Page 81 of To Wed a Wild Scot
Logan already knew Cowden had been out of town. He also knew where he’d been—in London, squandering his new bride’s money at Boodle’s. Cowden was a skilled gamer, but these past few months his luck had been out. Dozens of aristocrats in London held his vowels, debts of honor Cowden was obliged to pay with his wife’s rapidly diminishing fortune, unless he fancied a hasty trip to the Continent.
“You’ll pass my condolences on to Lady Juliana, won’t you?” Cowden took a pinch of snuff from a silver snuffbox embossed with his crest, then sneezed daintily.
“I didn’t come here to talk to you about my wife, Lord Cowden.” Logan didn’t like hearing Juliana’s name in this man’s mouth. “I have business to discuss with you.”
Lord Cowden waved Logan over to a settee near the fireplace. “Do you? I can’t imagine what it could be.”
“Your land in Perth. I want to buy it,” Logan said bluntly, determined to get the thing done with as quickly as possible.
“The Scottish lands? I’m afraid they aren’t for sale, Mr. Blair.”
No, but they would be soon enough. “I’m prepared to pay you handsomely for them.”
Lord Cowden’s eyebrows rose. “You, or your brother, the Duke of Blackmore?”
Logan’s expression didn’t change, but Lord Cowden had managed to surprise him. Either his connection to Fitz was more widely known in England than Logan thought, or Lord Cowden had made it his business to pry into Fitz’s private affairs. “Does it matter?”
Cowden laughed. “My dear man, of course it does. As I’m sure you know, Fitzwilliam is another old and dear friend of mine.”
Christ, he could almost admire Cowden. If he hadn’t already known the man despised Fitz, Logan never would have guessed it from Cowden’s bland expression. “If he’s one of your oldest friends, then you must be anxious to oblige him.”
“I wish I could, Mr. Blair, but alas, I’ve other plans for that land. Plans I’ve already set in motion.”
Logan shrugged. “Plans change.”
“But I hate to alter them now. It took me ages to find a proper man to act as my factor, but I managed to secure one at last, and he’s anxious to begin his work. He’s in Scotland even now, arranging matters to my satisfaction.”
“You’ve hired a factor? You intend to clear the land, then?” Logan fought to keep his voice steady.
“Of course. Sheep farming is quite lucrative, as I’m sure you know.”
“What of the people there? Clan Murray has held that land since the twelfth century. Where do you expect them to go once you’ve cleared it?” Logan asked, though he already knew the answer.
Cowden didn’t give a bloody damn where they went, as long as they got off his land.
“Clan Murray? Is that who they are? How quaint.” Cowden waved a languid hand. “Clan Murray isn’t really my concern, Mr. Blair. I imagine they’ll findsomeplace to go.”
Logan clenched his hands into fists to keep from wrapping them around Cowden’s neck. “Sheep farming is lucrative enough, but yours is a small property. Hardly worth the trouble, particularly when the duke is prepared to pay you far more than the land is worth.”
Lord Cowden’s cold gray eyes were filled with triumph. “Fitzwilliam always did have deep pockets. It’s no wonder, really, that Lord Graystone chose him for Lady Juliana. Only a duke will do for a diamond of the first water, hmmm? But as I said, the land’s not for sale—not even to the Duke of Blackmore.”
Especiallynot to the Duke of Blackmore.
Cowden didn’t say so, but he might as well have.
Revenge.That was Cowden’s true motive, and likely the only thing in the world more important to him than money.
Cowden had always hated Fitz—had always bitterly envied him. If he’d ever had any affection for Juliana it had turned to hatred when she’d rejected him, then thwarted his attempt to gain control of Grace.
Now he also hated Logan, for being Fitz’s brother and Juliana’s husband. Logan could feel the animosity pouring off of Cowden, even as his charming smile never faltered.
“Forgive me, Mr. Blair, but if that’s all, I must bid you goodbye. I’ve an engagement this evening. You will give Lady Juliana my best regards, won’t you?” Lord Cowden rose from the settee. “I do hope it’s not too much trouble for you to see yourself out.”
Logan waited until Cowden left the drawing room before rising to his feet. He’d show himself out, but he’d be back tomorrow, and again the day after that.
He’d pry that land free of Cowden’s grasp, no matter how many days it took.
Chapter Twenty
