“I sing a little, but I never quite mastered the piano,” Julia admitted.
“I am happy to accompany you,” Thea offered.
When Julia shyly agreed, Thea glanced at Grainger. His relaxed gaze rested on his grandfather, who appeared to enjoy himself. It was as if they could shelve the concerns that had plagued them for the evening.
After dinner, Julia stood at the pianoforte and sang two songs in her sweet voice, with Thea accompanying her. Then, as promised, the earl played a game of dominoes with Julia.
Her grandmother sat quietly watching, contributing little, probably weary after the long day. Grainger leaned closer to Thea. “How about a stroll to view the gallery? I’d like to show you the family portraits, heroes, villains, and reprobates among them. Your portrait will join them one day.”
A bolt of unease struck her, but she nodded, stood, and took his arm. Advising the earl of his intention, Grainger led her from the room.
They roamed the gallery, viewing the huge oil paintings in their gilt frames. Grainger paused before a fellow with a beard and a neck ruff in the style of the 17th century. “Lord Francis,” he said, turning to her, a smile playing on his mouth. “Grandfather says I am like him.”
“I don’t see a resemblance,” Thea offered. He was not nearly as handsome as Grainger.
“It is said he was a spy, adept at breaking codes.”
She smiled and gazed up at him. “Ah, I see.”
He stepped closer, his hands resting on her shoulders, his laughing blue eyes meeting hers. “What do you see?”
Her heart thudded. “An inherited reckless love of adventure.”
“And from whom might you have inherited yours?”
She laughed. “Touché.”
His hands slid down her arms, and he drew her against his lean, muscled body. His mouth, warm and firm, briefly covered hers. Thea’s head whirled, and she grasped his coat as emotion threatened to weaken her legs. A needy warmth spread through her body. She broke away before she lost all sense of propriety, fighting the urge to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him passionately. What if he found such a display of emotion distasteful?
She stepped away while the imprint of his lips remained. “Grainger…”
“Won’t you call me Ash?”
“Ash.” It felt too intimate on her tongue for what she was about to say. But if she let this go on too long, it would be too late. “We must soon discuss a way to end this engagement.”
The warm light faded from his eyes as he stared at her. “End it?”
She felt suddenly cold—did she imagine the pain in his eyes? “Yes, surely you see the sense of it.”
He folded his arms and leaned against a decorative column. “I hadn’t. Suppose you enlighten me.”
“You know how rushed everything was.” She struggled to deal with the tide of emotions swamping her that she didn’t understand. Her independence had been so important to her, was still, but it would never come between them if he really wanted her. If he told her he loved her. But the truth was she didn’t know what he felt or thought. She really didn’t know him.
“I thought we’d make a good fist of marriage, Thea. We get on well, do we not?”
If she’d had any doubts, there it was. He’d been forced into an awkward position and had to propose to her. Debutantes schemed and plotted to catch gentlemen like Ash. But she would not be one of them. And she would not risk him one day reminding her of it. It would break her heart. Her voice failed her, and she gazed at him mutely. She couldn’t speak of these things.
“Of course, I’ll release you. If that is what you wish. But it might be best to keep this quiet until Farnborough has been apprehended,” he added after a moment, in a cool, polite voice she didn’t recognize.
She nodded. He had confirmed her view that this was all about keeping her safe. Her stomach clenched, making her feel slightly sick as the truth of what she had done hit her, sending a chill through her. She would never know him as a wife knew her husband, and he would be gone from her life once this investigation was over.
“Shall we go down?” he asked politely.
She hated his impersonal tone, hated the gulf which had sprung up between them. It made her feel oddly lost, unsupported. But she could only nod and walk with him to the stairs.
“I am returning to London tomorrow,” he said as they descended the sweeping staircase to the hall. “Once I have obtained Julia’s aunt’s address, I’ll come for her. Your grandmother has expressed the wish to return to the city with me.” He paused on the stairs. “I understand if you want to come and see your family, but I would appreciate you remaining here until I return. I fear Julia will not stay without you.”
She could not say no, now. And going home seemed so horribly final. “Of course, I’ll stay.”
