Page 55 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

‘I should go,’ Jane said after a few minutes.

‘I’ve said something wrong.’ He searched her face, trying to work out exactly how he had offended her. Neither of them wanted to get married, that much he knew, but he thought it might alleviate some of her worries to know he wouldn’t leave her to face the potential scandal alone.

Jane took a shuddering breath and then turned fully to face him. ‘No, you haven’t. It’s just been a long day and I worry about the future.’

He had the sudden urge to reach out and cup her face. The feeling was so strong, he had to take a step back to make sure she was out of reach, otherwise he couldn’t trust himself not to do it.

‘Go home,’ he said, suddenly. ‘Rest. I am sure everything will look a bit better after we have both had some sleep.’

Giving a short, sharp nod, she called over to her maid, who had been loitering twenty feet away, and then hurried over to say goodbye to Edward. Tom watched her leave, wondering why he felt as though he had handled the situation badly, not knowing what to say to make it right.

Chapter Sixteen

‘It’s quiet in here tonight,’ Tom said as he took a seat at the bar.

‘The locals all know Rose has her night off on a Thursday. It makes me wonder how many come in here just to see her.’

‘You do have a beautiful wife, Western,’ Tom said, taking another gulp of his drink.

‘I know. I’m a lucky man. Rose doesn’t let me forget it.’

Tom trailed a finger around the top of the glass. His head had been pounding most of the afternoon, and he had even tried to go to bed soon after Edward had collapsed into an exhausted slumber, but he had felt the pressure building as he’d lain there between the sheets. Instead he’d opted for fresh air and had taken the route across the river to see Western.

‘You look like you’ve been dragged to hell and whipped by the devil himself,’ Western said as he looked Tom up and down.

‘Thanks,’ Tom murmured.

‘Is it a headache?’

‘Yes. They’ve been coming more frequently these last few weeks.’

‘The doctor told you to avoid any unnecessary conflict, didn’t he?’

‘It is hardly anything I can avoid. Anyway, the doctor also told me I would never walk again. I don’t place much faith in him.’

‘By rights you shouldn’t be walking. I saw that head of yours get trampled. Any other man would be dead.’

‘I’ve always had a thick skull.’

‘And the luck of the devil.’

Tom grimaced. ‘A lucky man would never have been trampled in the first place.’

‘True.’

Western moved away for a moment to serve two men at the other end of the bar, chatting with them easily whilst he poured their drinks.

‘Why are you looking so morose?’ Western asked as he returned.

‘I upset someone today. I said something I perhaps shouldn’t have, but I don’t understand why they were quite so upset.’

‘Does this person matter to you?’

‘Yes.’

‘A woman?’ Western shook his head. ‘Damn it, Rose is always right. She will be gloating about this for weeks.’

‘What is she right about?’