“Thank you.”
“And when you take Julia to her aunt’s, I should like to come, too.” It was almost a plea when she had intended a more forceful request. She feared she’d lost her bargaining edge with him.
He raised an eyebrow. “Unaccompanied?”
She sighed, thoroughly miserable. “Perhaps you could bring my maid, Sarah, back with you.”
He nodded and continued down. “We shall see.”
“Grainger… Ash?” She halted on the last step, a hand on the banister.
“I do appreciate your offer, Thea. Best to leave it for now,” Ash said in a quiet voice as they stepped down onto the marble floor. “I understand why you feel the way you do. The engagement was rushed, as you say, and arranged under duress.”
“Thank you,” she said in a tight voice. It gave her no joy to hear it. “Would you like me to be with you when you tell your grandfather we’ve ended our engagement?”
“I prefer to leave it for now.” His blue eyes searched hers. “Although it’s merely delaying the inevitable, isn’t it?”
She nodded, looking away. It hurt to look at him.You can’t want to marry me, Ash, not really, she thought as she walked with him across the marble floor.
“Your grandmother and I shall depart after breakfast. I am grateful to be able to leave Julia with you.”
“Don’t worry, Ash. I will keep her busy and entertained until you return.”
“Well, here you are,” the earl said jovially as they entered the salon. “Julia has trounced me at dominoes. I hope to have better luck with piquet.”
Obviously very pleased with herself, Julia giggled.
The earl’s penetrating gaze traveled from Ash to Thea. He frowned. “Your grandmother has retired.”
“I believe I shall follow.” Thea feared the old gentleman was too observant. “Will you come too, Julia?”
The earl smiled. “Come and kiss an old man’s cheek.”
Thea’s heart ached as she placed her hand on his shoulder and kissed his whiskery cheek, smelling tobacco, brandy, and wool. “Goodnight, sir.”
He smiled and nodded. “Sleep well.”
Julia followed her from the room.
Preparing for bed in the luxuriously appointed bedchamber, Thea expected to lie awake for hours. She tried to reassure herself that it had to be said, and surely better now than later. Ash’s kiss had been gentle, respectful, but still, the touch of his mouth and his lean, hard-muscled body against hers made her breathless. Until then, she hadn’t understood how much she wanted a passionate marriage. And how much she wanted to have that with him. Had she expected Ash to argue the point and fight for her? To show he felt more than friendship for her. Perhaps even the first stirrings of love? But he had not. He didn’t love her. His concern was for her safety, her reputation, and to please his grandfather. Knowing that, she should be glad she’d set him free. But she turned her head to the pillow and wept.
The next morning, her grandmother stood on the porch with Thea as the coach trundled around from the stables. “I am relieved to leave you here. It will prevent you from doing anything foolish,” she said, eyeing Thea. “I can see how interested you are in this frightful, dangerous business. Allow Grainger to sort it out. He must do this kind of thing all the time.”
Did he? Thea wondered at that. She hugged her grandmother. “It will take all my time and energy to keep Julia happy, I suspect.”
Grandmama nodded sympathetically. “Your mother and Catherine will be sorry not to see you. You will come home as soon as you can?”
“I shall. Hug them for me.”
Ash came out the door dressed in a splendid coat of cobalt blue superfine and looked so handsome her heart gave an annoying small leap.
He hesitated, noting she’d dressed in her dark blue riding habit. “You ride this morning?”
“Yes, Julia is keen.”
“Be careful. Don’t ride too far.”
“I will.”
