“For her avocation, it makes perfect sense,” Helen replied.“Perhaps your sister can claim a similar excuse?”
He started to open his mouth and closed it, remembering the night before the decision had been made that four cousins and an aunt and uncle would be departing England for a Grand Tour.The night they had brought in the last of the harvest before the heavens had opened up and rain poured down.
Grace had joined them in the fields, garbed in George’s breeches and working just as hard as any of the rest of them and the tenant farmers who were employed for the Gisborn fields.“Well, I doubt she plans to be a farmer,” he murmured, “but should she marry one, she certainly knows what’s required for success.”For a moment, he seemed awestruck.
“I rather doubt Lady Grace is going to marry a farmer,” Helen commented.
Chuckling, Tom nodded.“Agreed.”His expression suddenly sobered.“She’ll be having her come-out next year.”He scoffed.“It’s hard to believe she’ll be eighteen years old.”
“Her name has already appeared on the list,” Helen said.
“The list?”he repeated.
“The list of daughters of aristocrats available for marriage,” she clarified.
Tom blinked.“Oh.”He frowned.“Are you aware of any young bucks who might have mentioned her name?”he asked in alarm.
Helen hid her amusement behind a gloved hand.“I heard Farringdon has her under consideration,” she said, referring to Raymond Roderick, the oldest legitimate son of the Marquess of Reading.
“Reading’s whelp?”he asked in disbelief.“Farringdon is barely a year older than I am,” he claimed.He scoffed again.“How did they even meet?”
“Who says they have?”she countered.When he turned and regarded her with a questioning stare, she added, “She is not the only one.There are dozens on that list.”Including me, she almost added.Farringdon wouldn’t really consider her, though.She was practically on the shelf.
“Are you still on that list?”he asked, his gloved hands rubbing the tops of his knees.
Helen blinked.“I am.”
He glanced over as if he was surprised to hear it.“Oh.”
She straightened in the squabs.“Why did you say it like that?”
Obviously uncomfortable, Tom dipped his head.“I’ve been away from England for some time.I realize I cannot expect...situations...to remain unchanged,” he stammered.
Helen furrowed her brows.“Situations?”she repeated.
He nodded.
Suddenly understanding he was referring to her, she blinked several times.“Well, I certainly haven’t been kissed by anyone since...since I last saw you in London,” she stated.
Tom’s eyes rounded.“You haven’t?”
“I haven’t,” she insisted.“And since I amhere, I am missing this Season, but...”She sighed.“I don’t mind, really.Thomas, I wouldn’t trade this opportunity to see the world...”She waved to the up-close scene of the Bent Pyramid to their right.“For all the entertainments London has to offer.”
Before he had a chance to respond, the hantour suddenly came to a halt and Omar’s voice sounded from somewhere to their right, his words describing the dark pyramid.
When the carriage resumed its trek to Dashur and their ship, the two sat in uncomfortable silence until they were nearly to the dock.
“I agree,” Tom stated suddenly.
“Agree...with what?”she asked in confusion.
“I wouldn’t trade this Grand Tour for a Season in London.For...threeSeasons,” he corrected himself, as if he just then realized he would have been away from England for that long by the time they returned to British shores.He chuckled as the hantour came to a halt.“But then, I’ve never attended one, so I’m not really sure what I’m missing.”
Helen narrowed her eyes and allowed him to help her down.Before she had a chance to shake out her skirts, Bradley came running up, his arms outstretched.
“Oh, dear, you’re awake,” she said on a sigh.When she glanced over at Tom, she saw his expression change to what appeared to be one of disgust, and she blinked.“Thank you for riding with me,” she said, wondering at the sudden change in his demeanor.She lifted Bradley and settled him on her hip, wincing when she saw how much of the reddish dust had been ground into his white gown.
“You’re welcome,” he said curtly, giving her a slight bow before turning toward thedhahabîyeh.
He didn’t offer his arm before making his way on board.
Sighing in resignation, Helen waited until he had disappeared down the central corridor before boarding.
