Chapter Twelve

Thorne tugged on his cravat. There was no fire in the grate of the drawing room but there might as well have been. Why the devil was he so bloody hot? He gave it another tug, paced across the room and settled on the chair opposite Lilith who was reading a book about the flora of northern Scotland. He flicked open the newspaper and skimmed it, trying to take in the words that seemed to jumble before his eyes.

“It was kind of you to invite Catherine.” Lilith looked at him over her book.

He gave a strained smile. How could he tell his sister kindness had nothing to do with it? It was more likely to be insanity that had led him to inviting Catherine to watch the stars.

With Lilith, of course. Not him.

She sighed. “Her sisters are all lovely and quite amusing, but I do feel young around them sometimes.”

“You are young,” he drawled.

“Not that young. I am an adult and would have been out in society long ago had it not been for—” She shrugged. “Well, circumstances.”

“A year or so ago is not long ago.”

“Well, I was trying to say that I enjoy Catherine’s company. I have few friends my age.”

Thorne grimaced inwardly. Most girls Lilith’s age were either enjoying everything society had to offer—and had been for a while—or were already married and settled. Most women apart from Miss Chadwick. And he could well understand why. She would be a handful as a wife.

An amusing handful, though. A reluctant smile tugged at his lips and he could not fight it. How many women hid in trees from their mothers? None that he knew of, not even Lilith who could be impetuous at times.

“I had thought you did not really like her so I am glad you changed your mind.” Lilith watched him closely so he kept his reaction measured.

“She is pleasant enough.”

“Only pleasant?”

He lifted his shoulders. “If you like her, then far be it for me to prevent your friendship.”

Lilith snickered. “Are you well, Thorney? For that does not sound like you one bit.”

“Perfectly well, thank you.”

“Well, I am glad you like her because I like her immensely.”

Damn. He more than liked her. He had been swept on in some strange insanity that had him thinking of her for precisely twenty-four hours a day. Even in sleep, he could not escape her. First it had been that mistaken kiss, then it had been finding her sitting in a tree. Perhaps it had also been when they’d argued. The way her eyes grew fiery and her mouth determined…God’s teeth, it made him feel hotter and more frustrated than ever when he thought about those pouted lips.

A bell chimed through the house and his sister leapt up. His heart followed a similar motion. She was here for Lilith and the stars, nothing more, he reminded himself. He’d leave them to it and keep himself busy in the study. He made his way out of the room with haste.

“Oh, are you not having tea with us?”

He paused out in the hallway, caught halfway through his retreat to the study. He turned slowly, his gaze landing immediately on Miss Chadwick.

A slight hint of color lingered on her cheeks. Her freckles had seemed to darken over the past few days—no doubt she had been sitting outside in the sun with little care for keeping her skin protected. A cream striped muslin overlaid with delicate lace made her seem smaller and more delicate than usual. Made him consider how easily he could scoop her up and hold her to him.

Lilith’s brow rose. “Thorney?”

“I thought I would leave you ladies to it. I have work to see to. Do help yourself to the telescope. You know the one I mean, do you not, Lilith?”

“The one in the ballroom?”

“That’s the one.” He gave a quick dip of his head and escaped, taking brisk strides before Miss Chadwick could open her mouth in greeting.

Shut away in the study, he lit a few lamps and pulled out the ledger he had been meaning to go through for several days. A list of debtors from his father’s time who needed satisfying would take away any fanciful ideas he had about Miss Chadwick. He checked the names against the letters he had—those confirming the debts had been paid and those who had been willing to negotiate settlement. His bloody father had totaled up debts in the thousands. It was only lucky that the family still had lands to free up and sell to cover such debts. His father might well have gambled those away if he’d been given the chance.

Feminine laughter rippled through the house. Thorne lowered the letter and pinched his nose. He should have opted for working in the east wing, then he would not be aware of her one bit.

Except, he probably would have been. He could not seem to escape Miss Chadwick, even when lying alone in bed.

