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)
“And they knew you were there?”
“No. I was hiding under your desk.”
“Who in God’s name—”
Tricia swallowed. “I couldn’t see them, Thomas, but I do believe one of them was your cousin. At least, his voice sounded slightly familiar, and he mentioned you being his cousin, and I don’t know if you have any other cousins here at this house party. From your mother’s side or something.”
Thomas seethed. “No, I don’t. Damn that Jameson. He wants this estate. I’ll fucking kill him for this.”
“Thomas, no.”
Guests and servants were racing out of the mansion and milling about.
Tricia gasped. “Thomas, your arms. They’re burned!”
He looked down.
Sure enough, the fabric of his shirt had been burned away, and both his forearms were red with burns. But he felt nothing.
He only felt relief that Tricia was safe.
What if he hadn’t been walking around looking for her? What if he hadn’t smelled the smoke? Seen it coming out from under the door of the study?
Someone would have smelled it. Someone would have heard her screams.
Oh, God… What if…? And she hadn’t been strong enough to break the window herself.
He grabbed her, held her to him. “My God, Tricia. What if… What if…”
“I’m all right,” she gulped. “I’m so very sorry for—”
He silenced her then.
He silenced her with his mouth on hers.
The kiss was raw and frantic. He pried her mouth open with his tongue, and he took from her. He kissed her as though he had never kissed another woman. As if she were his first and only.
And that’s when he knew, at that time, that she would be the only one for him from this time on. Even if he hadn’t ruined her, he would marry her.
He no longer cared that nearly everyone at the ball was now congregating outside until the fire was put out. They all saw him kissing Tricia.
Including his mother.
Including Cameron, his brother-in-law and Tricia’s brother.
And including the viscount, Polk, and his dratted cousin, Jonathan Jameson.
He’d have to marry her now, and he didn’t care. For he had now met Tricia’s requirement.
He loved her.
He loved her so much that the thought of her perishing in that fire made him sick to his stomach. Made tears come to his eyes.
He kissed her and kissed her and kissed her, until—
“Good God, Ashford, let the girl breathe.”
The voice came from none other than his brother-in-law, Daniel Farnsworth, the Duke of Lybrook and husband to Lily. His deep voice held a hint of a chuckle.
Lily ran up to him next. “Goodness, Thomas, look at your arms.”
Still he felt nothing. Only pure emotional relief that Tricia was all right.
Lady Clementine came hurrying toward them. “Tricia, darling. What on earth happened?”
Tricia swallowed. Her lips felt raw and swollen from the kiss Thomas had just given her.
“Mummy, I don’t exactly know. Someone started a fire in Thomas’s study.”
“But why would you be in his study?” she asked.
Thomas should have been curious about that as well, but he did not honestly care.
The fire wagons from the nearest city came barreling up behind galloping horses, but at that point, servants had the fire contained.
Montague, the Ashford butler, walked forward, a stern look on his face. “The fire has been contained to your study, my lord. No other part of the mansion has been burned, but I’m afraid your study has been reduced to embers.”
“I don’t give a bloody damn about my study, Montague,” Thomas said. “Everything in there can be replaced.” Then he looked at Tricia, who was receiving an embrace from her mother.
She could never be replaced.
And if his arms were scarred, it was a small price to pay.
“I’m not so sure this could be replaced, my lord.” Montague handed Thomas a singed copy of his father’s journal.
“Good heavens, you’re right about that!” Thomas grabbed the journal from Montague. The cover was badly burned, but most of the pages containing his father’s entries were untouched.
He glared in the direction of the Polks. This was the final nail in their coffin. They had clearly set fire to his study to destroy this damning piece of evidence.
“My lord,” Montague continued. “You need medical attention.”
“I’m fine, Montague.” He turned his attention back to his butler. “Has everyone been safely evacuated from the mansion?”
“Yes, my lord. Once we’ve determined that there is no further danger, we will allow them to go back in. I’m not sure how this fire started, but I believe you’re very lucky. It could have easily spread to that whole wing of the house, and then…”
“Yes, Montague, I know. I’d rather not think of it, thank you.”
The butler bowed quickly. “I shall continue to see to the cleanup, my lord.”
“Yes, thank you, Montague.”
Tricia was sobbing in her mother’s arms, and then Lady Clementine began sobbing as well. Trudy brought Katrina to them, and Lady Clementine lifted Katrina in her arms—even though she was a big girl of nearly eleven years—and kissed her pretty face, still crying. “Thank God, Kitty Kat!”