Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

T homas blinked as someone opened the door to his office.

“Why are you still here, lad?” His employer demanded. “It’s almost midnight and the new year’s about to be rung in.”

“One might ask the same of you, sir.”

“I’m leaving right now. My Alice wouldn’t be happy if I wasn’t there to see in the new year with her.”

Thomas contemplated returning to his empty house and picked up his pen.

“I’ll go when I’ve finished editing this document, sir. It’s very important that we get the terms right. Don’t worry, I’ll lock up securely.”

He waited for Mr. Hepworth to leave but instead he came further into the office. “You’ve been a right miserable little bugger since your fancy housekeeper left.”

Thomas kept his gaze on the papers in front of him.

“Have you heard from her?”

“Lady Elinor wrote to tell me that she’d been reunited with her brother, sir.”

“And?”

Thomas finally had to look up. “And what, sir?”

Mr. Hepworth frowned. “Did you reply to her?”

“I didn’t think that would be appropriate.”

“Why bloody not?”

Thomas concealed a sigh. Once his employer’s attention was caught by something it was impossible to divert him.

“Lady Elinor has a new life now. She hardly needs to be reminded of what happened to her here in Millcastle,” Thomas said. “She did write to me again, but I decided it was better if I left things as they were.”

“Bloody fool,” Mr. Hepworth muttered.

“I beg your pardon, sir?”

“She cared for you.”

Thomas raised an eyebrow. “She was my housekeeper. That’s what I paid her to do.”

“Don’t be obtuse.” Mr. Hepworth was now glaring at him. “It was more than that, and according to Alice, Lady Elinor reciprocated your feelings.”

Unwilling to be stared at like a small boy, Thomas stood. “I appreciate your interests in my personal affairs, Mr. Hepworth, but your concern is unnecessary. Please rest assured that I fully intend to complete my work in my usual exemplary fashion.” He nodded toward the door. “Now, don’t let me keep you. I don’t want you to be late for Mrs. Hepworth’s celebrations.”

For a moment, they glared at each other and for the first time it was Mr. Hepworth who looked away.

“Go home, lad,” he said gruffly. “Perhaps the new year will bring you better luck.”

He turned and left. Thomas sat back down, his concentration destroyed. After trying and failing to make any sense of the legal language he rolled up the paper, put it in the safe, and reset the lock.

He might as well go home. After Elinor’s departure he’d found a woman called Mrs. Jones to cook and clean for him but she didn’t live in. He couldn’t have borne that. She’d probably left him some supper on the range, which would probably be dried out now as she was an indifferent cook, but he needed to eat.

After making sure the office was secure, he turned for home. One of the pubs was still open and blared with light. It was filled to bursting with working men bringing in the new year. Thomas had to sidestep a dozen rowdy drunks whom he suspected would be regretting their decision when they had to get up for work in the morning. He’d stopped drinking after Elinor had left—afraid he’d come to like it too much. He only went to the pub to buy a hot meal if Mrs. Jones hadn’t provided one.

The cobblestones were slippery with frost and the lighting too dim to hurry his journey as he turned into the wide alleyway that ran between the two rows of detached houses. He went in through the garden gate and, as was his custom, stopped to look at the back of his house. There was a light on in the kitchen. Was Mrs. Jones still there or had she forgotten to extinguish the lamp before she left?

His fear of fire meant he increased his pace as he hurried along the path, almost sliding on the ice. He used his key to enter the house and rushed inside, his breath catching as he saw who was in his kitchen.

“Good evening, Mr. Totton.”

He blinked hard but the vision that looked remarkably like Lady Elinor remained stubbornly in view.

“What on earth?”

She came toward him, her expression welcoming. She wore a gown of soft blue that he’d never seen before with a cream lace collar and buttons. “Shall I take your coat and hat? It’s shockingly cold out there. I’m surprised you haven’t got your scarf and gloves on.”

“What are you doing here?” he asked as she relieved him of his coat as if he was a small child.

She set the coat over the back of one of the chairs and brushed at it off with her fingertips, avoiding his gaze.

“You didn’t answer my letters.”

“I thought it best.”

“For you or for me?” She looked up, her violet eyes filled with emotion he couldn’t accept. “I missed you.”

“I’m sure your brother?—”

“My brother is very kind, but he isn’t you.”

Thomas steeled himself. “Lady Elinor, from what Viscount Grafton has told me you have been completely restored to your position in society with no scandal attached to your name. The Albrights have been shipped off to Europe and there is nothing to stop you from marrying a man of suitable rank.”

“And what if none of them appeal to me?”

“With respect, my lady, you’ve barely been back in society,” Thomas pointed out. “I’m sure in time you’ll settle down well enough to find the right gentleman.”

“You’re sure of that, are you?”

He forced himself to meet her gaze. “How else can it be?”

“I think I’d rather stay here with you, sir.”

“I’ve already employed another housekeeper,” Thomas said rather stupidly.

She straightened her spine. “That’s good news because I think I’d prefer to be your wife.”

Silence fell between them, which was only interrupted by the kitchen clock whirring with the energy to strike twelve times to end the year and begin the new one.

“I’m not good enough for you,” Thomas said hoarsely. “You’re an aristocrat.”

“I think you’re the best man I’ve ever known. Isn’t that what’s most important?” Elinor asked.

“Your family will be horrified.”

“My brother married a woman from India and has brought her home with him. She told me most men like him keep brown women as mistresses not wives. She is concerned they will be ostracized but Robert doesn’t care in the slightest if they are. No one in society knows much about me because my stepmother never allowed me to make my debut so who I choose to marry won’t interest them either.”

“But—”

She held out her hand. “I’m still the same woman, Thomas. Being restored to my family doesn’t mean I’ve changed even if my title has.” She met his gaze. “I feel safer with you than with anyone else in the world.”

“Your gratitude isn’t?—”

“I am not grateful!” She glared at him. “I am in love with you. If you don’t reciprocate my feelings or are too afraid of ‘society’ to express them, then tell me right now, and I’ll be on my way.”

He took her hand. “So fierce and so beautiful.”

“I don’t care. ”

He drew her close and kissed her hard on the lips. With a gasp, she opened her mouth and kissed him back with a fervor and joy that brought life to his veins. He wrapped one arm around her waist pulling her hard against him.

“Are you quite sure about this? We could attempt a trial period of say a year to make certain that you truly wish to remain in Millcastle with me.”

“Stop talking and kiss me,” she demanded. “I am here for good, and you’d better remember it,”

Thomas did as he’d been told and, as the church bells rang in the new year, he gave thanks for his very own Christmas miracle and vowed to never let the love of his life go again.