“No, you’ve denied me my child long enough.”
There was so much pain etched on his face. She’d been the cause of that. “I’m sorry, Thomas. Truly, I am, but I think if you heard me out, you would see that I didn’t—”
“I don’t want to hear any of it,” he said harshly. “You made your choice, and I have made mine.”
Lisbeth didn’t want to argue. “I told the children we’d be arriving today. Jeremy reads your serials and is excited to meet you. Alice has a love of history, and I think, eventually, she will come around. Please treat their feelings gently. Their father has only been gone for three years.”
He scowled at the mention of Nicholas. They needed to have an open and honest conversation. “I think we need to talk.”
Thomas shook his head. “I’m not interested, duchess.”
She flinched at his new nickname for her and remained silent. Sadness and guilt coursed through her, but fury at his behavior was starting to build. This man sitting across from her wasn’t the Thomas she knew. He was being an ass.
*
Thomas stepped intothe foyer of Lisbeth’s townhouse. The staff had curtsied and fawned over her as they entered. The entryway was extravagant but not gaudy. It very much suited the lady.She took a deep breath and nodded as the butler whispered something to her.
Turning to him, she said, “The children are in the drawing room. I think it is best if we do an introduction now.”
His heart hammered. Thomas would meet his daughter. He couldn’t form any words and simply nodded jerkily. She said, “Follow me, please.”
They walked down the wide hallway before stepping into a room. A girl of eleven and a younger boy sat on a sofa and a chair, reading. The boy looked up and smiled, “You are home.”
Lisbeth smiled. “Yes, I wanted to do introductions. Alice and Jeremy, this is Thomas Easton, my new husband.”
The girl slammed her book shut and glowered at him. His heart broke slightly because the fiery eyes were so much like his. He was looking at a reflection of himself—well, his younger self anyway.
He smiled. “Hello, Alice and Jeremy.”
The boy slid off the sofa. “I’m reading a serial about when you discovered a statue on the island of Sardinia.”
“I remember that. We had to deal with an awful storm while we were there. It was quite the adventure.”
Alice snorted. “Everyone knows those serials are an exaggeration.”
“Alice,” Lisbeth warned.
Thomas knew this would take time, and for the first time, he rationally comprehended how his demand that they marry might not have been wise. Still, it was too late now. “I would love to share the real details of my adventures with both of you.”
Jeremy nodded excitedly, but Alice shrugged. Still, she hadn’t said no. Lisbeth explained, “Both the children love history and artifacts.”
“We have a room here of antiquities from across the world and a room at our country estate of ones found on the grounds there. Would you like to see the room?” Jeremy asked excitedly.
Thomas nodded. Alice jumped up. “I think I will go to my room.”
She stomped out, slamming the door behind her. Lisbeth frowned and rose. He shook his head; he didn’t want Lisbeth to scold her. Jeremy bounced on the balls of his feet excitedly.
“Lead the way, Jeremy.”
Most of Lisbeth’s house contained antiquities, but when Jeremy opened the door to the space that he wanted him to see, Thomas was shocked. The room was twice the height of most rooms and featured a second-floor walkway that overlooked the first floor. Shelves lined all the walls, and they were filled with a variety of relics.
He glanced at Lisbeth, surprised. Thomas figured she’d given up her love of all things old, but no, she’d become a collector. He suspected that her private collections surpassed those of most museums and clubs. “This is quite stunning.”
“Mother acquired all these. Father said she was obsessed.”
Lisbeth flushed. “My husband—Nicholas, was very supportive of my hobby.”
“I see that,” Thomas murmured. Envy flared in him, imagining the conversations they had. Being in this townhouse suddenly felt like all too much. It was late afternoon. He needed to settle up with the hotel and attend to some other matters. In truth, he just needed some air from this space and the past. “I have an appointment, so I must depart.”
