Thomas pressed a hand to his breast, tilting his head back in mock injury. “Oh, you wound me, dear sister. After all the forbidden books I bring you…”
Beth rolled her eyes and held a hand out to Nora to wave her closer. “Come, let us see what you’ve found.”
Nora brushed past Thomas, careful that not so much as her skirt brushed him as she walked by. She could feel his eyes on her every movement, but she refused to return the look. “It’s a book of myths and fantastical tales,” she explained, handing it over and hoping she’d dusted it off well enough. “I came across one that appears to be a love story. I thought it might be a wonderful diversion.”
“That sounds lovely!” Beth replied with more zest than Nora had seen from her in days.
“I will leave you to it then.” Nora’s head whipped up—she’d been so excited to present her finding to Beth that she’d almost forgotten Thomas remained in the room. “I’ll let Mama know to have both your midday meals sent up here.”
“Thank you,” Beth replied distractedly as she appreciatively traced the book’s cover with her fingertips.
“Oh, and Miss Nora…” Nora’s heart raced once again beneath his scrutiny, but it nearly stopped altogether at the mischievous tilt of his finely formed lips. “You’ve a smudge of dust just here.” He used his thumb to brush an imaginary blemish from his cheekbone and turned to leave just as Nora cursed beneath her breath and scrubbed at the offending spot on her face.
Beth giggled. “Wherever did you find this? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen it before.”
“Oh, just the library.” She was grateful for the switch in topic.
Beth flipped open the cover and squinted at the small print on the yellowed pages, but quickly gave in and dropped her head back to the pillow.
“My eyes ache. Would you please read it to me, Nora?” She patted the coverlet beside her.
“Of course.” Nora climbed into the bed beside her friend, fluffed the pillows, and curled up to read the forbidden lovestory of the lowly stonemason and the daughter of the Roman governor.
Neither girl noticed the young man listening in silence from the gap in the doorway as they read.
Chapter Three
Five Years Later
"Your dancing skills are atrocious!”
“Only as atrocious as the partner who is supposed to guide me,” Nora snapped back, trying her best to keep the smile from her face and her voice. “It is a wonder you haven’t been banned from Society for maiming the delicate toes of all the women in London.”
“I beg your pardon!” Thomas froze mid-step, nearly causing Nora to careen into him. She very well would have had he not been holding her so firmly within the circle of his arms. “I’ve yet to crush anyone’s feet. It is I who should be grateful that my boots are so solid and you are so light, else I would be the one hobbling around.”
Nora narrowed her eyes up at him, smoothly finding his great toe with her heel and pressing down.
He yanked his foot back, muttering a half-hearted curse beneath his breath even though his lips threatened to blossom into one of his full-blown grins. She adored his smile.
“If I am such a horrendous partner, then perhaps we should conclude this lesson,” Nora said sweetly.
“We cannot stop!” came a light voice from the nearby settee. “Your debut is not all that far away and you should know how to waltz.” Beth was watching their fumbling progress from her comfortable perch at the pianoforte where she plunked out a basic tune to help guide their movements. She’d spent the afternoon providing all manner of commentary and well-intentioned instruction, though Beth, herself, had only just mastered the dance the week before. “How mortifying would it be if a handsome man asked you to waltz with him and you didn’t know the steps?”
Was it her imagination, or did Thomas’s fingers tighten around hers?
“No man will ask me to waltz, Beth,” sighed Nora. The dance was considered rather scandalous because of the intimate manner in which the partners were positioned. They both knew it was unlikely that a debutant would be asked to partake in a waltz, let alone that Lady Mylton would allow it.
Still, that made Nora all the more delighted to be learning the steps in secret…and in Thomas’s arms.
The past five years had seen a strengthening of the bond between Nora and Beth, with Nora spending weeks at a time in the Bexton household. They had become more like sisters than Nora was to her own blood relations. At home, she was the pest; at Glen House, she was like another daughter to the Viscountess. And she would have believed she was viewed as another sister to Thomas…were it not for the events of the past few months.
Having concluded his studies, Thomas flitted back and forth from London to his family’s country home with more frequency than most men of his age and social standing. He claimed it had been for his sister’s benefit—wanting to be there for her frail health—but it didn’t go beyond Nora’s notice that his visits were often timed when she was visiting Glen House…not that she minded.
Her first impression of Beth’s brother had remained true. He was kind and infinitely thoughtful when it came to Beth. Of course, he could also be vexing, but there was far more to admire about him than not.
He snuck them books from London bookshops; he brought them fine chocolates and ribbons in their favorite colors, he even appeared one day with a tiny kitten tucked into the deep pocket of his greatcoat when Nora had offhandedly expressed her desperate longing for a cat. The last had caused quite the uproar at home, but her mother had eventually come ‘round and now the calico cat was far too fat and far too spoiled.
Though he was now two-and-twenty while she and Beth were in their seventeenth year, he never forgot about them.
