Chapter 11

11

T homas's feet felt like two lead weights inside his boots.

Dance after dance after dance… Was there any young lady at this ball with whom he hadn't danced?

Tricia.

He'd nearly taken her virginity on the very fourth floor of this estate, yet he hadn't danced with her.

She'd retired early, so there was no chance of dancing with her tonight?—

He gasped.

She was here.

Back at the ball.

And she was scurrying toward Cameron and Rose.

Good! He could dance with her after all. He adjusted his gloves and walked toward his sister and brother-in-law.

Tricia was already speaking to them when he arrived.

"Good evening, Rose, Thornton," Thomas said.

"Ashford," Cameron said. "Perhaps you could do me a favor."

"If I can, of course."

"You've been dancing nonstop for the last hour and a half. I'm sure you must need a breath of fresh air. My sister would like a walk among the rose garden to get some fresh air as well. Unfortunately, I promised my lovely wife the next dance. Would you mind escorting her?"

Thomas was startled, but he held his expression stoic. If Cameron only knew what had transpired between him and Tricia only a short while ago, he would force him into marriage with his sister instead of asking him to escort her on a stroll.

Or perhaps not. Cameron, though an earl and heir to a marquessate, was not highborn. He might understand.

At any rate, Thomas did not think escorting Tricia would be proper.

"I'm not sure that would be appropriate, Thornton," Thomas said. "After all, your sister is on the marriage market, and I'm the most eligible bachelor here."

"Don't be silly, Thomas," Rose said, laughing. "You're my brother. Of course, Cam and I both trust you."

Tricia's cheeks were a lovely rosy pink.

Thomas couldn't risk Rose and Cameron finding out what they had been up to earlier. "Very well, then." He took Tricia's hand. "It would be my honor, Lady Patricia, to escort you. Your brother is quite right. I believe I've danced with every young lady here in the last hour. I could certainly use some fresh air. Perhaps a refreshment as well. Would you care for a glass of champagne?"

Tricia's lips trembled. "Of course, my lord. That would be lovely."

"Shall we, then?" Thomas held out his arm, and Tricia slipped her gloved hand into it.

"Thank you, Ashford," Cameron said. "I owe you one."

Oh, he has no idea , Thomas thought as he grabbed two flutes of champagne and then led Tricia out of the ballroom.

"My apologies," Thomas said once they were out of the guests' earshot. "I felt it would look worse if I refused your brother's request."

Tricia looked away. "It's all ridiculous, really. I only want a breath of fresh air, but the servant standing at the entrance wouldn't let me out without my brother's permission."

"It's the way of things, I'm afraid," Thomas said. "You're a young lady on the marriage mart this season, and to be walking about unescorted would not look good."

"But I suppose kissing you upstairs and begging you to take me to your bed would look good?"

"Lower your voice," Thomas admonished. "If anyone found out…"

"I know very well the consequences, Thomas. For both of us."

When they reached the entrance of the estate, Thomas simply nodded to the two servants, and they opened the doors, allowing him and Tricia to go through.

"For all they know, you're taking me out here to ruin me," Tricia said softly though sarcastically.

"That is not their concern," Thomas said. "I'm the head of the estate, and they dare not say a word to me about anything."

Tricia rolled her eyes, and God, she looked beautiful. He was having very impure thoughts about her.

"Truly, I shall be fine," Tricia said. "You needn't escort me anywhere. I only wish a breath of fresh air."

"You disappeared from the ballroom for quite some time," Thomas said. "Is everything all right?"

Tricia crossed her arms and took a step away from Thomas. "I'm absolutely fine. I just needed to get away."

He nodded. He would press her no further. He had needed to get away himself, but as the host of this dreaded ball, he was not afforded that luxury. Though he'd nonetheless found himself on the fourth floor with Tricia earlier.

"It's no hardship for me to escort you, Tricia."

She turned back to face him. "Then could you at least be honest with me about something?"

"That depends on what it is."

She cocked her head. "Would you truly have married me?"

"Without a doubt. I'm a man of honor."

"But a man of honor would not nearly have taken an untried woman of nineteen years to his bed this evening."

"Need I remind you, Tricia, that you begged me to do so."

"Only after you said you wanted it."

Was she serious? But she was right. As a gentleman, he had to take responsibility for his actions.

"I was abominably out of line, my lady. As I've told you before, I apologize profusely."

"Tell me something, then."

"What?"

Tricia turned away from him for a moment, breathed in the fresh night air. Then she turned back to him. "Do you plan to take a wife this season?"

