Forsaking the Prize (The Wild Randalls 2)

Murphy held out his coat. “Your brother was all set to visit Harrowdale this afternoon when you didn’t return to eat with the family. I found something to distract him. Don’t imagine he’ll care for the other matter very much, but I thought it best to delay that surprise.”

“What other matter?”

“The rocking horse in your nursery, of course. Nice bit of wood carving in that.”

Tobias blood ran cold. “I’m holding onto it as a favor, nothing more.”

“Of course, sir. That’s exactly what I thought. No sense mentioning it if there’s no chance of the rocking horse and painted screen will remain there forever. I expect she’ll find somewhere nice soon to move it to.”

Tobias clenched his fist.

Murphy’s deep laugh filled the room. “Ah, so it may not be moving after all. Glad to hear it.”

“Murphy, you are pushing my patience,” Tobias growled.

“Yes, sir. I know, sir. But at least my intentions are honorable.”

Tobias rolled his shoulders, settling his coat around him. “I never said mine were not.”

Murphy’s eyebrows rose. “Well, well, well. Ain’t that a surprise and a half? My lips are sealed, Mr. Randall. They are sealed and locked tight as a drum until the happy announcement is made.”

Tobias scowled until Murphy left. When he was alone, he flopped down on the bed. Was he really going to forget all about Miss Trimble’s four thousand pounds and pursue Blythe instead?

There was no guarantee Blythe wouldn’t laugh at the idea. Despite the hope in his heart, he buried it deep. He’d previously set a cautious course with Blythe and he saw no reason to change that strategy. The prize he was after was worth the discomfort of the wait. He had her trust and perhaps her friendship. What he wanted was what remained of her heart. He’d treasure her till his last breath.

Twenty Three

In the week since Tobias’ last kiss they had worked side by side combing through the old duke’s sanctuary. What they had found was precisely nothing, despite the late hours they had both spent poring over old journals. Despite her presumption that she was about to engage in an affair with Tobias, he had not kissed her again or even held her hand.

He was, however, becoming an entertaini

ng companion. He’d begun to share details of his past in small snippets when they were alone, and occasionally mentioned the uncomfortable parts of his history. After what she’d heard, she had come to hate the old duke of Romsey for the pain and suffering he had inflicted.

But if there was one thing Blythe had learned, it was that the old duke of Romsey gave his enemies what they feared most. She set her cup down and listened to yet another verbal skirmish develop between Tobias and Leopold. Leopold valued his siblings above all else and they’d been separated, ripped apart with only the duke’s flimsy promise that his family lived. The cruelty of his actions struck Blythe more forcefully the longer she knew her sister’s future husband. Leopold thrived on family and living up to his responsibilities to them.

And Tobias. Damaged. Flawed in so many ways. Determined. A boy thrown to the wild sea to fend for himself. What had he feared that the duke might have punished him with? His fear of carriages stemmed from the murder of his parents so that couldn’t be it.

“When were you going to call on Miss Trimble again, Tobias?” Leopold asked suddenly. “It’s been a few days now.”

Tobias’ gaze flickered in her direction. “I hadn’t made up my mind to go again.”

“Distance doesn’t make the heart fonder,” Leopold murmured. “Strike while the irons hot.”

Blythe’s heart raced. Was the reason for Tobias’ withdrawal because he had been secretly courting Emma? Stunned, she sat still and tried to hide how the news upset her. He couldn’t kiss her if he married her friend. To do so would be scandalous and utterly reprehensible. She jumped to her feet, chair scraping the floor loudly.

Mercy, half bent over young Edwin, eyeing her with concern. “Blythe, is everything well?”

Blythe nodded. “Just thinking an idea through. Excuse me.” She forced a smile to her lips, stepped around the quarrelling Randall brothers, and hurried for the privacy of the drawing room. She closed the doors behind her, but rather than enter the book room immediately, she paced. She must be mad to be upset over a mere suspicion. Tobias Randall was free to pursue anyone he liked. There was nothing binding them together, no promise to keep or break. Nothing but a request for another chance. At the time, she had not answered.

Clearly he was not patient enough.

She had made the mistake of falling for his kisses and teasing smiles. She wished she had known he had intentions toward Emma sooner. She clasped her hands together and tried her best to be sensible. She loved Raphael. She truly did. It was just growing harder to remember things about him when she couldn’t get Tobias out of her thoughts. What would happen when Raphael was nothing more than a dim memory to haunt her sleepless nights?

Blythe forced her breathing to slow. Nothing had changed. She was Raphael’s widow and intent on solving the riddle of Oliver and Rosemary Randall’s disappearance.

Calm again, she stared at the duke’s portrait across the room, focusing on her earlier train of thought. The duke had appeared to be an intelligent man, a man who thought he was cleverer than those around him, too. What could he have done with Oliver and Rosemary? What would Tobias’ siblings have feared most?

“Penny for your thoughts, B.” Tobias stood a few feet away, watching her closely.