Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Thomas watched the door close and he sighed softly.
“Good night, Jane.” He whispered, waiting for a moment before he turned around and returned to his art room.
On the way, he stopped by Reuben’s room, opening the door as carefully as he could in an effort not to rouse the boy. Then he walked to his son’s bed, relieved to find him sleeping peacefully with his hands clenched into a fist.
He really was as precious as Jane had said.
Some of his hair fell over his forehead and Thomas reached out to brush it away, but then he stopped halfway and lowered his hand. He watched the child sleep for a moment longer and then he exited the room.
Once he was back in his art room, he settled behind the easel and stared at his current work in progress. He had done the general outline of most of it, and what was left was to include the finer details.
He picked up a brush with a small tip of bristles and dipped it in some paint, using quick strokes to map out the flow of her hair. He continued to make out more details, her arm against the chaise, the folds of her dress, the curve of her smile…
Thomas’ lips twitched as he recalled their kiss. He had wanted to ravish her there and then, to take more and more, until he had consumed her whole.
He could still taste her on his tongue, could still smell her warm cherry scent in the air of this room that was usually filled with the smell of paint.
He had been captivated by how easily submitted to his need to fix her posture and when she had tried to play off the effects of their kiss, he couldn’t help but give in the need to touch her more. Her reactions, utterly sinful as they were had been a worthy reward.
He did not expect… this. Everything Jane was seemed to exceed his expectations.
He had chosen her because she looked just like his late wife at first glance. But mere moments in her presence had shown him how mistaken he was. She was nothing like Eliza, that much was certain.
He only hoped that his decision to enlist her help with his son would prove to be a wise choice in the long run.
“Ensure the duchess has everything she needs. If anything happens while I’m away—”
“Are you perhaps fleeing the country, Your Grace? I cannot help but notice the thorough nature of your instructions have increased significantly this morning.” Mrs Greene mused dryly.
Thomas sighed, rubbing at his temple tiredly. He could not fault his housekeeper for her remark, because truly, he was being rather dramatic.
“You will only be gone a few hours, Your Grace. I understand that you are worried about leaving the duchess and the young Lord alone in that time, but from what I’ve seen, Lord Reuben is in utterly safe hands.
Of course, I will check in on them ever so often as well. ” The housekeeper assured gently.
Thomas intended to visit a friend that morning but just as he was trying to tell Mrs Greene to take care of the estate and its affairs, he was suddenly overcome with worry.
He couldn’t the sudden source of his anxiety but he couldn’t ignore it either.
“Where is the duchess?” Thomas asked after a moment.
“Having breakfast with Lord Reuben. He had come to find her as soon as he had woken up and she helped him get ready for the day. When it was time for him to eat, he refused to take a bite unless she did as well. It was quite endearing.” Mrs Greene explained gently. “Would you like to join them?”
Thomas thought about how Reuben had ignored him completely the day before and shook his head. He did not feel bad about his son’s actions towards him. He had grown accustomed to his irrelevance to the child — and even believed it was possibly his punishment for his sins.
But he also did not wish to make things strained or awkward between his son and the duchess with his presence.
He should allow them to enjoy their time together without any interruptions.
“No, it is all right. I will be on my way now.”
The housekeeper curtsied and he nodded at her before he left the house.
As he settled into the carriage, he remembered that the last time he was in it, he had just been married and was transporting his new wife to his home.
It was strange, how determined he had been then to ensure that he had achieved what he set out to do but when he properly assessed the situation, he felt guilty about her involvement.
His journey came to an end rather quickly and he found himself in front of a familiar house. He walked up the stairs to the door, knocking against it briefly.
A butler opened the door and bowed to him as he stepped back to let Thomas in.
“Good morning, Your Grace. His Grace is in his study. I will inform in of your presence. Please follow me.”
Thomas followed him closely, walking after him without much thought. He had spent a lot of his time here in his youth than at his own home and it had begun to feel like he dwelled here.
The butler knocked at a closed door and when they heard a grunt of acknowledgement, he opened the door and announced,
“His Grace, the Duke of Ravencroft is here to see you, Your Grace.”
“Is that so? Is he really here?” A voice asked in excitement.
Thomas sighed and walked into the study once the butler ushered him in, instantly meeting his friend’s excited gaze.
“Ravencroft! What a glorious surprise.”
Thomas regarded the table strewn in papers and the quill in his friend’s hand and he said,
“You appear to be occupied.”
“As I live and breathe. If it isn’t my dear friend who should be somewhere on his honeymoon with the lucky woman he recently wedded. I am never too busy for you, old friend. Have you come to invite me along on your travels?” Edward Barton, the Duke of Montford teased with a grin.
“I see no reason why you cannot travel on your own if you wish too.” Thomas scoffed as he sat down in front of his friend’s desk.
“Tsk. Even after so many years, you still do not know much about my preferences. If I wished to embark on an adventure in solitude, I would not have requested for company. But enough about me. Tell me, how was your wedding? Are you not meant to be at home right now, basking inn marital bliss?”
“There is no such thing,” Thomas rolled his eyes. “I just barely managed to convince her to marry me after she had run away from the church.”
“I beg your pardon — she did what?”
Thomas gratefully accepted the glass of whiskey Edward handed over to him, taking a mouthful immediately.
“There was commotion in front of the church before the ceremony began and when I went to look, I found her peering through the windows of a carriage. When it seemed no one was around, she got out, took one of the horses and rode away. I followed her but lost her once the rain picked up a bit. Eventually, I found her again, but she had been injured. It wasn’t serious so I helped dress her wound and…
I should have let her go. I wanted to. But she seemed so intent on fleeing from me.
