Vexing the Viscount

“Every now and then but today was the worst.” Emily smiled up at her. “Which is why I am so glad I discovered you at the park.”

“Good fortune indeed.” Tia took a seat near the bed as Mallory returned with the tea tray.

“My lady, are you unwell?”

“Just tired. That is why we are having tea upstairs.” As Mallory placed the tea on the bedside table, Emily asked, “Did you find the peppermint for tea?”

“Yes, my lady. I brought both the peppermint and the black.”

“Thank you, Mallory. I shall ring if I need anything more.”

Mallory nodded and then departed.

Emily looked over at Tia. “Would you mind pouring today?”

“Of course not.” Tia prepared the peppermint tea and then handed it to Emily. “This should calm your stomach.” Then she made some black tea for herself. Sitting back against the chair, an odd sense of discomfort overcame her. She needed to drink her tea and return to Middleton’s before the dressmaker arrived at noon. It was already eleven, so she must make her excuse rather quickly.

“Where did you learn so much about pregnancy?”

Tia explained how her mother had taught her and her sister from the time they were old enough to follow her around the estate. They would watch her heal people and treat them for sicknesses with herbs.

“It seems so odd to me that your mother would allow you to see people’s bare limbs, especially a man’s,” Emily commented and then sipped her tea.

“Perhaps, but seeing it at a young age takes the fascination out of it. Once you’ve seen one bare leg, the others are all the same.” If only the same could be said of a man’s chest. She had never seen a chest like Middleton’s, finely muscled down to his belly. And that line of black hair that crossed his chest, down his belly, and disappeared beneath his trousers had fascinated her.

“I suppose that would be true.”

Tia placed her teacup down and rose. “I must return to Middleton’s home before he becomes concerned.” Or irate. But still, she hoped his arm was all right. She needed to check his bandage for signs of infection.

“Are you certain?” Emily asked softly. “I would love to have you stay with me. My darling husband is usually too busy with his mistress to escort me to many of the parties. With you along with me, we could both go. I could introduce you to all the handsome young men and then perhaps you wouldn’t need to return to the Midlands ever again.”

Tia bit down on her lip in thought. If she stayed with Emily, Middleton wouldn’t be able to force her to return. But she couldn’t take charity from a woman she’d only just met. “While I would enjoy that, I must decline.”

“Why?”

“I shouldn’t wish Middleton to worry.”

Emily’s brows rose. “Indeed? Is he worried about ruining your reputation by having you stay in his home with no proper chaperone?”

Tia laughed. “Emily, no one cares if I am at his home whether I am his mistress or not.”

“Are you?”

“No.”

“But everyone will assume you are.”

Tia shrugged. “I know no one in town. They will just believe he has installed a mistress to his home. Since I will be leaving possibly tomorrow, very few people will even realize I was there.”

“Why will you not stay with me?” Emily asked quietly with a slight pout. “Have I offended you in some manner?”

“Of course not! But, Emily, we have only just met this very day. Why would you want a complete stranger in your home? Besides, what would your husband say?”

“Yes, Emily, what would your husband say?” A deep voice sounded from the threshold.

Emily’s face brightened. “Eldridge, come meet my new friend,” she said, extending her hand outward.

Emily’s husband was older than Tia had expected. Gray hairs peppered his dark brown locks, and wrinkle lines around his eyes foretold his age to be much closer to forty than Emily’s youthful twenty.