He could not resist a smile when another peal of laughter reached his ears. Miss Chadwick might not be the good influence he had hoped his sister might have but she certainly made her happy. Lilith had led a sheltered and lonely life and being cooped up in this large house alone was no better for her, even with himself and their mother for company. They were a poor replacement for young female company.

Thorne shook his head to himself. Miss Chadwick had little interest in him, aside from him being Lilith’s brother. Hell, she turned him down. At the time, he’d thought himself relieved—and he had been, surely? After all, he did not want his hand forced because of some foolish mistake. Apparently, she thought the same. What was it she called it? A simple kiss.

He scowled. How was it that nothing felt simple about it now?

Rubbing a hand across his face, he eyed the letters and picked up the quill. He had work to do. All this rumination was unhelpful and pointless.

Several hours of sorting through his father’s papers, and he had worked at a uselessly slow pace. He glanced at the clock. The dinner gong would ring soon, and he’d sit with Lilith, Catherine and Mother for dinner, wherever she was in the house. She had opted to give the two young women some space so they could enjoy each other’s company without her listening in. He’d agreed that was best. His sister deserved a close female friendship, even if it was with Miss Chadwick of all people.

He stood and stretched, loosening muscles that had been in one position for too long. All he needed to do was sit down to dinner with Miss Chadwick. It was hardly a great imposition and easily done. Except being in her presence had not felt simple since that kick to his shin, and it was not getting easier.

As he made his way upstairs to change, Lilith caught up with him on the second set of stairs. “Oh, there you are. I came to your study, but I must have missed you. I have been looking all over for you.” She hauled in a breath.

Color tinted her cheeks and she grinned. It seemed Catherine’s company had done his sister some good. It would all be worth it then, even if he could not function properly with her under his blasted roof.

“What’s wrong?”

“The telescope. I don’t understand it I am afraid. Catherine had a play but neither of us can understand why it does not work properly. Can’t see a blasted thing through it.”

He gave her a look and she smiled apologetically.

“Can’t see through it, I mean.”

It seemed Miss Chadwick was already influencing his sister’s language. If he was not careful, he’d have a near copy of the woman on his hands and then what would he do? His wits would be addled before long—the original Miss Chadwick was certainly driving him to the edge somehow.

“I’ll take a look.”

Lilith pressed her hands together. “Oh would you? Catherine is waiting in the ballroom. I just need to, um, find something.”

Thorne scowled but Lilith had vanished up the stairs before he could ask her what she needed. He made his way back downstairs and cut through the house to the ballroom. The room had been shut off for many years, out of use while his father spent time in London or wherever else he went with his many mistresses. Since Thorne had returned him, he’d had the room aired and the sheets pulled off the chairs. Dust had lingered thick on the chandeliers and it had taken him and a few servants several days to bring it back to life. Once the rest of the house was ready and the finances were in place, he would host a coming out ball for Lilith and use the house as it was intended. With any luck, the family would be back to being one of the most respected names in England before long.

He paused at the large doors that led into the ballroom, too aware of what—or who—was on the other side of then. Which was ridiculous. This was his home and he did not need to feel like a prisoner in it, unable to enter certain rooms or leave his study. And had it not been his idea to invite Miss Chadwick over?

He must have been out of his wits.

She whirled and pressed a hand to her chest. “Lord Thornefield, you made me jump.”

The room was vast, marbled and gilded, with large windows spanning the entire side. His footsteps echoed on the floor when he stepped in. Yet Miss Chadwick, despite her tiny stature, did not seem lost in the space. Somehow her large personality dominated the room, drawing his gaze and his person in toward her.

“Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you. Lilith said you were having problems with the telescope?”

“Not really. Well, we were, but as soon as Lilith left, it was fine.”

He shouldn’t have been surprised. His sister had been guilty of manipulating him into being alone with Miss Chadwick twice now. He could not fathom how his sister had any idea of his feelings toward the woman when he could hardly gauge them himself.

Miss Chadwick beamed at him. “It is a wonderful sight. Do you use the telescope often?”

Thorne shook his head. “I had forgotten about it, truth be told, until you mentioned your passion for the stars. After we opened up the ballroom, it was neglected I am afraid to say.”

