*~~*~~*
Less than an hour later, Silas found himself alone with Thea.
He had many things on his mind, problems that needed some sort of solution, questions to which he had no answers, and above all a growing need to have his arms wrapped around a certain young woman, whose taste still lingered on his lips.
But the conversation had raised issues that he was as yet unwilling to confront. He knew the time would come for him to talk to Thea. And perhaps at that time, she would talk to him.
There were secrets that lay between them, and if he was to pursue a relationship with her—something he very much desired—then those secrets would have to be revealed.
He’d bid a cheerful goodnight to Hiram, received a resounding thump on the shoulder in parting, and wondered how long it would be before Lyra and Gen discovered they’d found a champion, and possibly the foundation of a family.
Time would tell.
But now, it was just him and Thea, who sat silently in her chair, nursing her brandy, and staring into the fire. Then she turned to him.
“How long do you think it will take Lyra to realise that Hiram’s hopelessly in love with her?”
Silas had to chuckle at how her question mirrored his thoughts. “I was just wondering the same thing,” he replied.
“They look right together,” she mused, “and I can see how much he wants to take care of both of them.”
He nodded. “Hiram’s past has not included much in the way of happiness, Thea. I shall not go into it, that’s for him to decide who knows and who doesn’t. But I will say he is one of the finest men I have ever met. He has courage beyond that of most ordinary men, and a heart as big as the Forge itself. Lyra is a very lucky woman, and Gen...if what we believe may come to pass actually does...little Gen will have found a father who will raise her with all the love and attention she needs.”
“What a wonderful thing to say, Silas.” Dorothea watched his face. “I might also suggest that were he asked, he might well say the same about you.” She smiled. “You are both so lucky to have found each other and formed such a strong bond.”
“Indeed we are,” he agreed. “Do you have any close friends, Thea?”
She shook her head. “Not like you and Hiram, no.”
“But there are friends...?”
“A few, of course. One cannot exist very comfortably without them.”
“And what of gentlemen? You’re a beautiful young woman, intelligent, desirable...you have all the attributes that could easily drive a man...well, you must have more than a few admirers.”
It was a risky question, but Silas found himself needing to know more about her. What it was that had driven her from the heights of society down into the depths of the Forge.
“A few. None of importance.” She lowered her lashes, hiding whatever thoughts might be lurking behind those glorious eyes.
“Thea,” he said quietly. “We must talk.”
She looked up quickly, a frown creasing her brow. “No. I mean, well, we are talking, are we not? This is talking. We talked all day, or most of it anyway...”
He rose and crossed the room, pushing one of the low tables in front of her chair, then sitting on it, facing her. “Thea,” he repeated. “There’s something here. Something between you and me...” He took her hands in his. “Something I find exciting, and appealing... Something I want to pursue. And I think you do as well. But how can we if there are secrets between us?”
His conscience kicked him hard, but this time was for Thea, not his own revelations. Those would come later.
She was staring at him, with a mixture of bravado and nerves in her eyes.
“Trust me, dear girl. Can you not trust me?”
“I...I...want to, Silas. I really do...” She hesitated, her hands shifting in his.
“Well, how about this.” He stood, right in front of her, and picked her up in his arms, sitting back down in her chair and settling her on his lap.
“Silas,” she squeaked. “What...”
“Hush. If we’re going to talk to each other of private matters, then we need to be comfortable.” He grinned. “I’m very comfortable. How about you?”
