AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tricia’s beautiful mouth curved down into a frown. “That’s so sad.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Were you denied a childhood?”
Thomas couldn’t help another chuckle. “I had a lovely childhood, as I don’t know anything else. Was I allowed to run around the countryside, do the things little boys do? Not usually. My studies were quite important, and once I could read and write, my father began to teach me the ways of the earldom. But I also learned to ride, and I’m a damned good horseman if I do say so myself. I learned to hunt, and once I was of age, my father took me to gentlemen’s clubs.”
“All of that is fine and well, Thomas, but when did you play?”
Thomas scratched his chin. “On rare occasions. I played up on the fourth floor. Or out-of-doors, weather permitting. But I was—for all intents and purposes—an only child. Lily and Rose were quite a bit younger than I, and they were girls.”
Tricia’s forehead wrinkled. “That’s just the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Thomas shook his head. “There’s nothing sad about it, Tricia. It’s the way of an heir. When I have an heir, his life will be the same.”
Tricia scoffed. “Not if I have anything to say about that.”
Thomas stopped his jaw from dropping.
There was no reason to be so surprised. After all, had he taken her to bed earlier, he would’ve married her. Eventually there would be a child, the upbringing of whom Tricia would surely play a part in.
And in that moment, Thomas could think of nothing he wanted more.
He didn’t fancy himself in love. He wasn’t sure what love was.
Though his parents had been in love, and he had seen the emotion between them. The looks of affection from across the room. The subtle touches they shared, even though such outward affection was frowned upon.
Damn it all! Thomas wished he had taken Tricia to bed.
He wished he were bound to marry her.
Not one woman he danced with this evening could hold a candle to Tricia.
Without thinking, he reached out one gloved hand and with one of his fingers traced the perfectly sculpted cheekbone of her face.
She closed her eyes.
“I shouldn’t touch you,” he said softly, “but I find, when you are near, it’s impossible not to.”
“I never asked you not to touch me.”
“I know, Tricia, but again I have to wonder if you know what you’re asking for.”
They continued walking, and soon they had walked halfway around the mansion on the estate, and they came to the broken wooden railing that had fallen.
Thomas’s heart stampeded when he saw it. “My God, what if you’d fallen?”
Tricia surveyed the mess with wide eyes and swallowed. “I prefer not to think about that.”
“Thank God I was there.” He looked up at the parapet. “You must never go up to the fourth floor alone again.”
“The fourth floor wasn’t the problem. It was the parapet, Thomas.”
“Yes, and it will be repaired tomorrow. As early as possible. And I will make sure of its safety before anyone is allowed up there again.”
“Won’t you be joining the gentlemen on the hunt tomorrow?” Tricia asked.
“Alas, no. I have business to attend to in the morning.”
