It was a quite different feeling than the one his gaze had given her just moments before. The plan suddenly seemed like an impossible and very silly thing, indeed.
She gave herself a mental shake. This was just Annora, getting under her skin with her ridiculous suggestions. This plan was her way to freedom and to help her family as well.
“Of course, My Lord,” she said aloud. “I should be happy to attend any events and whatever else is requested of me.”
Their eyes met again, and his gaze was dark, unfathomable. Something flitted across his face, an emotion she wanted to chase, but it was gone in an instant.
“Thank you,” he said.
“Whatever for?” she asked, surprised.
“For your good nature and your gracious manner. I am sure –” He stopped himself. “I know you will represent the family well.”
Isolde blinked, puzzled by such an odd compliment. Before she could even thank him, he gave a short bow and disappeared, closing the door behind him.
Isolde turned back to her cousin and found Annora looking somehow equal parts smug and bewildered.
“Isolde, darling, how can youpossiblybe thinking of going through with your ridiculous plan, when you have a man – not just any man, amarquess– right here, and willing to give you anything you want?”
“Don’t be absurd, Annora,” Isolde replied, though Annora’s words made her feel a little giddy. But no – her thoughts may be lingering in places they shouldn’t, but Thaddeus had made it clear he did not want to marry her. Hadn’t he just reminded her of their plan? “He is only doing his duty by me until he can be done with the matter.”
Annora shook her head, amazement on her face.
“I don’t think so, my dear. I saw the way he looked at you just now. It went well beyond duty.”
Chapter 8
Thaddeus leaned back from his desk and groaned. He had been staring at trade contracts for hours. His eyes were tired, and his back was sore from leaning over the desk. He tossed aside the paper he’d been holding, and stood up, stretching as he went to look out the window.
The view showed him rooftops stretching out in all directions, and the Thames cutting through them like a dark line. His eyes followed the river’s winding path toward the city’s edge. Eventually, it wound its way back to his home.
He sighed. Usually he loved his time in London, but this trip had held no joy for him.
There was a knock on his study door, and before he could bid them to enter, it creaked open and Cassian stuck his head in.
“Hello, Harrow,” he said. “All right if I let myself in?” Without waiting for a reply, he entered the room and sat in the chair on the other side of the desk. “I heard you were in town, so it seemed only right to come pay a visit. Oh, and I thought we might have dinner.”
“Dinner?” Thaddeus asked. He wondered vaguely what time it was, and realized the sun was much lower in the sky than it had been last time he’d noticed.
“Yes, with Vivienne. You remember, from the ball? She’s in town with me and would love to see you again.”
“Ah, of course.” He dimly remembered that he’d already agreed to this dinner. His head gave a dull throb, and he wondered how insulting it would be to change his mind. All he wanted to do was finish his business here and get home.
He paused, turning over the thought in his mind, surprised at his own vehemence. He felt an odd sort of longing to be done with London and return to Hartington, a longing that he realized with some shock was homesickness. He’d never been homesick before.
He supposed it was due to his father’s death, as the man had been his main reason for staying away from home. Now, Hartington was no longer his father’s house, but his house.
His family was happier for it, he could tell – just little moments of lightness in his sister’s chattering, his brother’s laugh, and his mother’s easy smile. Without knowing it, the place had really started to feel like a home to him.
Another figure appeared in his musings, one with beautiful auburn hair and bright blue eyes. She did not smile as easily as the others, but when she did it was wonderful. And when he happened to be the cause of the smile, he felt as though he’d done something marvelous.
He pulled himself from his thoughts, suddenly aware that Cassian had started talking again. He pushed away the thoughts of Isolde. She had nothing to do with his homesickness, surely. After all, she’d barely been at Hartington a week.
“… so would you like to come round to mine, or shall we come to yours?” Cassian was saying. Thaddeus managed to pull himself back together in time to answer the question.
“Mine. I’d be happy to host you,” he said. That was more or less a lie, but at least if they came here, he would be able to keep working until nearly dinner time. He was suddenly contemplating how much of this work he could take back to Hartington with him. Perhaps he need not stay as long as he’d anticipated.
“Splendid,” Cassian said, standing up with a grin. “We shall see you this evening.”
