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 room was filled once again with serene silence, punctuated only by the soft rhythmic breathing of the three bodies.
Portia knew only one thing.
She couldn’t wait for what tomorrow might bring.
25
“Tricia?”
Tricia scrambled to hide the papers she was reading from.
“What is it, Kitty Kat?” she said, fearing that her racing heart could be heard by her little sister.
“You have the lamp on again.”
“I only just came to bed, Kat,” Tricia said. “I’ve been talking to mother and the other ladies.”
Kat yawned, splitting her pretty little face. “I’m still amazed that Cameron talked the countess into letting me sit with the grownups. It was a lovely dinner, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, delicious,” Tricia agreed.
It had been flattering to have two such handsome men taking care of her and filling her wine goblet until she told them she had to stop. Otherwise, she would be a little tipsy by now.
“Did you like the young gentlemen you sat with?” she asked. Then she sighed. “No one pays much attention to me, I’m afraid.”
“Don’t you worry your head about that, Kitty Kat. You shall have your day in the sun soon. One day you will be the most sought-after young lady of the season.”
“Do you truly think so?”
“I know so. Now go back to sleep. Sorry for the light. I’ll douse it.”
She shouldn’t be reading The Ruby anyway. The idea of two gentlemen was exciting to read about—and goodness, her bloomers must be wet—but she had no desire to actually live that fantasy.
Though she couldn’t resist sliding her hand between her legs, remembering what Thomas had done to her. How it had felt.
If only she could experience it all again.
But he hadn’t come near her after dinner. He’d hardly even looked her way.
Well, nothing could be done about it now.
All she could do now was go to bed and hope for the best in the morning.
Once the viscount had rejoined the men, Thomas strode toward his study. As the host of the party, he should be in attendance with the other men, but he could not help himself. Something was not adding up, and he was determined to find out what it was.
He sat down behind his desk and began opening and closing drawers, looking for something—anything—that seemed out of place.
He was scrounging around, trying to play detective, when—
“Thomas, there you are.”
He looked up, nearly bumping his head on the desk drawer.
In the doorway stood his sister Lily, the Duchess of Lybrook.
He cocked his head. “Lily, what the devil are you doing about at this hour?”
Lily chuckled softly. “I’m an old married woman, brother. I don’t have to report to you on what I’m doing out at this hour. As you well know, my husband is having a brandy with Cameron and most of the other men. I was just taking a stroll about the house, and I noticed the lamp lit here in your study.”
“So?”
She raised an eyebrow. “So…why aren’t you acting as host, Thomas?”
Thomas paused. He was not sure if he wanted to bring his sister—who had already settled herself contentedly into her new life—into this.
“I’ve a lot on my mind,” is all he said.
“Might one of those things be Patricia?”
This time Thomas did hit his head on the drawer, and an ache sprang up in his skull.
“Bloody hell, Lily. Now see what you made me do.”
Lily strode forward, putting out her hands. “Do let me have a look, Thomas.”
He turned, let his sister look at the back of his head.
“There’s no blood, you’ll be fine.”
“Good. Now if you’ll excuse me, Lily, I have work to do.”
“There is no work that cannot wait until morning, brother dear.”
He sighed. “For the love of God, Lily, you’ve never been one to hold your tongue. What is it that you want with me?”
His sister strode back toward the entrance and closed the door to the study.
Not a good sign.
“Have a seat, Thomas.”
He dropped into his chair behind the desk. It still felt wrong to sit here. This was his father’s desk, not his.
But in that moment, Lily sounded so much like his father. Not the deep voice, of course, but the intonation.
Have a seat, Thomas.
It may as well have been his father speaking.
“Have your say, Lily.”
She frowned. “I daresay you know where I’m going with this, Thomas.”
“To be honest, Lily, I haven’t the faintest idea. But do get on with it.”
Lily cleared her throat. “Lady Tricia.”
For the love of God… Thomas raked his fingers through his disheveled hair, nudging the place where he’d hit his head on the desk. The pain sprang up again.
Lily knew. His sister knew.
“How in God’s holy hell—”
Lily held up a hand. “That’s not important. What is important is what you plan to do about it.”
“I shan’t force her into marriage. As I recall, you weren’t the least bit thrilled when the duke tried to do the same to you.”