Thomas rose from the bed and wrapped his arms around her. “Seeking happiness sounds like a brilliant idea.”
She smiled up at him. “Shall we go to the ball now that we’ve solved all of our problems?”
His eyes clouded with desire. “I’d rather stay and celebrate our new happiness here.”
Lisbeth laughed, her lower half going warm. “Soon, my love. This is for Rose.”
The woman was like a sister to Thomas and a dear friend to her. They couldn’t miss the ball celebrating her marriage to Sinclair and the upcoming grand wedding that was set to takeplace next month. Thomas sighed. “I suppose a night watching Benjamin gloat about marrying her off to a duke is worth it.”
Lisbeth giggled.
*
Thomas sighed ashe stood with a gaggle of young ladies on the marriage mart. They had surrounded him. Lady Chloe and her friends were part of the group. He was still worried about the letters from C. He needed to meet with Devons to see if his investigator had heard anything. Perhaps the admirer had moved on.
“Mr. Easton, can you tell us a story?” One young lady requested.
He smiled and shook his head. “Tonight, ladies, I’m simply here with my wife to celebrate our friends’ marriage.”
A handful of the ladies groaned, but he slid between two of them and fled. It wasn’t elegant or even polite, but he needed a reprieve. His wicked wife had seen him become inundated with questions and had disappeared. Thomas shook his head.
He glanced around, hoping to catch sight of her. Where had she gone? He stepped into the expansive, elegant foyer of Sinclair’s house. Even this area was packed with people. He slid past the lords and ladies mingling everywhere, hoping to catch sight of her tempting dress.
Lisbeth had taken Thomas’s breath away when he’d stepped into her bedchamber. She was stunning, and it had taken everything in him not to immediately wrap her in his arms and make love to her until all the anger disappeared from both of their beings. Still, he’d stopped himself. And, truthfully, he was glad they talked. They were in a much better place. A loud laugh caught his attention, and he glanced up to the second-floor landing to see Addie, Rose, and Lisbeth studying a painting.Sinclair had both the first and second floors open for guests. An expansive gallery was located on the second floor, and people went between there, the ballroom, and the outdoor gardens.
“I knew the two of you were meant to be,” a gruff voice said from behind him.
He turned and smiled at Benjamin. “You always said that.”
Benjamin beamed. “And I was right. Though I feel like I should be thanked for bringing you back together.”
Thomas raised a brow. Benjamin liked to take credit for most things. His friend grinned. “I was the one who suggested to Lisbeth that she bring the ancient map back to Syria.”
He laughed. “You did. What if we had hated each other?”
Benjamin shrugged. “I remember when I first met the two of you. You looked at each other as if there was no one else, finished each other’s sentences, and were fiercely loyal to each other. It reminded me of my wife.”
Thomas studied Benjamin. The man was in his fifties and cut a handsome figure. “Have you ever considered remarrying?”
His friend frowned. “I’ve had relationships and formed great friendships, but I’m not sure another marriage is for me. Rose’s mother would want that for me. Still, one great love is enough for me.”
Thomas glanced at Lisbeth. She was still staring at the painting with the other ladies. He suspected, like Benjamin, that he was meant to have only one soul mate. It had always been Lizzie—no one else.
Benjamin followed his gaze and chuckled. “I don’t think you will reach her. How about a drink in the library?”
He frowned at his wife. The stairs were much more crowded now. “I suppose you are right.”
They made their way through the crowd of people, but Thomas stumbled to a stop as several ladies screamed. A loud noise of something or someone tumbling down the stairs echoedthrough the foyer. He glanced up and saw that Lisbeth was no longer there, and people were surrounding a person now crumpled at the bottom of the stairs.
His heart hammered. It couldn’t be Lisbeth. He pushed through the crowd with Benjamin right behind him. Thomas had to prevent himself from roaring in anguish when he spotted Lisbeth’s gown swirling around her while she lay there with her eyes closed.
He dropped to his knees in front of her. “Lizzie, wake up.”
She didn’t move. This couldn’t happen. They’d just found each other again. He leaned forward, and relief coursed through him. She was still breathing.
“Someone send for a doctor immediately.”
He gently tapped on Lisbeth’s cheeks. She mumbled, but her eyes refused to open. He heard Rose in the background asking everyone to return to the ballroom. The room emptied, and Rose dropped down next to him in her emerald and silver ball gown.
