Thea that he wanted to touch, to hold ... to bed.
Margaret would tell him to leave now, but he couldn’t. God help him, he couldn’t.
There comes a time when every man must meet his destiny, and Neal realized his time was nigh.
Chapter Eight
“Good morning, Lord Lyon, I trust you slept well,” Mirabel said in greeting to Neal. She was sitting next to Sir James at the head of the dining table and had been the first to notice his presence. The room was busy with young women and their parents preparing their plates from the wide range of dishes set up on the sideboard.
The minute Mirabel issued her greeting, everyone turned to offer their own.
For a man accustomed to his privacy, it was a bit off-putting to have so much attention.
“There is a place to sit beside me,” Lady Lila offered. She was looking fetching in a dark blue riding habit trimmed in gold braidà la militaire. Neal knew it was the latest fashion, but he found it disconcerting to think of women dressed for military action rather than a pleasant ride in the country.
The plan for the day was a ride to an old church and picnic lunch. He thought of the work waiting for him back in London, the ledgers, the letters, the documents, and tried to smile. “Thank you,” he said.
“There is a place next to me as well,” Lady Cynthia said brightly.
“Thank you,” he replied, putting his attention to his breakfast.Thank you, thank you.Words that could keep him out of trouble. Of course, he’d noticed that one person wasn’t at breakfast yet—Thea. He thought to ask where she was, then stopped himself.
Such a request would not be appreciated by this audience.
Then, as if he’d conjured her, Thea appeared in the doorway. She wasn’t dressed for riding, and she appeared very tired. Her honey brown hair had been styled for simplicity, and her eyes were dark with concern.
And still, she was the most attractive, interesting, remarkable woman in the room. There was a presence about her, a character that none of the others had.
Her gaze met Neal’s for the briefest of moments, and then she announced, “I am so sorry, everyone,that I won’t be able to ride with you to the ruins today. Lady Sophie has taken violently ill, and I feel I must be here with her and her family.”
“Good heavens,” Mirabel said. “What is the matter with her?”
“We don’t know.”
“Shall we call for a doctor?” Mirabel asked.
“That might be necessary,” Thea said.
Neal carried a plate of food over to Thea. “Here,” he said. “Take a moment and eat. I’m certain Mirabel will see to the doctor.”
“That I will,” Mirabel replied and nodded for one of her footmen to come to her immediately.
“You can sit here,” Neal said, superseding a footman and pulling the chair next to Lady Lila out for her.
He sensed Thea’s first impulse was to refuse. “You won’t help anyone if you wear yourself out,” he added.
Her resistance vanished. She almost gratefully sank down in the chair with a murmured “Thank you.” He nodded for one of the footmen to pour a cup of tea for her.
Lady Lila cocked her head in reproof. “That chair was for you, my lord.”
“And how kind of you to hold it for me,” he answered. “However, I have put it to good use. Afterall, how can we enjoy a house party if one of our number is ill?”
“Perhaps something she ate didn’t settle well with her?” Mrs. Pomfrey said, buttering her toasted bread, a suggestion that made Mirabel’s eyes widen in alarm.
“If that were true, we would all be ill,” Mirabel said, looking to Thea for confirmation.
“Well, it’s unfortunate she won’t be able to ride with all of you today,” Lady Montvale said, no sadness in her voice at all.
Neal took his plate over to the empty chair next to Miss Cynthia Pomfrey. She gave him a pleasant smile before shooting a triumphant look at Lady Lila, and Neal felt like a bone being argued over by two dogs. Well, actually five dogs—while the onehewanted pointedly ignored him.