“I am sure we all enjoy our wild women, Mr Gouldsmith,” Thomas said under his breath, making sure to have just enough edge to his voice to make the man wary of suggesting any such thing again, “Though I cannot say I would be looking for a woman quite so wild for a wife.”
“Then you arelooking? For a wife, that is,” Mr Gouldsmith asked, one dark blonde brow raising with curiosity.
And there is it, his reason for commenting upon her beauty,Thomas thought, biting back amusement.
“Is that not what we are all expected to be looking for, Mr Gouldsmith?” Thomas sniffed, turning his attention back to Miss Skeffington who had begun to help her now lucid mother from her chair. “Please, excuse me, Mr Gouldsmith. I fear Miss Skeffington may be in need of some assistance.”
Though, it was more of an excuse to get away from the man, Thomas realised that as he walked across the lawn to aid her in helping her mother, he could feel an odd sensation pulling him toward them. He tried to tell himself it had more to do with trying to get away from the man he could feel watching him as he went but even as he approached the two women and offered his assistance, he could not help but feel the tugging in his chest.
“Miss Skeffington, Lady Skeffington, might I be of assistance?” he asked, keeping his gaze carefully upon the older of the two. He heard Miss Skeffington’s sharp intake of breath as though she was utterly shocked at his offer and when he glanced out of the corner of his eye, he could see her watching him with some suspicion. No doubt she too was remembering their conversation the night before and how they had not exactly left things on good terms.
“Thank you, Lord Warrington, but I do believe we are quite well here,” Miss Skeffington announced but her mother looked as though she was just desperate to find some common ground for the two of them to stand upon.
She opened her mouth, obviously about to reject her daughter’s refusal in favour of taking his offer herself but Miss Skeffington quickly added, “Come, Mother, I shall help you to your room. No need to bother Lord Warrington. I would hate for us to cause him any inconvenience.”
What did I do?Thomas wondered, slightly stung by the tone of her voice even as she offered him one final glance and a respectful bow of her head before she turned and began to help her mother into the manor.
“Do not look so glum,” Owen stated, coming up behind Thomas and startling him as he laid a hand upon his shoulder, “You lost the race. That means you get to sit next to Miss Skeffington at lunch.”
Thomas’ stomach twisted with a mixture of emotions the moment he heard his friend’s words. Excitement was followed by trepidation, and anticipation gave way to discomfort. After the curt way she had just spoken to him, he was not sure it would be a good idea for them to be seated next to each other.