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Tricia blinked several times to avoid rolling her eyes. “It’s the afternoon, Thomas. Broad daylight. I shan’t go far. I shall keep the mansion in my sight at all times.”
“Still, it’s not proper for a young lady of your age to be walking about during a house party without an escort.”
Tricia pursed her lips. “Then why don’t you escort me if it’s so important to you?”
“That would be even more improper.” Thomas looked over his shoulder quickly. “For us to be seen together without a chaperone.”
Tricia made no effort to conceal a second eyeroll. “For the love of God, Thomas, you nearly?—”
Thomas grabbed her, placed his hand over her lips. “We must not speak of that.”
Tricia wriggled out of his grasp. “You read my mind now, is that it? You know exactly what I was going to say?”
“You were going to speak of last evening.” Thomas lowered his voice. “The parapet, the fourth floor.”
He was right, of course. That was exactly what she was going to speak of, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
“You are wrong, of course. I was going to say something else entirely.”
“What then?” he asked. “What exactly were you going to say?”
“I shan’t tell you now.” She flounced away.
Hoping he would come after her.
Oh, how he wanted her! Would it be more improper for the two of them to be seen together? Or for her to be seen alone?
Did it even matter?
He cared about her well-being, and he could not let her go roaming around the estate on her own. He trusted his houseguests, of course, but servants and tenants were another matter.
They didn’t always abide by the rules of society.
If anything happened to Tricia…
No, he could not allow that.
He walked after her swiftly, grabbing her arm and turning her toward him. “You shall not leave this estate. I forbid it.”
She laughed then.
Burst into a fit of giggles, and it was a joyful sound. It aroused him, despite himself.
“You shall forbid it?”
“Your brother is on the hunt. While he is gone, I am responsible for you. He would not allow you to go walking around aimlessly on an estate you’re not familiar with.”
She crossed her arms. “I’ve been to this estate before.”
“On a few occasions, perhaps. However, that does not mean you’re familiar with this estate. And for a young woman of your stature to go walking about alone is just not?—”
“Proper?” Tricia turned her back to the new earl. “You and your rules, Thomas.”
“They’re not my rules, Tricia.” He grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around to face him. “They’re the rules of society, and we must all abide by them to remain in good standing.”
“Must we really?”
“We must.”
