Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“You may be right for all I know,” Thomas said. “I grew up so differently than you did.”
Tricia nodded. “You did. Just tell me one thing, Thomas.”
“What’s that?”
She took a step toward him. “Do you wish to marry? Or do you merely feel that it’s your duty?”
Thomas pressed his lips together and scratched his chin. “That’s a difficult question to answer.”
“And everything is just so difficult for you, isn’t it, Thomas? How to answer one little question asked of you by a lady of the peerage?” She chuckled to herself. “Yes, me, the former Patricia Price, now a lady of the peerage. Sometimes I still don’t believe it. Then I feel the constrictions of this awful corset, and I do.”
Thomas laughed. “I’ve always known I would marry, Tricia. I just never thought it would have to be so soon. I didn’t expect my father to…”
Tricia boldly placed her hand on his forearm. “I know.”
“But yes, I always knew I would marry. And I do want to marry. I want children. I love children. I was quite a bit older when Lily and Rose came along, and I enjoyed spending time with them.”
“You’ll be an excellent father,” Tricia said.
“I certainly hope I will be. I shan’t be quite as strict as my own father was. But I will be a good father. I shall instill in my children respect for authority and convention. Though my father tried his best with Lily, and you see how she ended up.”
“Married to a duke? I’d say she ended up just fine.”
“She fought him every step of the way. She never wanted to marry. But I’ve never been of that thought. I’ve always wanted to marry.”
“And what are you looking for in a wife?”
“I suppose I want more than just a bed warmer. I want a wife I can converse with, a wife of intelligence, aptitude.”
Tricia smiled. “And would you allow your wife to help you in running the estate?”
“My wife would be mistress of the estate,” he said. “So of course.”
“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean in running the business of the estate.”
He wrinkled his forehead. “I don’t know that I have ever considered that.”
“Women are more than just a pretty face and a warm body. And more than just a person who can order around servants.”
Indeed, she herself would have no idea how to order around servants. She still had difficulty with it because she hadn’t grown up that way. For goodness’ sake, perhaps she wasn’t cut out to be the mistress of Ashford Estate.
“So did any of the young ladies strike your fancy?” she asked. “You know. All the ones you danced with who weren’t me?”
Thomas wrinkled his forehead. “Not a one, Tricia.” He touched her cheek again.
Sparks burned through her.
“Not a one holds a candle to you.” He leaned down and spoke softly into her ear. “Do you have any idea how much I want to kiss your lips again? How much I want to feel your body against mine? How much I want to…”
She swallowed. “What, Thomas? Say it to me. Say the words.”
His eyes darkened, and he cupped both of her cheeks with his gloved hands. “Want to sink my hard cock inside you, Tricia. I want to take your maidenhead from you, see your virgin’s blood and know that I took it.”
Tricia’s legs trembled. Her heart raced. And that ache between her legs became all the more intense.
“I’m sure to burn in hell for speaking to a young lady that way,” Thomas said, “but my God, Tricia, you bring out something in me. Something dark and dirty and hedonistic.”
Tricia gulped. “Thomas, I—”
He covered her lips with his hand. “Don’t say anything. I should apologize to you. I’ve gotten good at apologizing to you in the last year. But I can’t, Tricia. I can’t apologize for something that I mean with all of my heart.”
“Thomas…”
He brought a finger to her lips. “Don’t say a word. Please. I can’t and won’t apologize, but know this. I’ve no intention of acting on any of those impulses. I shall be a consummate gentleman.”
“What if I don’t want you to be a gentleman, Thomas?” She narrowed her gaze. “What if I want you to do all of those things?”
He rubbed at his temples. “My honor is hanging by a thread here, Tricia. I will not defile you this close to my father’s grave.”
“Somewhere else then.”
“My God, are you intent on driving me to madness?”
Tricia bit her lower lip. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps she did not know the beast she was awakening.
But oh, she wanted to know him.
She wanted to awaken everything inside Thomas. Even if he didn’t marry her, she would at least know.
She would know what Lady Portia knew in The Ruby.
She would know how it felt to have a man she adored worship her.