So Fair a Lady (Daughters of His Kingdom 1)

She was the kind of woman a man did not easily forget. He released a long breath through his nose. He could only hope she would never learn of what he would do in only a few short hours.

God, please keep them safe. I don’t want my actions to cause them harm.

“I’m ready for work, Tommy.”

Startled, Thomas turned to see George standing by the press, struggling to tie the strings of the apron around his ample girth.

With a low chuckle, Thomas came in and closed the door, hoping his momentary stupor hadn’t been obvious.

“Who was that pretty thing you were drooling over just now? I thought you said you had no need for a wife?” George grinned. A flicker of teasing splashed his voice as he fumbled with the apron ties.

Blast. He’d been caught.

Thomas moved behind the press, donned his own apron then dipped the ink balls in the sticky black goo. “I never said I hadn’t a need for a wife, I just said I don’t have one at present.”

“I see,” George said. His squinty eyes brightened and Thomas couldn’t help but chuckle once again.

Besides, even if Thomas were interested in someone with eyes the color of liquid chocolate, fair skin, and an unmistakable kindness, she’d never be interested in him in the least. Not after what he had to do tonight. He prayed to God she would forgive him.

Chapter Four

“Liza, who was that dashingly handsome man you were talking with today at the printer?” Kitty giggled and turned under the covers to face her sister. Eliza stiffened and wished she could feign sleep. That was the last question she wanted to answer.

Kitty poked Eliza in the ribs. “You couldn’t stop staring—and don’t try to deny it, I saw the way you were looking at him.”

Her face burned. She pulled the quilt higher around her neck and gave oceans of thanks for the darkness. Otherwise, her sister would have had added ammunition for her harassment.

Considering her relationship with Samuel, Eliza should never have given a second thought to the breathtaking man. But Thomas Watson had consumed her mind the rest of the day.

She stared at the shadowed fabric of the bed curtains.

Thomas knew Father! How had they met? Did he know Father had been a spy and a member of the Sons of Liberty? What other information could he share with her?

Find the truth.

Her breath caught. Could Mr. Watson help her do that? Knowing Father had lied all those years ate away at her heart like a terrible, writhing worm. She had to know—to search out the truth as Father had admonished her to do.

She told herself that the possible relationship between Father and Thomas was the only reason she had any interest in him. But more than a few times she’d pushed away the memory of his dark blue eyes, straight nose, and angled jaw. His midnight black hair and the broad set of his shoulders weakened her knees. She tried to forget how his smile and the gentle cleft in his chin gave her goose flesh all the way to her toes.

The sound of his voice, like melted honey, swam over and over in her mind. “I knew your Father, Miss Campbell. He was a man of great honor, and I admired him very much.”

“Liza, are you asleep?” Kitty whispered.

“Nay,” Eliza said, waking from her daydream.

“Well? You didn’t answer me.”

Eliza exhaled. “I don’t know him. I’ve never seen him before today.” She paused, trying to contrive a way to become better acquainted with Thomas so he could tell her something—anything—about Father.

“But you were talking to him? You mean you had never been introduced?”

“His door happened to be open, and since we couldn’t find the bakery I slipped in and asked him for directions.”

Kitty let out a small breathy laugh. “It seemed like you wanted to do more than that.”

Eliza gasped. “Kitty!”

Her sister wriggled up closer to her under the blanket. Eliza imagined the sprite smile on her face. “Your jaw was near to scraping the floor. I’m sure he must have noticed your gawking.”