AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Seated between two handsome young men, Tricia couldn’t help but think of Lady Portia from The Ruby and how she pined for both Donovan and Nigel.
Scandalous indeed, and though her heart already belonged to Thomas, she couldn’t help but think that having two such handsome gentlemen taking care of her during the meal was delightful.
She took a small bite of cod and brought it to her lips. It was delicate and creamy. She did adore all kinds of fish.
“May I refill your wine, Lady Patricia?” Lord Polk asked.
“Goodness, no,” Tricia replied. “I haven’t even tasted it yet. I only just now finished my champagne from the earl’s toast.”
“Don’t be shy,” Jonathan said. “The claret is excellent.”
Tricia smiled and nodded, lifting her goblet and taking a drink. She didn’t have much of a taste for wine. She found the claret to be a bit bitter, but then again what did she know? She swallowed and smiled again. “Quite lovely.”
“Yes, it is good,” Polk said. “Are you enjoying the cod?”
“Absolutely. I do enjoy fish so very much.”
Tricia couldn’t help stealing a glance at Thomas every now and then. He was deep in conversation with the lords and ladies at his table.
And no one knew…
Well, not exactly no one. Mr. Longbottom knew…and the Duchess of Lybrook herself.
The soreness had eased somewhat after Tricia took a warm bath.
And all she could think about was getting back into Thomas’s bed.
No ball had been planned for this evening, but there would be a ball on the morrow to close out the party.
Footmen came through and cleared dishes. Tricia was beginning to feel full. Something she hadn’t gotten used to since becoming a member of the upper crust were the giant meals peers served at their estates. No wonder so many of the older lords had become portly, and the older ladies quite curvy.
Her own mother, Lady Clementine, was still as vibrant and beautiful as she must have been when she was a young lady of the gentry.
Then again, her family had rarely had the chance to overeat. Cameron had always been long and lean, but he had put on some weight since he and Rose married. That weight was in muscle, and he was now about the same in size as Thomas.
The footmen brought the next course, the entrée, which was roast beef carved tableside by Mr. Montague, the Ashford’s butler. Tricia watched as he stood next to the earl himself carving, and then the footmen served each guest. She inhaled the savory fragrance of the beef.
Her table was next, and once each serving was carved, a footman covered each slice in mushroom gravy and accompanied it with glazed carrots, roasted parsnips, and puffy and golden Yorkshire pudding.
It smelled delicious, and once everyone at the table was served, Tricia took a bite of the savory beef. Yes, she was full from the previous course, but the beef was so delicious, she knew she would clear her plate once again.
“What do you think of your first season?” Lord Polk asked her.
Tricia swallowed the beef she had just finished chewing. “I haven’t had much time to think about it, my lord. The true festivities don’t begin until next month in London.”
“Yes, but this is the unofficial first ball of the season. Do you have your eye on anyone?”
What a forward thing to ask her! She nearly dropped her jaw.
“Yes,” Jonathan said. “I believe Polk and I are in a bit of a competition for your affections.” He leaned in, lowering his voice. “Tell us, which one of us do you prefer?”
Indeed, they had put her in an awkward position. Was it even proper for a gentleman to ask such a question? Tricia smiled daintily, wiping her lips with her napkin. “I haven’t made any decisions yet, gentlemen. But I’m flattered.”
Her words were a lie, of course. She had made a decision long ago, and now she just had to get the object of her affection to fall in love with her.
Thomas would do his duty if she pressed him. All she had to do was go running to Cameron. Oh, he would be angry. At her, but more so at Thomas.
She would not do that, and she knew she could trust Lily to keep her secret.
