand’s grin widened. “I hate to bother you while you are busy being in such a foul mood, but I’ve a favor to ask. I wondered if you would mind if I left Satan here.”

“Aren’t you taking him with you?”

“Not this time. I’ve business to attend to and it won’t wait.”

“I don’t like you disappearing for weeks on end. You should tell someone where you are.”

Brand lifted his brows. “Worried about me, brother dear? I’m unmanned.”

“Don’t make me ill. I just don’t want to be the one to tell Marcus his little brother is missing yet again. He’s not the most pleasant of people when angry.”

“No, he’s not. He’s too protective, which is one of his less endearing faults.”

“He is the head of the family. That makes him responsible for you whether you like it or not.”

“He takes his job far too seriously. But then, so do you.” Brand frowned. “The Elliots are a difficult family to manage.”

“There are some who show promise.”

“Name one.”

“Rupert could turn out well.”

“Rupert Elliot is a rakehell of the lowest sort. You are the only one who sees any good in him. Even his own mother says he’s uncontrollable.”

Anthony gave a brief smile. “If Lady Putney says it is so, then it is a lie.”

“I have to agree with you there. I’ve only been here half an hour and she has already banished me from the morning room for what she termed ‘an impertinent and rude comment.’”

“Was it ‘impertinent and rude’?”

“Oh yes.” Brand stretched his legs before him. “Tell me, Anthony, why do you stomach that woman’s presence under your roof?”

“The children. For some reason I cannot fathom, they seem to like her, and I have no wish to make her a martyr in their eyes.”

Brand shook his head. “If you kick her out, she becomes a saint and you, the devil. If you leave her here, she will continue to poison the minds of the children against you. You are well and truly damned.”

Anthony rose and splashed his face with water from the basin on his nightstand. “Which is why I have employed Miss Thraxton.”

Brand appeared impressed. “Ah, the delectable Thraxton.”

Anthony turned to his brother. “Delectable?”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t looked at that woman. She’s all leg and bosom, and that hair…” Brand placed his hands over his heart and sighed. “Delectable doesn’t even begin to describe such beauty.”

Anthony scowled. “I’d thank you to remember that Miss Thraxton is in my employ. I won’t have you troubling her.”

Every vestige of humor vanished from Brand’s face. “I’ve never forced my attentions on any woman, much less one under your roof.”