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)
The main course was an elegant ensemble of poached salmon adorned with slices of lemon and a sprinkling of capers, accompanied by tender green beans with toasted almonds, new potatoes in a light mustard vinaigrette, and a beetroot salad.
A decadent dessert brought the luncheon to a close—a selection of Victoria sponge cakes, lemon tarts, and scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Tea was poured from ornate silver teapots into fine bone china cups, with a choice of Earl Grey—the late earl’s personal favorite, though Thomas detested it—ceylon, chamomile, or peppermint to suit the guests’ tastes.
Once luncheon was over, the ladies began to disperse, most of them retiring to their rooms for repose before dinner and evening activities.
Thomas escorted his mother to her bedchamber, giving her a kiss on the cheek and wishing her well.
The men would not be back from the hunt for several hours, so he decided to pay a visit to the bachelor house where he assumed Polk and Jonathan would be.
After the leisurely stroll to the smaller house, he did indeed find both Polk and Jonathan enjoying a pipe outside on the veranda.
They seemed to be speaking seriously, no smiles on their faces, until Thomas approached.
Thomas bowed. “You lads look like you’re up to no good.”
“I say, Ashford,” Polk said jovially. “Just enjoying a smoke. Please join us.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” Thomas sat down in a chair so he was facing both his friend and his cousin, and he lit up his tobacco.
“Are you two finding enough to amuse yourselves today?” Thomas asked.
“You know me, Ashford,” Polk said. “I can always find something to amuse myself.”
“Usually in a local brothel,” Thomas said dryly.
Polk raised an eyebrow. “Don’t give me that. You’re an earl now, of course, but even when you were a viscount, you didn’t come up short on spending time there yourself.”
His friend wasn’t wrong. But those days had been over for Thomas for quite some time. Even before his father’s passing, he had ceased going to brothels. He had considered taking a mistress, but ultimately decided that it would not be a fair use of the estate’s coffers.
Besides, his father would definitely not have approved.
“Anyone catch your eye yet, Ashford?” Jonathan asked.
It still felt all wrong for Jonathan to call him Ashford. They’d last seen each other as lads, when they were simply Thomas and Jonathan. Tommy and Jonny for short, though he hadn’t been called Tommy since he was a mere lad of ten.
“Who says I’m looking?” Thomas asked.
“You can’t help but look,” Polk said. “This new rash of lovelies is just too much not to look at.”
“Especially that Lady Patricia,” Polk said. “I haven’t seen anyone as beautiful as she in a long time. I say, Ashford, she rivals your own sisters in beauty.”
Thomas rolled his eyes. “I’ll thank you not to talk of my sisters in that matter.” He absently curled his left hand into a fist, but then the realization sunk in. As protective as he was of his sisters, Lily and Rose each had her own protector now. Their husbands were fully capable of protecting them.
No.
It was the comment about Tricia that had aroused anger in him.
“So you have your eye on Lady Patricia, Polk?” Thomas said, forcing his voice to remain calm.
“Polk and I both danced with her,” Jonathan said before Polk could respond. “And she does feel wonderful in my arms. I can’t deny that.”
Thomas drew in a deep breath and took a long drag on his pipe.
Best to count to ten.
He savored the taste of the tobacco on his tongue and then blew the smoke into the air.
“She is a beautiful young lady,” was all he said.
“Beautiful doesn’t do her justice,” Jonathan continued. “There’s something about her that’s almost…ethereal. Hair so dark it’s nearly black, and those eyes…”
“I know very well what she looks like, Jonathan,” Thomas said, barely keeping the acid out of his voice.
“Blimey, Ashford,” Polk said, “no need to get testy.”
“Who’s testy?” Thomas took another drag on his pipe.
Jonathan rose. “The ladies’ lawn party should be over by now. Perhaps I’ll see if Lady Patricia and her mother are available for a stroll this afternoon.”
“All the ladies have retired to their chambers for the afternoon,” Thomas said, his body tensing.
“Shame,” Jonathan said, sitting back down.
But then Thomas rose. He had had enough of these two. He wanted to pummel the both of them. How dare they speak of Tricia in that manner?
Had either of them kissed her?
Had either of them saved her from falling from the parapet?
Had either of them nearly bedded her?
They’d better hope they hadn’t. He should interrogate Polk on his father’s border disputes last year, but at the moment, he couldn’t bear to be near either one of them.
“If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen. I have more business to attend to.”