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It still felt all wrong for Jonathan to call him Ashford. They’d last seen each other as lads, when they were simply Thomas and Jonathan. Tommy and Jonny for short, though he hadn’t been called Tommy since he was a mere lad of ten.
“Who says I’m looking?” Thomas asked.
“You can’t help but look,” Polk said. “This new rash of lovelies is just too much not to look at.”
“Especially that Lady Patricia,” Polk said. “I haven’t seen anyone as beautiful as she in a long time. I say, Ashford, she rivals your own sisters in beauty.”
Thomas rolled his eyes. “I’ll thank you not to talk of my sisters in that matter.” He absently curled his left hand into a fist, but then the realization sunk in. As protective as he was of his sisters, Lily and Rose each had her own protector now. Their husbands were fully capable of protecting them.
No.
It was the comment about Tricia that had aroused anger in him.
“So you have your eye on Lady Patricia, Polk?” Thomas said, forcing his voice to remain calm.
“Polk and I both danced with her,” Jonathan said before Polk could respond. “And she does feel wonderful in my arms. I can’t deny that.”
Thomas drew in a deep breath and took a long drag on his pipe.
Best to count to ten.
He savored the taste of the tobacco on his tongue and then blew the smoke into the air.
“She is a beautiful young lady,” was all he said.
“Beautiful doesn’t do her justice,” Jonathan continued. “There’s something about her that’s almost…ethereal. Hair so dark it’s nearly black, and those eyes…”
“I know very well what she looks like, Jonathan,” Thomas said, barely keeping the acid out of his voice.
“Blimey, Ashford,” Polk said, “no need to get testy.”
“Who’s testy?” Thomas took another drag on his pipe.
Jonathan rose. “The ladies’ lawn party should be over by now. Perhaps I’ll see if Lady Patricia and her mother are available for a stroll this afternoon.”
“All the ladies have retired to their chambers for the afternoon,” Thomas said, his body tensing.
“Shame,” Jonathan said, sitting back down.
But then Thomas rose. He had had enough of these two. He wanted to pummel the both of them. How dare they speak of Tricia in that manner?
Had either of them kissed her?
Had either of them saved her from falling from the parapet?
Had either of them nearly bedded her?
They’d better hope they hadn’t. He should interrogate Polk on his father’s border disputes last year, but at the moment, he couldn’t bear to be near either one of them.
“If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen. I have more business to attend to.”
“Good God, Ashford,” Polk said. “This is a party.”
“Of which I am the host,” Thomas said. “I have duties, Polk. But tell me. Where might I find your father?”
“He went on the hunt, of course.”
Thomas nodded. He already all but knew that, and Polk had confirmed it. He needed to have words with Viscount Polk. Words about whatever dispute he and the late earl had had. And what led to the earl’s illness.
