Chapter 14
Thomas did not expect to see much of Miss Skeffington for the rest of the day and he did not until afternoon tea was arranged out in the garden due to the fine weather that they had been having. Though he thought of her often throughout the morning, especially about their conversation at breakfast and how odd it had felt not to argue or have some other conflict with the young lady.
She was quite intoxicating when she was not jumping down his throat, and Thomas was not sure what annoyed him more, her argumentative and mischievous streak or the fact that he actually kind of liked it. He had even missed it during breakfast though he was pleased to have learned something deeper about her.
She does not wish to marry any more than I do,Thomas realised not for the first time as he joined the other guests out on the patio for the afternoon meal. Several seemed to have skipped food and gone right to playing pall mall on the lawn yet Owen was there, never missing a chance to eat, sitting beside his wife with Lady Skeffington and her daughter.
The entire party sat at one end of the large wrought iron dining table which had been draped with a white tablecloth dotted with purple flowers and green butterflies for the occasion. Even as Thomas approached, bowing his greeting, a couple of other guests joined at the other end of the table. They offered their own greetings to the others and then proceeded to talk amongst themselves, leaving Thomas with only a couple of seats left to choose from.
Seeing the conundrum on his face, Lady Kendall quickly spoke up from beside her husband. Gesturing him toward their end of the table, she called, "Lord Warrington, do come and sit with us. There is a seat here between Miss Skeffington and me."
It had been the last chair that Thomas glanced over and yet at Lady Kendall's invitation, Thomas felt his heart race at the prospect. At her words, Miss Skeffington raised her head from where she had been gazing into the teacup that sat neatly on the saucer before her. When her eyes met Thomas’, they were filled with welcome, and they drew him toward the chair that Lady Kendall had pointed out.
What am I doing? I should decline and sit elsewhere,Thomas thought, passing by an empty chair opposite them and beside Owen that was still free. Though then he would be between Owen and Lady Skeffington and as so far, he had managed to avoid a direct conversation with the mother, Thomas thought it best not to risk it. Besides, he did not wish to be rude to Lady Kendall. At least, that is what he told himself.
"Good afternoon, Miss Skeffington," Thomas greeted her after having offered Lady Kendall his thanks. He dropped down onto the seat between the two ladies, a mixture of different floral scents hitting his nostrils and he knew that at least one of them was Miss Skeffington's perfume.
He had smelled it that morning at breakfast and it was not a scent he would soon forget. He had been reminiscing over it all morning though when he picked himself up on it, it was just another thought he quickly shoved to the back of his mind.
"Good afternoon, Lord Warrington," she responded and although her tone was outwardly friendly, Thomas noticed it was much cooler than her tone that morning. She did not look him in the eye as she had earlier either and Thomas wondered whether he might have done something else to offend her.
Racking his brain, he could think of nothing off the top of his head.Perhaps I should not have spoken to her about marriage,he thought, wondering whether he might have dredged up some unwanted feelings. He certainly had in himself.
"Are you well, Miss Skeffington?" He asked, curiously looking at her out of the corner of his eye, accepting the tea poured into the teacup in front of him.
"Quite, thank you, my lord," Miss Skeffington responded formally. She lifted her teacup to her lips and Thomas watched her throat dance gracefully as she took a couple of gentle and lady-like sips. "And you, my lord?"
She seemed only half interested in waiting for his reply, looking across the table at her mother instead of turning her gaze upon him. Frustration clawed at Thomas.Where was the friendly young woman who had spoken to him so easily in the breakfast room that morning?
"I am well, thank you, Miss Skeffington," he responded and then quickly turned to address Owen and his wife, "The spread you have put on is quite lovely."
He turned his attention to the platters of food arranged down the table, ignoring the odd fly and bee that were buzzing about the flower arrangements that were also dotted at intervals.
"Yes, quite the spread indeed," Lady Skeffington was the first to react. Her words drew Thomas' gaze from the host and his wife to her. She was watching him with a smile twitching at the corner of her lips, only half paying attention to the boiled egg which she was cracking with the smallest spoon known to man.
What is she thinking?Thomas wondered. As if he could not guess. He was sitting right beside her daughter. No doubt she was imagining what a fine and handsome couple they would make if she had her way.No, I must not think on it.He would not fall into that trap, the one so many other mothers had tried to lay for him over the years.
"How has your morning been, Lord Warrington?" The woman continued, glancing away to open her egg before she looked back and added, "I do not believe we have seen you since breakfast."
Thomas felt Miss Skeffington stiffen beside him. His own body tensed a little at the woman's comment. He looked her in the eye, determined not to show any weakness against a mother who sat like a snake waiting to strike.
"I find the day has been quite pleasant. Thank you for asking, Lady Skeffington," Thomas said. Miss Skeffington muttered something in audible and though Thomas had not heard the words, he noticed that her tone and her body language was quite negative.Is she judging me?Thomas thought.Does she think I am sucking up to her mother?
If it were so, she might well be right. This was the first conversation he had entered into with Lady Skeffington and even he had to admit he was being overly polite.
"And how has yours been since breakfast, Miss Skeffington?" Thomas asked, deliberately turning the conversation on her, showing that he had heard her mutter. She at least had the decency to blush, turning her fiery hazel eyes upon him. Their gazes met and for just one moment Thomas felt as though she were challenging him. He felt Lady Skeffington's eyes upon him also and sensed Owen and his wife taking an interest. He had to tread carefully.
"It has been quite peaceful, my lord," she responded, her gaze never faltering. She then turned it back in her mother's direction and asked, "Mother, will you be taking a nap this afternoon?"
Well, if she does not wish to converse with me, I shall not press it,Thomas thought, a little disappointed. Confused by the sensation, Thomas reminded himself that he would have been all too pleased to be practically ignored by many of the ladies of the Ton, those whose only interests were the fashion and the latest gossip. But Miss Skeffington was not them.
"I think I ought to," Lady Skeffington announced with a nod of her golden head, so like her daughter's, though streaked with white. "Though I believe I shall eat a little more first."
"Are you quite determined to be away from the table, Miss Skeffington? I do hope that my presence has not made you uncomfortable," Thomas said when he felt Miss Skeffington tense beside him again.
"No!" she responded quickly and Thomas was even more disappointed at that. A part of him hoped to have had a chance to escort her from the table. Perhaps then, she might be a little friendlier toward him.Why should I mind if she is amenable toward me?She continued with a blush to her cheeks, "I do not want my mother to exhaust herself."
There was silence for several minutes. It was awkward and made Thomas' skin crawl, but he was determined not to be the one to break it. The others around them had just started to turn their attention back to their food or conversation when Miss Skeffington began to speak a little lower than before, "Lord Warrington, with regards to our earlier conversation, why is it that you are not yet married?"