Chapter 19

19

T ricia's eyes popped open, and for a moment she didn't know where she was.

This was not her bedchamber, and these were not her sheets. Indeed, they were softest silk. Not the lovely cotton that were in her room.

But then the ache between her legs served as a reminder, and she couldn't help smiling.

Thomas.

Thomas had made love to her. Had taken her virginity.

It had been the most exquisite experience of her young life.

But where was he now?

"Thomas?" she asked hesitantly.

A moment later, a strange man stuck his head in the crack of the door.

Tricia gasped, holding the bedclothes over her naked form.

"I beg pardon, my lady. I am Longbottom, Lord Ashford's valet. He asked that I see to your safety with discretion. Shall I call for your maid to help you dress?"

Oh dear Lord , Tricia thought as embarrassment crept into her cheeks.

"My maid's name is Trudy," she said, "but she's also maid to my younger sister, Katrina. I… I can't…"

"Do not worry, my lady. I understand perfectly. You require discretion. Let me just find one of the countess's lady's maids to help you."

"Oh my goodness, no!" Tricia gasped. "The countess can't know about this either. Nor can Thomas's sister, the other countess. My sister-in-law. My God, no one can know."

"Whom shall I summon then? I can't help you myself. That would be highly improper."

"Indeed it would. Perhaps…" Tricia's thoughts raced. "The Duchess of Lybrook. That's it. Get her. She'll help me."

"Her grace? It would be equally improper for me to ask such a thing of her."

"Tell her it's me. Lady Patricia Price-Adams. She will understand. Please."

"I don't have any idea where she might be. She's probably still reposing after the luncheon."

"My brother said the duke went on the hunt."

"The men are just returning from the hunt," Longbottom said.

"Oh!" Could this be any worse?

"Perhaps the duchess doesn't know the duke has returned yet. Please. Send for her. Tell her it's me, and I know she'll come."

"As you wish, my lady. I shall lock the bedchamber door behind you, just in case."

"No! Do not lock me in. What if you don't come back?"

"I shall return momentarily. I have the run of this entire house, and I shall summon the duchess's maid and see if the duchess can come to your aid."

"Yes, all right. Thank you, Mr. Longbottom."

"It is my pleasure, my lady."

Oh, this is the worst . How had she gotten herself in such a mess?

Oh, but it had been lovely.

Thank goodness the silk sheets on Thomas's bed were dyed brown. Her virgin's blood would not stain them.

Still, she could see it, slightly darker than the pigment of the sheets.

She rose and walked, still naked, to the earl's bath chamber. It was decadent, and she filled a basin with water, wiped off her face, and cleansed her private parts.

Once she was finished, she walked back into the bedchamber and put on her pantaloons and chemise. For her corset, she would need help.

Then she waited.

Five minutes passed, and then another five minutes.

When twenty minutes had passed, and she was almost sure no one would come to her aid, a knock finally sounded on the door.

"My lady?" It was Longbottom's voice.

"Yes?"

"I have the duchess with me. Shall I let her in?"

"Yes, please."

Lily, clad in an afternoon dress of lively light pink, entered.

She clapped her hands to either side of her face. "Dear Tricia, what on earth has happened?" She eyed the rumpled bedding. "As if I need to ask. I should pummel my brother for this."

"Thank you, Lily. I knew you'd come." A rush of warmth hit Tricia's cheeks. "And…I don't want you to think any less of your brother."

"Thomas? He certainly hasn't lived as a monk. No young gentleman of the peerage ever does, unless he plans to actually become a monk. But I shall have his head for doing this to you."

Tricia shook her head quickly. "Oh, Lily, no. I wanted this."

She expected Lily's jaw to drop, but it didn't. Lily simply chuckled. "You are so like me at your age. But I'm speaking more of his leaving you here with no one to help you dress."

"He said he had business to?—"

"Pish posh. Business could have waited."

"Perhaps he planned to come back and was waylaid."

Lily smiled. "You're a gem to defend him, given what he's put you through. If you want my brother to marry you, I shall see that he does."

"If I wanted that, I would go blabbing to Cameron about it. He would force Thomas into marriage in a minute. But I don't want a marriage out of obligation, Lily."

Lily looked Tricia in the eyes. "But do you want a marriage to Thomas?"

Tricia's cheeks warmed. "I've loved him from afar since I first laid eyes on him. I always wanted to be with him. But I want him to love me, damn it."

"Oh, you sound so much like me. When Daniel forced me into marriage—or tried to—I was convinced he was doing it out of obligation too. It turned out he loved me all along. I know my brother. He would not soil a lady if he did not have feelings for her."

Tricia wrinkled her nose. She didn't feel soiled. If anything, she felt as though she had taken a step into the holy realm of true womanhood.

But perhaps Lily did not mean it in such a negative way.

"I don't think he has any feelings for me." Tricia crossed her arms. "I think we have something physical between us. That's all."

Lily smiled and brushed a strand of hair off Tricia's forehead. "My brother hasn't always been the most discriminating, I'll admit. But I have seen him turn down many beautiful women. He would not have allowed this to happen if he didn't wish to marry you."

"But don't you see? It's his duty to marry. That's what he says, anyway. Now that he's the earl, he must produce an heir. Perhaps I'm just good breeding stock."

Lily chuckled again. "My, you do sound exactly like me. Tell me, are you in any pain?"

Tricia couldn't help smiling. "Only the most delicious kind."

Lily sighed. "How I do remember." She took hold of Tricia's discarded corset. "Come, let's get you dressed. And I shall accompany you to your chamber where you can get ready for dinner."

"What if Katrina or Mummy asks where I've been?"

"I shall tell them you were with me. That we were… I don't know. Walking about the estate, and I was showing you my favorite places to paint when I was younger."

"I don't want to put you in the position of lying for me, Lily."

"Goodness, Tricia, that's not even the worst thing I've done today." Lily smirked. "I'm happy to do it. I was in your shoes once, and things worked out for me. I hope, dear one, that they will work out for you as well."

Lily helped Tricia dress, and then, between the two of them, they were able to get her hair looking decent at least.

"It would look just this way if you'd been out with the breeze blowing," Lily said. Then she mussed her own hair a bit. "Now I shall look like I was out walking with you."

"Thank you," Tricia said. "I don't know how I can repay you. Anytime you need anyone to watch little Morgan. You know I adore him."

"My goodness, he has two nannies for that. And I like to spend as much time as I can with him, as does Daniel. Don't you worry about repaying me for anything. I'm happy to do it. Like I said, I was you once."

Tricia smiled. In many ways, Lily was right. But she was wrong in one very important way.

Lily hadn't wanted to marry the Duke.

Tricia wanted desperately to marry Thomas.

But more importantly, she wanted him to love her.