Perhaps a new mistress would have to be sought after all. He hadn’t had one in years. Not since Jeremy’s birth. And he really didn’t look forward to the idea of sating his needs with a random woman who’d want to be dressed in silks and jewels in return. The thought disagreed with him. Especially since he knew he’d be imaginingher—his desire for her was so intense he found himself in a constant state of irritation. Which his mother was not taking kindly to in the least. She’d left the house twice now because of some cutting remarks he’d made, for which he’d had to apologize to no end, which only made him all the more irritable. And so the cycle continued.
Expelling a breath, he got to his feet and marched across the floor. Jeremy had proven to be an excellent distraction. The boy had asked if he might take a closer look at one of the carriages, to which Thomas had readily agreed. Showing him how the vehicle worked had been fun. They’d had some lemonade together afterward, and for the very first time, Thomas had felt a connection. He’d since enjoyed teaching Jeremy basic sums and helping him with his penmanship. It was slow progress, but not as impossible as those awful governesses had made it seem.
But now that Jeremy was taking his nap and Thomas had completed his work with his secretary, his mind was once again assailed by unwelcome thoughts—thoughts that would lead to nothing but unfulfilled need and desire.
Deciding some fresh air would be the solution, he snatched his hat from the hallway, put on his gloves and went to the mews to collect his horse. He had no patience to wait for a groom to bring it around with the thought of Lady Amelia stirring his blood in a frantic way that tensed his muscles and hastened his pace.
Ten minutes later, he was riding toward Hyde Park and feeling not even a tiny bit better. How the devil had she managed it? She was stuck in his brain in a way that made him want to curse the day he’d agreed to look out for her during Huntley’s absence. Everything had been fine up until that point. He’d made polite conversation with her the few times their paths had crossed, and that had been that. Now, she’d made him aware though—aware of her glorious figure, of her impressive ability to overcome anything she set her mind to, of a daring side that might not have served her well when she’d chosen to go to St. Giles on her own, but which would certainly be welcomed in the bedroom.
Damn it. There he went again.
Muttering another curse, he turned into the park and began making his way along Rotten Row. At least it was a beautiful day with scarcely a cloud in the sky. The air was pleasantly warm without being too hot, most likely because of a gentle breeze that occasionally rustled the leaves in the trees.
Thomas tipped his hat in greeting to a few acquaintances as he rode past them, not stopping to speak with any of them. He simply wasn’t in the mood for inane conversation. In fact... A woman dressed in a dark pink gown and with a pretty straw bonnet perched upon a head of chestnut curls caught his attention. Even though she had her back to him, he was certain of who she was. Lady Amelia. And she was out strolling with a gentleman who appeared to be paying a great deal of attention to whatever it was she was saying.
Gripping the reins, Thomas fought the unpleasant wave of displeasure that rose inside him. He’d never been a jealous man—had had no reason to be—and yet what he felt now, this urge to get off his horse and shove Lady Amelia’s companion aside so he could take his place, could not be described as anything else. It made him want to punch something, his muscles already flexing beneath his jacket in preparation for such a possibility. But somewhere in his brain where a small degree of sanity still survived, he knew he had to calm himself in order to avoid the scandal a violent outburst would incite.
Perhaps obtaining a mistress was not the right approach. Perhaps what he really needed was to fight someone. He hadn’t boxed since Huntley’s departure. The two of them always sparred together, and with him gone, Thomas had not been back to Gentleman Jackson’s. If he could find someone willing enough to give as good as he got, it might work wonders for his state of mind. It was certainly something worth looking into.
In the meantime...
Nudging his horse forward, he trotted over to where Lady Amelia was walking. She and her companion looked up, and he saw now that it was Mr. Burton. The man was looking annoyingly satisfied with himself while she appeared to be very pleased with his company. Still, the wide smile she gave Thomas when he dismounted in front of her could not be denied. It was for him and him alone. His heart immediately doubled in size. Some of the tension left his shoulders, and he relaxed a little. Getting rid of Mr. Burton would probably make it disappear altogether, he thought wryly, tipping his hat in greeting to both of them.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked.
Mr. Burton did not look too eager but had no chance to deny him his company since Lady Amelia immediately said, “Of course. I’d be delighted to hear what you’ve been doing since the last time I saw you.”
Fantasizing about you in the most scandalous ways possible.
They started walking, with him leading his horse by the reins. “I have been looking into some laborers for...” He glanced across at Mr. Burton before saying, “Something I am working on.”
“Is it for the school?” she asked. “Mr. Burton is well aware of the project and has even donated five hundred pounds toward it. So has Mr. Lowell, by the way. They’ve both been extremely magnanimous.”
Gritting his teeth, Thomas tried to look pleased. “Indeed.”
“I have the funds and decided they would be put to better use if they went toward a school than if they continued to sit in the bank,” Mr. Burton said with a jolly grin that Thomas instantly detested.
He would not lower himself to telling the man that five hundred pounds was nothing compared to his own two thousand five hundred. Instead, he swallowed that bit of information and focused on Lady Amelia.
“I also attended a couple of sessions in parliament, took care of some necessary correspondence and met with my secretary. My property in Cornwall is in need of a few repairs, and after the housekeeper chose to get herself married to a sea captain, I have had to look into acquiring someone new for the position.”
Squinting against the sunlight that caught her eyes, she angled her head in order to catch his gaze. “So you’ve been just as busy as you said you would be.”
“Yes.” They walked a few more paces. “And you?”
She turned her head in order to look straight ahead, preventing him from seeing her face as fully because of her bonnet. “Your mother and Lady Everly have been busy ensuring that Juliette and I were not bored.”
“Mama did say something about developing your cultural acumen. I believe a few operas and plays were mentioned.”
Lady Amelia sighed. “I’ve been reciting Shakespeare with a pile of books on my head.”
“You cannot be serious,” Mr. Burton said with no attempt at hiding his shock.
Thomas, on the other hand, was finding it hard not to laugh at the image he had of her doing such a ridiculous thing. He pressed his lips together when she confirmed that it was indeed true.
“Apparently, I have a tendency to slouch when I am distracted. This was meant to be a lesson in avoiding such a terrible transgression.”
Thomas couldn’t help himself. He laughed, but since his mouth was still closed, the sound had nowhere to go except out his nose, which it did with a snort. “I am sorry,” he muttered, “I regret that I missed it.”
