“Just our luck,” Thomas grumbled in reply, but a ghost of a smile tugged at his lips.
Nora sipped her tea and savored the addition of brandy, milk, and sugar in perfect proportions. It was a work of art.
“I suppose today was a failure, then,” said Nora wistfully.
“I don’t know if I’d say that.” Thomas heaved a sigh before dropping into the chair she’d vacated, completely disregarding the fact that he’d likely stand up with a wet seat leftover from her sodden skirts. “Just because we didn’t locate the arch on our first try doesn’t mean we will never find it.”
Nora took one final sip from her cup before setting it down. “And how long do you propose we continue on like this, Thomas? Wasting our time? I am certain you have more pressing matters requiring your attention.”
“Nora.” Thomas reached up and grabbed her hand in his, his large palm and long fingers engulfing hers. “No time spent with you is wasted.” Her breath hitched in her throat when she met his eyes. “Besides, we are honoring Beth, are we not?”
“Right. Yes.” She gave a little tug of her hand, but Thomas did not release her. She stopped just shy of narrowing her eyes at him and glaring. “And how long do you suggest we continue the search? Days? Months?”
“Years?” Thomas added cheekily.
Nora speared him with a quelling look. “Beth and I already searched for years, to no avail.”
“And I have no doubts that you both did your very best.”
“Then why must we continue on this fool’s errand?” The words rang in the cavernous room. Her eyes stung with unshed tears. She was so tired—so emotionally drained from the events of the past several weeks and from being around Thomas for the first time in what her heart felt like was forever. “Perhaps I should go. Might I still have use of your carriage?”
“Not yet,” Thomas whispered a second before pulling Nora down and into his lap. She yelped in surprise as she landed across the solid planes of his thighs and was held against the solid wall of his chest. He held her close, pressed against the thudding of his heart, and it took everything in Nora not to melt against him, close her eyes, and allow herself to simply forget about everything. “You are upset,” he said, his voice and his proximity setting something warm and curling off deep inside of her. “I’ll not allow you to leave here upset.” She tilted her head back to look up into his face. Time had changed Thomas, but he was still quite the handsomest man she’d ever seen. Even the small lines framing the corner of his eyes, the silver at his temples, served to make him more distinguished, more beautiful for the evidence of the years he’d weathered.
“Thomas…” she breathed his name on a sigh. It was a plea—for what, Nora could not have said. All she knew is she was overwhelmed by him, by his presence, by his thoughtfulness, by his warmth.
“Yes, Nora?” His voice was a gravelly whisper and his eyes danced across her features, lingering on her mouth.
Her lips parted, but she was unable to form a coherent thought, let alone a single intelligent word.
“Nora.” She hadn’t thought it possible, but Thomas’s tone was even lower than before. His large hand reached up andbrushed a damp lock of hair from her face. She was instantly conscious of what a mess she must be. She tried to push up from his lap with a lame stammered excuse, but he held her fast. “I’ll not let you go until I am sure you won’t just return home to cry alone.”
She made an affronted sound, but there was nothing for her to say. It was quite likely she would have done just that.
He tilted his head and looked at her. He saw her—really saw her—like no one else ever had. “It kills me to know your heart has been broken.”
“Yours has been broken, too.”
“Yes.” He murmured, gazing at her as if memorizing every line and curve of her face. She knew he meant Beth, but she also had the distinct feeling there was something more to be read there in the sadness lingering on the edges of his eyes. “But I hope today has helped take your mind off of it.”
“As much as can be expected, I suppose.” She was distracted by the back and forth swipe of his thumb on her waist. “But a day of distraction does not truly change anything. Beth is still gone. And I must sort out a new place to live.”
Thomas reared back. “A new place to live?”
“Of course. I cannot continue to live in the Townhouse. My mother along with my eldest brother and his wife have all offered me a home. I must choose between them.”
“You needn’t abandon your home and your independence if it is not what you desire.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Townhouse is yours to do with as you please for as long as you desire, Nora. It is as much yours as it was Beth’s.”
Nora was shaking her head as he spoke, not allowing herself to fully grasp what he was saying. She stopped only when his palm cupped her cheek and held her still.
“I am the one who instructed my solicitors to locate the home. I am the one who purchased the property. I am the one who pays for its upkeep and maintenance, as well as the staff. And it is my decision to continue to do so until such a time as you decide you would rather move on.”
“Thomas…I—I had no idea,” she stammered, her heart leaping into her throat. “I mean, I knew your mother had a role in helping Beth establish her own household, but I truly had no notion of your involvement. I thought the property was rented. You purchased the house? For Beth?”
“For both of you.”