“If I was you, I would be here every night. I have never seen the Milky Way so clearly before.”

“You are truly infatuated with the stars are you not?”

She chuckled, her green eyes lighting from within. “That is a kind way of putting it. Most say it must more cruelly.”

“Does that bother you?”

She gave him a look. “I think you must know me better than that by now.”

He did. Of course he did. Somehow, he understood her more intimately than he should.

“How did it come about? Your love for the stars?” he forced himself to say to distract himself from looking at her so closely.

“It sounds silly really.”

“I would like to hear it.”

“I was skating on the pond one night near St. Lawrence Church when I was about eight. Do you know it?”

He nodded.

“I fell over and twisted my ankle. It was not a terrible twist, but it stopped me from getting up. My sisters were playing in the snow and had not even realized I’d snuck off. While waiting to be discovered, I just stared up at the stars and there was something so comforting and fascinating about that blanket of light above me.”

Her expression softened into one of wonder and he’d never wanted to kiss her more, to somehow draw in some of that curiosity for the world and experience it himself. He’d spent too long dealing with the realities of life to ever stop and simply stare at the stars.

“Of course, I was blue by the time my sisters found me and I had a rotten cold for a week.”

Thorne chuckled. Miss Chadwick eyed him.

“What is it?” he asked.

She tilted her head. “You look so different when you laugh. It makes a nice change from that stern look you like to wear all the time.”

“I am not stern all the time.”

“Too often, though, I would wager. Lilith worries about you, you know.”

“I know.”

The problem was, life had not given him much chance to laugh. Miss Chadwick did, though.

On impulse, he took her hand. “Let us go to the folly.”

She blinked at him. “What about Lilith?”

He shook his head and grinned. “I think Lilith is counting on us vanishing for a while.”

Miss Chadwick frowned. “But—”

He led her through the house, pausing to collect her pelisse and sling it around her shoulders. She buttoned it up awkwardly with one hand while he kept a hold of her other hand, leading her up the hill away from the house and toward the old folly. The structure stood out against the nightlight, looking like a real castle from a distance. When they neared, it shrunk, and he was reminded of the night he had walked up here to get some fresh air and clear his head of the frustration and stress at what his father had left him with.

He recalled the first time he had met Catherine and smiled. How wild she had seemed.

Thorne released her hand to allow her to climb to the top. She stopped to gather her breath. They had walked at quite a pace, but he feared he would change his mind if he let logic enter his brain. He should not be here, with her, alone. But he wanted to be. For once, he wanted to take pleasure in life without worrying for his family or their reputation.

“Now what?” she asked.

“What do you normally do?”

“Lie down.”

He motioned for her to go first then settled himself on top of the turret next to her. They did not touch but he was aware of her body next to his, a mere hand’s width away. It would not take much for him to reach over and take her hand in his and enjoy the way her fingers fit so perfectly in his.

He glanced over at her. Her gaze was fixed resolutely on the skies. “Now what?”

“Just look,” she said softly.

He did, slowly absorbing the dark that seemed to turn lighter and lighter as he stared. Where a handful of stars had once been opened up into a giant cluster of them until his vision was filled with diamond-like speckles. He could see how an eight-year-old, scared little girl could be so amazed by them.

“Oh, look. A shooting star.” She pointed but it was gone. “Keep looking, there might be more.”

He waited, aware of his each breath and her every subtle movement. A dart of movement in the sky caught his eye and he laughed. “I saw it.” A thrill pulsed through him. Who would have thought a mere shooting start could be so exciting?

“There was another!” he exclaimed.

He looked at her again—a portrait of pure, innocent joy. Out here, under the stars, there was no one to judge, no one to question what they were doing. Her eyes were lit from the stars and her mouth slightly open. He turned his gaze back to the stars and shifted his hand until he found her cool fingers. When he looped his fingers in between hers, she made no protest and tightened her grip around his hand.

Thorne rolled his head around and eyed the heavens with a grin. Lilith would be pleased no doubt.