The Reluctant Duke (A Seabrook Family Saga)(54)

Lady Beth could explain that during their engagement she realized they did not suit and she thought it better to discover that before the marriage took place.

He knew just what he had to do. If Myles would stay with Amesbury tonight, Thomas would attend Lord and Lady Booneville’s soiree and speak with Lady Beth in private.

Once settled on that action, Thomas needed to contend with his own personal dilemmas. His desire and weakness for Emma had driven his brother from their home and country. Thomas hadn’t been able to keep his hands to himself, so now Sebastian would never marry Emma, the woman he loved.

Thomas’s muscles tensed up, so he rotated his shoulders around and around. What a bloody arse he was, hurting his own brother the way he had.

In addition to that, he could only imagine the hurt he had caused Emma because of the way he proposed and what he’d said when she declined his offer. He’d lashed out, tried to hurt her as she’d hurt him with her answer. It might have been bad timing, but he’d already decided he did want to marry her. But Sebastian, damn him, had hinted about the family’s lack of coin. How long would it take for her to find out the circumstances behind his connection to her father’s estate and his death?

When she did, she would hate him forever. As much as Thomas wanted Emma, he needed to get her away from him as soon as possible. He needed to protect her from the truth and secure her happiness. As visions of Emma married to another flashed before his eyes, his hands painfully gripped the arms of the chair. The thought of another man’s hands on Emma’s delicious body, or of another claiming her as his own, was driving him mad. Why hadn’t she accepted his offer? Thomas had to admit to himself that yes, he lusted after Emma, but lust was only the beginning of what he felt for her. He oftentimes watched her when she interacted with the servants, his sisters, and his mother. At all times Emma was kind, attentive, and patient. She would make a perfect duchess.

The Prince had hinted at a match between Wentworth and Lady Madeline McFarlane, the daughter of the Earl of Lennon and Laird of Clan McFarlane. The Regent continued to strive to improve England’s relations with the Scots.

Raking his hands through his hair, Wentworth cringed at the thought of marrying Lady Madeline. Not that there was anything wrong with her. She was comely enough, but at the time he and the Prince Regent contemplated the match, he had been in dire need of coin. The Earl of Lennon was one of the few Scotsmen with enough to spare.

Today, there was no such financial need, and he no longer thought Lady Madeline would suit him. Not like his ward did.

Lady Madeline’s eldest brother, Aiden, who would inherit the earldom, might possibly suit Bella though. Maybe that marriage would appease the Prince Regent and his desire to blend the two families. Could he perhaps convince the Prince to allow him to marry Emma?

“When did you get back?” Myles asked as he stretched his sleep-stiff body.

“Not long ago. I apologize for taking so long. I had a family emergency.” Thomas stood up and strolled toward Amesbury’s bedside. “How is he?”

“He has not retched in several hours, which I must believe is a good thing.” Myles’s brows rose. “What family emergency would that be?”

Thomas explained what transpired between him, his brother, and Emma. Leaving out the pertinent fact that he nearly seduced Emma into giving him her innocence, which he certainly would have taken if they had not been interrupted. He had been so lost in her that he’d been incapable of realizing the consequences that would have occurred because of it. Also, he left out his botched marriage proposal. That was an embarrassment not to be made light of at the moment.

“Maybe you should marry the chit, like I said last year.” Myles paused and grinned. “I saw the way you two looked at each other when you danced at the Caulfields’ ball. Admit it. You are smitten with the girl.”

Damn his friend for reading him so well. “I can’t marry her, and you know why.”

Myles burst out laughing. Then he grinned widely. “Come on, you’re a duke. You can do anything you want. Marry who you want.”

“What if she found out the true story regarding her father? She would hate me,” he scoffed. “Call me vain, but I prefer to marry someone who will not come to loathe the sight of me.”

“It could be worse. Emma could be married to someone else an ocean away.” His friend’s voice and expression turned melancholy.

Thomas winced at the pain he witnessed on Myles’s face. “Sorry. Listen, do you mind staying here so I can attend the Boonevilles’ soiree for a couple of hours tonight? Then I’ll return and you can go home and get some rest.”