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“There’s Clementine now,” he said to his mother. “But I don’t see Tricia with her.”
“I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.” Lady Ashford waved to Lady Clementine.
Lady Clementine bustled over. “My lady,” she said. “Such a lovely evening.”
“Thank you,” Lady Ashford said, “but Thomas and I were wondering where Tricia has gone off to.”
“I’m afraid Tricia retired to her chamber,” Lady Clementine said. “I tried to talk her out of it, but she was fatigued.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Lady Ashford said. “I do hope she’s not falling ill.”
“I don’t think so. She wasn’t feverish and she didn’t look peaked. In fact, her cheeks were quite flushed. She just said she’d had enough for one evening, and though I asked her to stay, in the end, I let her go.”
“Well, we shall see her tomorrow,” Lady Ashford said. “I’m so looking forward to seeing both of you at the lawn party and luncheon for the ladies.”
Yes, the lawn party for the ladies. A hunt for the gentlemen was scheduled at the same time. However, Thomas would not be attending. He had some business to deal with.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Lady Clementine said, “I believe I shall retire as well. Let me just go say good night to Rose and Cameron. Thank you so much for a lovely evening.”
Thomas bowed. “It was our pleasure, of course.”
Lady Clementine hurried over toward Rose and Cameron while Thomas turned to his mother.
“Since you insist that I should dance,” he said, “do you have any recommendations for whom I should ask?”
Lady Ashford frowned. “Thomas, you know I would never dream of giving you advice on that front.”
“But I’m asking for your advice, Mummy. You know I haven’t courted anyone. And I do understand my duty. To take a wife and produce an heir.”
“That is necessary,” his mother agreed. “Otherwise, your father’s earldom will pass to Jonathan.”
Thomas nodded. He well knew. Because his father and mother had only produced one son, all responsibility lay with him. If only he had brothers. Not that he would trade his sisters for anything. He loved them both dearly.
“That won’t happen, Mummy. I shall marry. It doesn’t have to be this instant, you know.”
The Dowager Countess of Ashford pursed her lips.
She wouldn’t say anything, but Thomas knew what she was thinking. What if something happened to him before he could sire a son?
They all well remembered how Daniel had become the Duke of Lybrook. His brother and heir, Morgan, and their father, Charles, had perished in a terrible accident. Morgan never had a chance to be the duke. It was all thrust upon Daniel even as he was ill-prepared for it.
But Thomas had no brother.
So his duty was clear. He must marry and he must have children. And he’d better hope that at least one turned out to be a boy.
Thomas adjusted his gloves, nodded to his mother, and headed toward the first young lady he saw. “Lady Margaret, would you honor me with a dance?”
Lady Margaret Mead, a slightly curvy young lady with a spray of freckles across her pert nose, smiled brightly. “It would be an honor, my lord.”
He swept Lady Margaret around the dance floor.
Then he swept another young lady, and then another.
Until it was all a blur, and he wasn’t sure with whom he was dancing.
THE RUBY
THE PERILS OF PORTIA
