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He lifted his eyebrows when he saw Lord Victor Polk and his cousin Jonathan Jameson walking briskly toward him.
“I say,” Thomas said. “What are the two of you doing in this wing?”
“I’m afraid we’re a bit lost,” Jonathan said.
Thomas cocked his head. It made sense for Jonathan, of course. He hadn’t been here since he was a child. But Polk lived at the adjacent estate and had been to parties here many times.
“You, Polk?” Thomas said. “Seems you should know this place like the back of your hand by now.”
“I suppose I should,” Polk agreed. “Which is why I was giving your cousin here the tour.”
“Indeed? Then why did Jonathan just say that you were lost?”
“Because we were,” Polk said.
“And the reason the two of you aren’t on the hunt today?”
“I’m afraid I don’t have much of a stomach for the hunt,” Jonathan said.
Thomas tilted his head once more. That may be true for Jonathan. Thomas didn’t actually know. But Polk loved a good hunt.
“And you, Polk? I’ve seen you bag many a stag, often the best of the hunt.”
Polk did not meet Thomas’s gaze. “Just wasn’t in the mood today, I suppose. So I’ve been getting to know your cousin. He’s a great bloke, I have to say.”
Thomas still did not smile. Something didn’t make sense to him about all of this, but he didn’t have any more time to dwell on it. “Good enough,” he said. “Please excuse me. I’d be on the hunt myself today if I didn’t have so much business to attend to.”
“We shan’t keep you,” Polk said. “Jameson and I will be going back to the bachelor house for a smoke if you’d like to join us later.”
“I’ll probably join my mother for the luncheon.”
“The ladies’ luncheon?” Polk raised his eyebrows in a suggestive matter.
“Why not?” Thomas said. “What better way to get a good look at all the ladies of the season?”
“You seemed to dance with every one of them last night,” Polk said. “You rarely left the dance floor”—he furrowed his brow—“except when you went missing for a half hour or so.”
Ah, yes. The half hour where he found Tricia on the fourth floor and saved her from nearly falling from the parapet.
“There were a few I didn’t get to meet,” Thomas said.
“Do you think you’ll choose a wife this season?” his cousin asked.
Thomas looked away from Jonathan. “I honestly haven’t had the time to think about any of that. But I shall do my duty when the time comes.”
“You’ve got to get an heir in her, whoever she may turn out to be,” Jonathan said.
Thomas sighed. “Why in the world is everyone so concerned about my heir?”
“You’re a first son,” Polk reminded him. “Not only that, you’re an only son. If you don’t produce an heir, well…”
Jonathan looked at the hardwood floor.
Of course, he knew what would happen if Thomas didn’t produce an heir.
It probably was not something he’d given much thought to. Having been in the Americas for so long, Jonathan was woefully unprepared to take up the earldom.
“I shall do my duty when the time is right,” Thomas echoed. “Now, if the two of you would excuse me.”
