“You made a mistake to deny us permission.” Tess would not waver on that point, even if she adored her father and his desire for more for his children. “Do you regret it yet?”
He arched a brow at her. “Letting those bloody Americans trample over my land and home? What do you think?”
“Then renegotiate your agreement with Van Arsdale. Send him away.”
“And let you and Mr. Prince finish the job?”
“Yes, I’d much rather work for you than for them.”
Fenbridge groused and waved his hand. “You assume my coffers are as flush as the Americans’ and can easily fund so many salaries. Sadly, Miss Hawthorne, they are not.”
“I’d still rather be employed by you than them. Even if we had to take the project more slowly.”
“And would yourgentleman friendfeel the same?”
Tess stiffened at his tone. “You once said you did not judge me, my lord.”
“It’s not judgement. But I do wonder. Do you love him, Miss Hawthorne?”
“We’re talking about the dig and Van Arsdale,” she told him, her whole body tensed, defensive, at the change in topic.
“If you do, perhaps you should tell him.”
“I haven’t come here to discuss Mr. Prince.”
The old nobleman shook his head, hunched down in his seat as if defeated. When he looked up again, his eyes were glassy. Tess didn’t know if it was the brandy or emotion that caused them to glitter.
“You remind me so much of your mother. And why we never would have suited.” A ghost of a smile softened his expression. “She was stubborn, as you are. As I am.”
Tess stood again and crossed her arms. “Forgive me, Lord Fenbridge, but I don’t wish to hear about you and my mother.”
He nodded. “Then let me speak only of myself. Take me as your example, Miss Hawthorne... of what not to do.”
Tess blinked and frowned. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’ve lacked courage, but you seem a braver sort.” He nodded again as if warming to his subject. “Love is always a risk. I was a coward, but I trust you won’t be.”
“You could prove your courage now and challenge Van Arsdale.”
They stared at each other for several moments, thenFenbridge lifted his glass out to her as if in a toast. “Touché, Miss Hawthorne. I shall speak to the American. You go find your treasure hunter.”
Tess didn’t relish Fenbridge as a matchmaker, but she departed his study to find Dominic.
This dinner had been far worse than the one Dom had endured at the Walcotts’ party. Tonight, Tess wasn’t seated far away from him. She wasn’t even in the bloody room.
After the first course was served, he excused himself. The Van Arsdales were so thoroughly in their element that he doubted they’d notice his departure. And Tristan Hawthorne shot him a wink as he stood, as if fully aware of Dom’s intention to find his sister.
He checked Fenbridge’s library first, as that’s where she found him at the Walcotts’ party. Then, since he wasn’t entirely sure of the hall’s ground-floor layout, he checked inside every unlocked room. When he exited the third, he heard footsteps and turned to see her striding toward him.
“Were you looking for me?” she asked as if there might be any other answer to explain him wandering the hall.
“Of course. There hasn’t been a moment to speak to you, not truly, all day.”
She cast her gaze back over her shoulder and then down the length of the hall behind him as if wary of others hearing them. Dom didn’t give a damn if they did.
“Why don’t we step outside?” he asked her.
With a single nod, she stepped past him, and he let her lead the way. Toward the back of the house, she pushed open two French doors that led toward a paved terrace. Someone had lit lanterns for the guests’ benefit, and Tess stopped near one.
