Forsaking the Prize (The Wild Randalls 2)

Finch set a tray between them with Tobias’ help. “Such lovely amenities in the house,” Finch gushed. “So sad to think everything has been boarded up for so long. It’ll be nice to have everything used again.”

Tobias gave her a wary smile and when Finch hurried back to the house, he stared after her. “She does know that this arrangement to store your possessions here is temporary, doesn’t she?”

“Of course she does. Finch is an excellent housekeeper. She’d never leave Walden Hall. In fact, I am certain that should my stepson attempt to replace her then Finch would do something drastic to retain her position. She is very loyal to the Venables.”

Blythe picked up a tea cup and admired the pattern. The pretty design was unknown to her so Finch must have investigated the contents of the house. She’d lifted the corners of enough sheets to know Harrowdale held many items of obviously fine quality to agree with Finch. It was a shame that no one had lived here recently to enjoy them. To see them hidden beneath covers was a sad waste. She hoped Tobias did not mind her servant’s curiosity too greatly. Or hers.

When she peeked at Tobias, his gaze was fixed on the house; his expression remote and uninviting of further conversation. Rather than interrupt his musing, she prepared the tea, sweetened his with three spoonfuls of sugar, as she had noticed he liked it, and held out the cup and saucer for him to take. After a pause, he took the cup and left Blythe holding the saucer. “I should return to Romsey Abbey,” he said suddenly.

She set his saucer on the blanket, closest to him, and picked up her own cup and saucer. “I know. Thank you for helping me yet again.”

He drained his cup and set it down on the saucer with a loud clatter. “You should return to the abbey, too.” He picked up a piece of Finch’s fruit cake and bit into it. He appeared to relish the taste. When he picked up a second slice and ate it with the same gusto, Blythe bit back a smile. It was not hard to determine this man’s moods in most situations. He was often transparent when he liked something.

“My place is at Walden Hall. My stepson will expect me to be in residence to greet his guests.”

The groom hurried from the house and into an outbuilding, his arms full of white cloths. “Mercy needs you,” Tobias said.

No one needed her. Not really. Blythe sighed as the truth of the situation struck her painfully. “She has Leopold and he has taken over the place completely. He’ll be her husband soon and will take care of her very well.”

“Then come back for the young duke’s sake. He enjoys the time and devotion that you bestow on him.”

As much as she loved Edwin, he couldn’t replace her son in her affections. It was better to remain his favorite aunt than an annoying fusspot who had to be endured. “My nephew is not the reason to return. He has a mother to love him, and soon a father to teach him to be a good man.”

Tobias, having finished eating for the moment, stretched out on his side and faced her. “What about the attempts to drive your sister from the abbey? Do you not wonder who is behind it all?”

“Of course I wonder. Having been a suspect myself I feel very annoyed by the situation.” Blythe snorted. “But you’ve seen how helpful I’ve been on that score. I cannot even look at what was done without breaking out into a discomforting flush. As you said, the problems facing Mercy do not directly involve me. No, I’m just in the way at Romsey.”

“You’re not in my way.”

Blythe blinked as his words caught her unprepared. She’d have thought, aside from losing a woman to torment, that he’d be indifferent to what she did with her time.

“Come back to Romsey tonight,” he pleaded. “I need you.”

Her breath stuck in the back of her throat. Was he about to suggest something scandalous? She shifted, moving slightly away from him on the blanket and regarded him warily. “For what exactly do you need me?”

He traced the pattern on the blanket with his fingertip. He didn’t look up. “You’re clever. Cleverer by far than I could ever hope to be.”

She frowned. “I am clever enough not to fall for your flattery. Why else should I return?

His shoulder lifted as he shrugged without looking at her. “My education ended when I was taken from my family and put on board ship. I can bargain on the docks and fix a headsail to catch the best wind, but the finer nuances of society and family connections escapes me. I believe you understand the old duke

better than anyone. I need you to catch the things I miss. Two heads are better than one, and all that.”

A flush of warmth swept up Blythe’s neck to her cheeks. It was incredibly flattering to hear a grown man ask for assistance from a woman he barely knew. To have Tobias Randall insist she return to Romsey Abbey to help with the search for his family caused her pulse to race. “What about Leopold? He is head of your family and very clever.”

“Forgive me if I don’t share your observation with him. He’s opinionated enough now. I’d rather not add to his ego.” Tobias kept his eyes focused on the ground. “The company I kept did not care that my cravat was perfectly tied so I never learned about the niceties. He forgets that I didn’t have his advantages in life.”

Impulsively, Blythe leaned across the empty space between them and placed her hand over his. When he didn’t pull away, she squeezed. “Brothers can be impatient. My own is equally annoying at times and I find it best to humor him when such moods afflict him.”

Tobias turned his hand, shifting his until they were palm to palm. “I’m unused to my brother after so long away.” His long fingers curled around hers in a light grip. “It is difficult to confide in him.”

After a moment, Blythe withdrew her hand. She didn’t know what had come over her around Tobias, but she knew she had to stop her foolishness. He made her forget who she was: a countess, a widow, and a proper lady. She sat up as primly as she could on the grass and set her hands in her lap. “I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for you to be here again, but your brother is unwaveringly proud of you. I see evidence of his affection every time you walk into a room.”

Tobias didn’t respond and Blythe didn’t dare peek. It was incredibly touching how Leopold hung on every word his brother uttered, even the incautiously uttered ones that scorched her ears with their vulgarity. Despite the long separation, they were close siblings. It should be natural for them to work closely together on the problem.

Tobias cleared his throat roughly. “Don’t think I’ll allow you to change the subject so easily. Come back to the abbey?”

“I’ll just be in the way.”