“Years ago. When we first met. We were friends for weeks and growing closer. We met at this clearing by a stream that bordered our two properties. Then one day, he stopped coming. No note, no anything. Seeing him in Sir James’s office was the first time our paths crossed in years.”
“Were you in love back in those days?”
Mirabel’s question gave Thea pause. Had she been in love with him? Certainly she’d been deeply hurt when he’d left without a word.
“No,” Thea said. “We were children, really. Very young, very protected. Our friendship was innocent. We felt free to speak our minds to each other.”
“Sometimes that is how the best relationships start,” Mirabel said. She set aside her needlework and leaned forward, reaching out to place a hand on Thea’s arm. “When I first heard you were to find a wife for Lyon, I thought you should be that wife out of a strictly practical sense. Thea, you are well bred, intelligent, lovely—what man wouldn’t want you?”
“Spoken like a true friend,” Thea murmured.
“But when I saw you here together over the past few days, there is something between the two of you. His gaze would drift toward you when he didn’t think anyone would notice, and he always stood so that he could keep his eye on you. Thea, he didn’t have to announce he was marrying you last night—”
“He was worried for my reputation.”
Mirabel dismissed the suggestion away with her hand as she sat up. “Explanations could have been offered, and those women would havesewed their lips shut over what they’d seen if he had chosen one of their daughters. Please listen to what I’m saying. There is an attraction between you and Lyon, one that I think may be quite rare. People wax on about love and how they would spend lifetimes looking for ‘the one,’ but in truth most of us never do. We settle. We accept because, perhaps, we give up the dream of one special person just for us.” She paused, pressing her lips together before confessing, “Palmer was that for me. He was a far better man than I deserved. He loved more than I could ever love him—until I lost him. Thea, sometimes life works in our favor. Fate may be giving the two of you a second chance.”
Thea shook her head. “Fate? Some supernatural force, or being? I don’t believe that things beyond our control influence our lives. It may be just happenstance that my path crossed with Lyon’s. Or it might be that London is really not that big a world. Sooner or later we would meet because that is reality.”
Mirabel snorted her discontent. “You are the most unromantic creature ever.”
“If you are asking me to believe in fantasy, well, yes, you may be right.”
“Then what do you believe in?”
“I believe in common sense and being reasonable.We live in modern times. I ran away once over love ... and it turned out to not be what I’d been led to believe because of unfounded romantic notions—”
The front door opened. Osgood could be heard greeting someone. It was Neal.He’d returned.
A hard knot formed in Thea’s stomach. She wasn’t certain whether she was glad he’d come back or frightfully angry that he had been gone so long without explanation.
A beat later, Neal appeared at the door. He was in riding clothes, buff breeches, a jacket of the deepest blue wool, and spurs on his boots. His neckcloth was not knotted but tied in a hasty, devil-may-care manner.
Thea didn’t speak. She couldn’t. Any words would give away her secret fear that he’d abandoned her again.
“Why, Lord Lyon,” Mirabel said brightly, “you appear to have enjoyed an extensive ride.”
He barely acknowledged her words with a nod, his gaze intent on Thea. “I need to return to London,” he said.
Thea felt her heart harden. He was going to jilt her.
In her continued silence, he said, “We need to marry tomorrow morning. I have arranged for aReverend Wells from the local parish to officiate. Osgood tells me the license has already been delivered.”
Tomorrow morning?“What of my sons?” Thea heard herself say. “Should they not hear of us wedding before we do so? I should have written a note to them, but I didn’t.”
“Tomorrow, Thea. We must wed as soon as possible,” he repeated.
She rose from her chair. “My lord, are you all right?”
“I am.” His gaze shifted away from her when he spoke.
“Perhaps—,” she started, thinking to argue him out of this undue haste when suddenly he walked the space of floor between then in four strides, took her by the arms and kissed her.
Thea wasn’t expecting a kiss, and it wasn’t a kiss that said he liked her or he was angry. No, this kiss was a plea for understanding, of needing her trust.
Doubts dissolved when he kissed her this way. She knew enough of marriage to know a kiss was often the best form of communication. She slid her arms around his neck, eager to let him know she cared, that she had worried.
He smelled of horses, fresh air, and a warm,almost spicy scent that was all his own. His body was solid and strong.
