"Ahh, Cousin Philip." Owen smiled at the man in greeting and Thomas quickly remembered that the man was Nancy's cousin and so Owen's too by marriage. Though he would have liked to have apologised to the man and truly would have meant it, he could see how it would look now, knowing that the man was the cousin of their host. Yet Owen beat him to it, "Forgive Lord Warrington, I do believe he is merely grouchy as his belly is empty."
He clapped Thomas on the back and almost as if he had told it to, Thomas' stomach growled, suddenly causing him to realise that Owen was right. He was indeed beginning to grow hungry. Though he would not have it said that he was a toddler in need of food to stop him from throwing a tantrum.
"I am sure that Mr Tulk is aware I was not speaking of him," Thomas pointed out. "He snuck up on us excellently just now and has not spoken a word about business since we arrived."
"And I am perfectly capable of holding my tongue while stalking," Philip added, his eyes dancing with amusement and a mutual respect passed between the two of them, one that did not need to be spoken aloud. Of all the men who were in attendance, save for Owen, Philip appeared to be the most likable.
He was easy going and did not seem to have any motive for being there other than visiting his cousin and having a little fun. Thomas had always prided himself on knowing the measure of a man just by looking at him and he was certain that Mr Tulk was quite admirable. Yet he could not say as to whether he would be a good fit for Miss Skeffington, he could honestly say that she could do far worse.
Like Baron Colton,Thomas thought before quickly reminding himself that it truly was none of his business.If Miss Skeffington is fool enough to accept any one of these men, then I can only hope it would be Mr Tulk.
"I can say I quite agree with you on the matter, Lord Warrington," Philip added adjusting the buttons on his hunting jacket before turning to their host, "I am well aware my cousin has motives other than a housewarming and I am quite certain she has fallen short as Lord Warrington suggests."
"Well, I can see that the two of you are going to make fine friends." Owen sighed, glancing between the two men before rolling his eyes and lifting his gun to shove it into his manservant's arms.
"My lord?" The man looked shocked and quite confused, almost as if he believed he had done something wrong with the weapon, yet Thomas knew Owen well enough that this sudden change had nothing to do with his gun. He had obviously grown tired of the hunt and Thomas could not blame him for they had caught little.
"I think perhaps it would be a good idea for us to return to the manor for some refreshments," Owen suggested, his tone slightly commanding, and his manservant hurried off with the guns as if to warn the servants at the house that the hunt would soon be returning.
Thomas was more than a little relieved when a call went up throughout the woods from servant to servant, alerting the other lords that their host had called a break for lunch. Gesturing his own man over, Thomas handed him the gun which he had not shot for almost an hour and said, "Keep hold of this one. It will be the one I catch our dinner with this afternoon."
He offered the man a self-confident smile and stifled a laugh when he saw the nervous expression on the man's face. The young man bowed his head and hurried off just as Owen's had. Thomas turned quickly to his host and suggested, "I do believe you need to rethink all of the men you choose to surround yourself with Owen. After all, are they truly men at all or are they mice?"
Philip began to laugh haughtily at that until Owen offered him a scathing look. Philip shrugged his shoulders, looking only half remorseful as he turned to Thomas and stated, “Lord Kendall hired new men at the behest of my cousin so perhaps you ought to take it up with her."
'Indeed," Thomas replied under his breath, reminding himself once more that he was lucky not to be under the thumb of some young woman who insisted upon changing all in his life to suit her own agenda.
Though his father had always insisted women were only there to satisfy their husband's needs, Thomas had always found it quite the opposite. Watching marriages from afar, especially his own parents, he had watched how women could twist and manipulate their men with a mere batting of their eyelashes.I shall never fall to such weakness,he assured himself.
"I think perhaps the ladies might join us for lunch," Owen said as they began to walk back to the manor, obviously ignoring his wife's cousin's comment in favour of keeping things civil.
Thomas and Philip glanced at each other, sharing a knowing look about their host's lack of defending himself, both stifling laughter behind his back as they began to follow him. "I am quite certain that my wife and Miss Skeffington would not appreciate the two of you berating our other male guests."
Philip began to mouth silently, looking as though he was silently repeating Owen's words mockingly and again Thomas had to stifle laughter. Owen whipped around to face them, quite obviously suspicious, and Thomas quickly made his face expressionless.
Yet, he was sure that Owen knew him well enough to see the amusement in his eyes.I do believe I shall like Mr Tulk very well,Thomas thought and as Owen turned back with a huff, Thomas said aloud, "Mr Tulk, I believe that we are going to get along just splendidly."
"As do I, my lord," Mr Tulk responded with a nod that sent his hair flying forward to frame his mischievous smirk.
"Would the two of you quit bonding over what you both perceive to be my misfortune and quicken your pace?" Owen demanded over his shoulder, "I find I am quite famished also."
"Well, you said it," Philip chuckled and it was clear that the gentleman was mocking Owen with affection, "And you forget that your wife is my cousin. I am aware of the chaos she causes in her wake."
Seeing the scowl that Owen threw over his shoulder, Thomas spoke up, "Perhaps a little chaos is the price you pay for other more desirable qualities."
"Ahh, do not speak of such things or I shall have to force bracken into my ears!" Philip exclaimed and the three men began to howl with laughter as they broke free of the woodland and found that the other men were beginning to gather in the open field beyond, awaiting their host to lead the way back to the manor.
The sound of barking in the distance did not sound like that of the hunting hounds that were likely still being herded back in the woods behind them. It sounded more like the yapping of lapdogs and Thomas glanced in the direction of the manor, wondering absentmindedly what the ladies of the party might be doing. Perhaps one lady in particular…
"Come, Thomas, last one to the manor must sit beside Miss Skeffington for lunch!" Owen announced with laughter, his boyish playfulness returned.
"We both know I would beat you in a race any day!" Thomas snarled at him, and he growled through gritted teeth as Owen, as he always had done during their university days, gave himself quite the head start.
It was not until they drew closer to the manor, stopping just short of the white picket fence that surrounded the garden lawn, that Thomas came to realise what the barking and yapping had been all about. Racing up and down the lush green expanse was Miss Skeffington, looking as though she had not a care in the world.
The noise came from the cavalier spaniels that were chasing after her, nipping at her heels and each other, yapping and so giddy that one or two of them tumbled over and rolled, almost tripping the young woman as she ran.
Yet she laughed and laughed, and now that he was closer, Thomas found her could hear her laughter like music to his ears. He admired her for a moment, unable to stop himself from noticing just how beautiful and wild she looked with her golden hair flying out behind her. It caught in the breeze and wafted into her face, blinding her for a moment before she paused to yank it back.