I understood why — I have ears. I know what they say about me.
I know what the ton thinks of me. I did not want to force some poor woman into a marriage based on a mere inkling I had.
But the longer I spent by her side, the more convinced I was that perhaps…
perhaps she might be of some help. I told her about Reuben — not everything.
Only that I had a son and I believed that a mother might help with his problems.
“I offered to end things in three months, regardless of the outcome. Since I had only been searching for a wide for Reuben’s sake, I told her out marriage would be in name only.
I do not know what I was thinking or why.
I suppose I was simply desperate. I thought she might leave regardless but she agreed.
And we were wed less than half an hour later. ”
Edward stared at him wordlessly for a moment, then he held his glass up to him.
“That is a wonderful tale to tell little Reuben when he is older. I am certain he will be as entertained as I am in this moment.”
Thomas glared at Edward who smirked in reply, making him sigh in defeat.
“Have they been introduced? Your wife and your son?” Edward questioned.
“Yes. Yesterday morning.”
“It went well?”
“They were having breakfast this morning when I left my estate. He still hasn’t spoken a word, according to what she informed me but he is quite taken with her.
He won’t let anyone else clothe him now and he refuses to eat unless she eats with him.
After only a day, he is absolutely smitten with her,” Thomas grunts, emptying his glass.
“And you? Do you intent to keep her at arms length until your three months together are up?” Edward wondered, pouring him another drink and refilling his own glass as well.
“I only did this because of Reuben. I have no need to blur the lines between us.”
“Why does there need to be lines at all? I understand that you were reluctant to enlist the help of an outsider for help, but it has been three years. You had to try something else eventually. And from what you have said, this plan has a chance of working out in your favor,” Edward pointed out.
“It is precisely because he has been like this for three years that I am upset. I should have been able to help him. I can’t help but wonder about all the times before…
all the moments when he wished to communicate his needs but could not.
Now that there is a possibility he might do so, I can’t help but feel pathetic,” Thomas admitted quietly.
Edward was quiet for a bit, then he huffed in annoyance.
“I really do hope I am not as sour as you are so soon after my marriage.”
Thomas regarded him with thinly veiled irritation.
“That is if you can find someone willing enough to marry you. I suspect you might have to kidnap your own bride.”
“How dare you say such offensive things? Does your wife know you are so unkind? I feel as though I should write her a strongly worded letter, to reveal all of your shortcomings. I might just tell her of that time you squirted tea from your nose during my mother’s brunch. ” Edward stated, pointing at Thomas.
“You said you would never tell another soul about that!”
“Ha! That’s what you get for not respecting a keeper of your secrets.”
Thomas smiled, shaking his head in amusement. Edward chuckled, lifting his glass to his lips.
“Tell me about your wife. Was she worth chasing after?”
“Based on her close relationship with Reuben?” Thomas questioned, reaching for the bottle, only to have his hand smacked away.
“Based on her interactions with you. You are the one she married, after all. Although you might be insistent on the line drawn between you both, fate might have other ideas for you.” Edward explained, refilling their glasses once more.
“Fate?” Thomas snorted. “I did not know you believed in such silly notions.”
“I am a believer of convivence and the benefits of its existence. It is rather convenient that there happened to be a woman who looked quite like your late wife, who was unmarried and searching for a husband. We are still yet to reap the benefits of such a convenient stroke of luck, but it would seem that we are already well on our way. Would you not agree?”
Edward was not wrong. He might have had his reservations at the start, but it seemed as though Jane might be exactly what Reuben needed. He only hoped things would progress as smoothly as possible, in the time they had.
“She is… kind,” Thomas admitted. “She is attentive. Quite shy and honest… mostly.”
“Mostly? Has she lied to you? Two days into your marriage and you are already being deceived? My goodness, Ravencroft. What am I to do with you?” Edward shook his head in disappointment.
“She claimed to find me… handsome.”
Edward stared at him for a moment, then he sighed deeply.
“That poor girl. I doubt she is aware that her skills – whatever they might be – will be needed to care for both you and your son. You are just as worrisome as dear Reuben is.” Edward tutted with a frown.
“Do not patronize me,” Thomas warned.
“Do not sell yourself short. I realize that Eliza’s passing left you…
wounded. Your relationship was quite tumultuous from the start and as such, it was doomed to fail.
I wish you would not hold it against yourself.
You have fought so hard, Thomas, all your life.
You fought well during the war, you fought well to be a good duke, and you fought well to be a good husband and father.
You tried your best and now you have another chance to try again and do it right.
Which is why I wish you would not worry so much.
This young woman seems to know what she’s doing.
Follow her steps and let her guide you. Trust yourself.
I am sure you made the right call.” Edward said earnestly.
Thomas stared down at his hands, his gaze tracing over the scars much like the ones on his face, a vivid reminder that he had survived the horrors of war. Sometimes, he wondered if things might have been easier if he had simply… perished on the battle field.
But it would seem ‘fate’ had other plans for him, which he must adhere to, if he wished to live a semblance of a good life.
“I will do my best,” he stated after a moment.
Edward nodded in approval, a proud smile climbing his lips.
“Good man! We will make an optimist of you yet. I think I would like to meet your new duchess. Offer her some insight on how to deal with your gloomy personality.”
Thomas glared at his friend without any heat. “If I see you anywhere near my estate, I will shoot you.”
“You are a lousy shot, Ravencroft. But I will greatly appreciate the effort,” Edward grinned.
Thomas sighed and finished his drink, allowing himself to soak up more of the calmness the present company provided his mind. Before he returned home to his busy life.