Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“I didn’t fancy myself in love with the duke.”
“Don’t be absurd. Tricia is no more in love with me than I am with her.”
But the words as he said them didn’t ring true. For Tricia… Or for himself.
“None of what you’re saying matters,” Lily went on. “Lady Tricia is not me.”
“She acts a lot like you sometimes.”
Lily wrinkled her nose. “Well, she’s not me. She does fancy herself in love with you, Thomas. And I am afraid you may have broken her heart as well as her body.”
“She didn’t have any complaints,” Thomas said dryly.
Lily turned away. “Spare me the details, please. If Mummy knew what you had done… Or God forbid, Cameron… Good Lord, even Daniel would force you to do the right thing.”
“Daniel doesn’t have a lot to say about what I’ve done after what he did to you.”
Lily turned back to Thomas and took a step toward his desk. “But he did the right thing, Thomas. Of course, I fought him. I didn’t want to marry him, but it turned out that…”
“What, Lily? You’ve never been one to hold back your thoughts and feelings.”
“This isn’t something I thought I’d ever discuss with my brother,” Lily said, “but I’m a married woman now, so I suppose there’s no harm. To be honest, looking back, I would have never allowed Daniel to do what he did if I hadn’t had feelings for him.”
“Don’t give me that poppycock,” Thomas said. “You barely knew the man.”
“True, but I felt something. His love of art, I suppose, is what drew me to him. The fact that he had a Vermeer in his bedroom, of all places. And—”
Thomas held up his hand. “Stop right there. I’ve no need to know more detail, Lily. As it stands I’m about ready to lose my meal.”
“I don’t intend to offer any more of the lurid details,” she said. “But know only this. That young lady deserves happiness. Right now, she thinks she can find it with you.”
Thomas looked down at the collection of miscellaneous papers strewn about his desk. “I have too many other responsibilities. I shall take a wife and do my duty. But I’m not looking for a love match.”
“Have you forgotten that Mummy and Papa had a love match?”
“No, I’m not forgetting that at all. But…”
His thoughts betrayed him. He did feel something for Tricia. How could he not? She was beautiful, no doubt, but she wasn’t the only beautiful woman at the ball last night. Certainly not the only beautiful woman at the lawn party this afternoon.
It was her fire. Her willingness to embrace the forbidden.
Was he in love? How should he know? Either way, taking her to wife would hardly be a hardship.
“But…” Lily prompted.
“But nothing.” Thomas stood. “Why did you come here, Lily? My personal life is certainly none of your concern.”
“But it is, Thomas. How do you think I know about this? You left her in your room today, in your bedchamber, with only your valet to help her. How did you think she was going to get dressed?”
Thomas was taken aback. “I…”
“You didn’t give it a speck of thought, did you?” Lily rolled her eyes. “You ruined a young lady and then you left her alone in your bedchamber.”
“I told Longbottom to look after her.”
“And that was proper?”
“Since when do you concern yourself with what is proper, Lily?”
“When it involves an innocent young maiden,” Lily said. “Who did you think she was going to call? Her maid, who reports to her mother? Rose? For the love of God, I only thank goodness she had the presence of mind to ask for me.”
Thomas swallowed, and a feeling of immense guilt overwhelmed him. Sure, he felt guilty after doing the deed, but there’s only so much guilt you can feel when your cock is satisfied.
He did hate seeing Tricia between Polk and Jonathan at dinner.
“You’re going to have to do the right thing, Thomas.”
“I already told her I would do the right thing,” he said. “She said she would not marry me unless I loved her.”
“Then tell her you love her,” Lily said.
“I won’t lie to the young lass.”
Lily opened her mouth, but then she closed it. “I would never counsel you to lie.”
“She already told me she would turn me down if I was not in love with her. So don’t accuse me of not being willing to do the right thing.”
“I didn’t come here to make accusations, Thomas.” Lily looked her brother in the eye. “I came here to tell you that she fancies herself in love with you. You do need a wife, and I advise you to give her more than a passing look.”
“I think I’ve given her significantly more than a passing look,” he said dryly.
She huffed in response. “That’s not what I mean and you know it. You thought enough of her to bed her. And while as a younger man you weren’t all that discriminating, it seems for the past several years you have been.”