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“And what are you looking for in a wife?”
“I suppose I want more than just a bed warmer. I want a wife I can converse with, a wife of intelligence, aptitude.”
Tricia smiled. “And would you allow your wife to help you in running the estate?”
“My wife would be mistress of the estate,” he said. “So of course.”
“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean in running the business of the estate.”
He wrinkled his forehead. “I don’t know that I have ever considered that.”
“Women are more than just a pretty face and a warm body. And more than just a person who can order around servants.”
Indeed, she herself would have no idea how to order around servants. She still had difficulty with it because she hadn’t grown up that way. For goodness’ sake, perhaps she wasn’t cut out to be the mistress of Ashford Estate.
“So did any of the young ladies strike your fancy?” she asked. “You know. All the ones you danced with who weren’t me?”
Thomas wrinkled his forehead. “Not a one, Tricia.” He touched her cheek again.
Sparks burned through her.
“Not a one holds a candle to you.” He leaned down and spoke softly into her ear. “Do you have any idea how much I want to kiss your lips again? How much I want to feel your body against mine? How much I want to…”
She swallowed. “What, Thomas? Say it to me. Say the words.”
His eyes darkened, and he cupped both of her cheeks with his gloved hands. “Want to sink my hard cock inside you, Tricia. I want to take your maidenhead from you, see your virgin’s blood and know that I took it.”
Tricia’s legs trembled. Her heart raced. And that ache between her legs became all the more intense.
“I’m sure to burn in hell for speaking to a young lady that way,” Thomas said, “but my God, Tricia, you bring out something in me. Something dark and dirty and hedonistic.”
Tricia gulped. “Thomas, I?—”
He covered her lips with his hand. “Don’t say anything. I should apologize to you. I’ve gotten good at apologizing to you in the last year. But I can’t, Tricia. I can’t apologize for something that I mean with all of my heart.”
“Thomas…”
He brought a finger to her lips. “Don’t say a word. Please. I can’t and won’t apologize, but know this. I’ve no intention of acting on any of those impulses. I shall be a consummate gentleman.”
“What if I don’t want you to be a gentleman, Thomas?” She narrowed her gaze. “What if I want you to do all of those things?”
He rubbed at his temples. “My honor is hanging by a thread here, Tricia. I will not defile you this close to my father’s grave.”
“Somewhere else then.”
“My God, are you intent on driving me to madness?”
Tricia bit her lower lip. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps she did not know the beast she was awakening.
But oh, she wanted to know him.
She wanted to awaken everything inside Thomas. Even if he didn’t marry her, she would at least know.
She would know what Lady Portia knew in The Ruby.
She would know how it felt to have a man she adored worship her.
“But it’s all wrong,” he said. “I first met you when you were but fifteen years old. Having such thoughts… My God, you were a beauty even then, but now…”