He strove to keep his face noncommittal. "I plan to do my duty."

She took another step toward him. "And what exactly is that, Thomas?"

"I'm now the head of the Ashford estate. I have no brothers. If something happens to me, the estate will pass to a male relative. I can't let that happen, so I must produce an heir."

"What happens if you don't?"

"Just what I said. The earldom shall pass to Jonathan."

"Mr. Jameson?"

"Yes, my cousin. His father is my father's—or should I say was my father's—younger brother."

"I see. It's like my grandfather's marquessate. If he hadn't found my brother, his true heir, it would have passed to that cousin of his whom he despises."

"It may have," Thomas said. "I'm unaware of all the details of that case."

"So if you do not produce a son…"

"Then once I cease to exist, the earldom will go to Jonathan."

"This is interesting," Tricia said.

"Is it?" He let out a small chuckle. "Truthfully, I find it all frightfully boring. Don't get me wrong. I hold high respect for my earldom. Though I'm probably not quite as conventional as my father was. But there is so much responsibility involved, as I'm sure your brother is also finding out."

"Yes, indeed, although Grandfather—even after four years, it still seems strange calling him that—still takes care of most everything."

"Yes, Cameron is probably still being groomed. But you must understand. My preparation began as soon as I could walk and talk."

Tricia's beautiful mouth curved down into a frown. "That's so sad."

"Why would you say that?"

"Were you denied a childhood?"

Thomas couldn't help another chuckle. "I had a lovely childhood, as I don't know anything else. Was I allowed to run around the countryside, do the things little boys do? Not usually. My studies were quite important, and once I could read and write, my father began to teach me the ways of the earldom. But I also learned to ride, and I'm a damned good horseman if I do say so myself. I learned to hunt, and once I was of age, my father took me to gentlemen's clubs."

"All of that is fine and well, Thomas, but when did you play?"

Thomas scratched his chin. "On rare occasions. I played up on the fourth floor. Or out-of-doors, weather permitting. But I was—for all intents and purposes—an only child. Lily and Rose were quite a bit younger than I, and they were girls."

Tricia's forehead wrinkled. "That's just the saddest thing I've ever heard."

Thomas shook his head. "There's nothing sad about it, Tricia. It's the way of an heir. When I have an heir, his life will be the same."

Tricia scoffed. "Not if I have anything to say about that."

Thomas stopped his jaw from dropping.

There was no reason to be so surprised. After all, had he taken her to bed earlier, he would've married her. Eventually there would be a child, the upbringing of whom Tricia would surely play a part in.

And in that moment, Thomas could think of nothing he wanted more.

He didn't fancy himself in love. He wasn't sure what love was.

Though his parents had been in love, and he had seen the emotion between them. The looks of affection from across the room. The subtle touches they shared, even though such outward affection was frowned upon.

Damn it all! Thomas wished he had taken Tricia to bed.

He wished he were bound to marry her.

Not one woman he danced with this evening could hold a candle to Tricia.

Without thinking, he reached out one gloved hand and with one of his fingers traced the perfectly sculpted cheekbone of her face.

She closed her eyes.

"I shouldn't touch you," he said softly, "but I find, when you are near, it's impossible not to."

"I never asked you not to touch me."

"I know, Tricia, but again I have to wonder if you know what you're asking for."

They continued walking, and soon they had walked halfway around the mansion on the estate, and they came to the broken wooden railing that had fallen.

Thomas's heart stampeded when he saw it. "My God, what if you'd fallen?"

Tricia surveyed the mess with wide eyes and swallowed. "I prefer not to think about that."

"Thank God I was there." He looked up at the parapet. "You must never go up to the fourth floor alone again."

"The fourth floor wasn't the problem. It was the parapet, Thomas."

"Yes, and it will be repaired tomorrow. As early as possible. And I will make sure of its safety before anyone is allowed up there again."

"Won't you be joining the gentlemen on the hunt tomorrow?" Tricia asked.

"Alas, no. I have business to attend to in the morning."

"Perhaps I shall see you then."

"Won't you be joining my mother and yours at the lawn party?"

"Yes." She sighed. "And I can't think of anything more frightfully boring than hobnobbing with a bunch of ladies of the peerage."

Thomas chuckled again.

She was something.

She turned to him then and let out a small and ladylike yawn. "I believe I've had quite enough of this evening," she said. "Please escort me inside, since I'm sure I'm not allowed to go in by myself. I believe I should like to retire to my bedchamber."