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)
“All right,” Polk said, “now you can tell me the truth. Whom do you have your eye on?”
“No one,” Thomas lied.
“No one at all?” Polk raised an eyebrow. “Not even the lovely Lady Patricia? Your sister-in-law?”
Interesting that Polk would bring up Tricia. “She’s not technically my sister-in-law. She’s the sister of my brother-in-law.”
“For the love of God, Ashford, who cares?” He chuckled. “You have no blood ties to her, and she’s a lovely specimen. So is her friend, Lady Sarah, but Patricia is by far the more worthy of the two.”
“I’m not interested in either of them.”
The lie tasted bitter on Thomas’s tongue. He didn’t want to marry, but he was extremely attracted to Lady Patricia. She was so young, though.
He’d had dreams of her supple body, of running his hands over her naked flesh. Her breasts were so round and pert, and the slight cleavage showing beneath her gown...
“I’m going to ask her to dance again,” Polk said.
“Lady Sarah?”
“No, Lady Patricia.”
He was asking her to dance again? Before Thomas could protest, Polk had walked off, and he was approaching Tricia. A moment later, the two of them were on the dance floor. Polk was one of his brother-in-law’s closest friends. They had gone to secondary school and university together and had spent many of their bachelor years traveling together. Thomas had gotten to know Polk during his stays at the bachelor houses during house parties and balls like this one. They’d become friendly over the years, especially after Polk’s closest friend, the Duke of Lybrook, had married Thomas’s sister Lily.
But Thomas certainly didn’t want Polk dancing with Tricia. Also eyeing Tricia was none other than his cousin, Jonathan Jameson.
It was all too much.
When Polk finally deposited Tricia back near one of the refreshment tables, Thomas glanced over at them. They were deep in conversation as Polk grabbed two flutes of champagne and handed one to Tricia. She took a dainty sip.
She looked perfect with a flute of champagne in her hand. She wasn’t raised in riches as Thomas was, but now that she was living the luxury life, she looked as if she’d been born into it. Thomas could not take his eyes off her.
Until his cousin Jonathan walked toward him. “I say, Ashford, this is a damned fine party you’ve thrown. Uncle Crispin would be proud.”
“Would he have been?” Thomas cocked his head. “You and your father—may he rest in peace—had been over on the American continent for so long, I doubt that either of you would know what would have made my father proud.”
Jonathan took a step back. “Good God, Ashford—”
“Good God yourself, Jonathan. Call me Thomas. That’s what you’ve always called me.”
“But now you are the mighty Earl of Ashford. You know I am always wanting to stand on ceremony.” Jonathan offered a sarcastic bow.
It was a shame, really, that he and Jonathan weren’t closer. They had played as little boys, but Lily and Rose probably hardly remembered him. Thomas had been twelve when Uncle Pembroke was widowed and took Jonathan, his only offspring, to the Americas.
Before then, though, the two little boys had been great playmates. They looked so much alike that they were often mistaken for brothers.
Jonathan took another sip of his champagne. “Well, if you aren’t going to dance with any of these delectable young ladies, I certainly shall.”
“Off with you then,” Thomas said. He glanced around the ballroom. Where was Tricia?
Lady Sarah was engaged in conversation with several other young ladies and their mothers, but Polk—and Tricia—were nowhere to be found.
Thomas’s heart fell to his stomach.
Not a good thing.
He trusted Polk, of course, as one trusts someone in a foxhole. But with a young lady? No. Not even slightly. Polk had once had designs on Lily, and Thomas stopped that in its tracks before it started.
He was known to steal kisses from unsuspecting young ladies, and the thought…
No.
Polk’s lips would not touch Tricia’s.
Not while Thomas was around to stop it.
6
“How are you enjoying the ball, my lady?”
Tricia looked around. Where was everyone? Somehow she’d allowed Lord Polk to escort her out of the ballroom. They stood in the grand marble foyer, where a few servants were bustling about, paying them no mind.
“It’s the most elegant ball I’ve ever been to,” Patricia said. “Of course, I had never been to a ball at all until my brother received his earldom. And at that time, I was but fifteen and relegated to the balconies to watch the festivities from above.”
“I’m sure many a young gentleman saw you when he looked up and wished you were down dancing with the rest.”
“I don’t know about that.” Tricia’s cheeks warmed, and she knew she was blushing.
But she didn’t want to be blushing for Lord Polk. He was a nice enough gentleman, and certainly handsome. From an excellent bloodline as well, as far as she knew.