Forsaking the Prize (The Wild Randalls 2)

Blythe could feel the pull of attraction between them and resisted. She’d never encountered a harder challenge than this. “We shouldn’t be alone anymore.”

She might enjoy the way Tobias held her, and kissed her, but she had always thought scathingly of women who engaged in casual affairs. While she could now understand the temptation a dalliance offered, she wasn’t prepared to relinquish her morals for a temporary fling with him.

Tobias stepped back and bowed. “I understand, my lady.”

Twenty One

Tobias stood as the ladies departed the dining room, and then dropped into his chair. He’d endured the meal in near silence, watching Blythe chat happily with her sister and Leopold, recounting the events of the day. Her suitors were much talked over and laughed at. From the conversation, he’d picked up a few topics of conversation to avoid when courting Miss Trimble, but the prospect still filled him with dread. He wasn’t sure he was capable of being that agreeable. He longed to be just as he was.

“What a day,” Leopold murmured as he refilled their glasses.

Tobias took his, sipped, and then set the glass aside. “I heard you managed to play knight in shining armor.”

Leopold scowled. “Arrogant bastard. To propose and then taunt her with news of her eviction is no way to win a woman’s heart.”

Tobias sat forward. “Wait. Did you just say she’s lost her home?”

“Not yet but soon. Apparently that stepson of hers has leased Walden Hall for the summer to a friend of his. Lord Archibald thought mentioning the unpleasant news would sway her to accept his suit. Blythe may very well have been tossed out because she stayed here too long. But if you ask me, Lord Venables was looking for any excuse to reclaim the estate from her control, and we’ve gone and unintentionally assisted.”

“Devil take it! What will become of her now?”

Leopold smiled. “She’ll live here. Mercy insists and there are plenty of rooms to choose from.”

“So she’s without funds, too?”

“I don’t know the particulars, but I do not believe she’s exactly penniless.” His brother paused, staring down at his drink for a long moment. “Mercy will not hear of Blythe moving away, unless she chooses to marry again. The latter, I feel, is a slim chance. So here we are, all lumped together under one roof.”

So that was it. It was Miss Trimble, or another young woman like her with a dowry to match. He could never again think of Blythe in terms of a future dalliance. She’d told him no and he would respect her wishes. She was better off penniless at Romsey than struggling to make ends meet with him at Harrowdale.

However, Tobias’ heart was heavy with disappointment. Blythe might have refused Lord Archibald’s offer of marriage, but without a home of her own, there would be many more tempting offers coming her way. It was just a matter of time. Eventually, she’d choose someone to replace her husband. She was too passionate not to wed again.

“I forgot to ask how you went on your first social call,” Leopold said suddenly. “Was Miss Trimble accommodating?”

“I forgot to take flowers,” Tobias confessed. “But Miss Trimble seemed polite enough and I’m looking forward to calling on her again.”

“A pity you didn’t dance with another young woman last night for comparison, but there is no need to rush these things. You’re young and healthy. Mercy tells me the ladies were impressed with you, despite your failure to dance all night.”

“That’s good to know.” Tobias stared at nothing. He wasn’t eager to attend another entertainment. He couldn’t watch another roomful of men ogle Blythe. He shook his head. He had to stop thinking about her so possessively.

~ * ~

Good manners dictated that a woman should spend some time in conversation after dinner before she could safely retire without giving offense. Blythe flicked the edge of her book with her finger. It was still not time to retire upstairs and she was extremely conscious of the man sitting at her side.

Tobias had barely said two words during dinner and none directly to her. Given that it was so unusual not to hear him speak, she kept peeking at him. As far as she could tell, he wasn’t in distress. Was he silent because she’d declined to take their relationship any further?

“Letters have arrived for you, my lady.” Wilcox stood before her, his little silver tray poised on his fingertips.

She swallowed, hoping her observation of Tobias had gone unnoticed, and took the short stack from the tray. “Are these all for me?”

“Yes, my lady. Every last one.”

Blythe shuffled through them quickly to see who had written. They were all from acquaintances. The last in the pile was from Emma Trimble. She stared at it and her hand shook. Emma didn’t often write. She usually came to visit when she had something to say. Emma’s letter was likely an angry one.

“You’re very popular this evening,” Tobias said soft enough that only she heard. He stood. “Well, its been a long day. I think I’ll turn in. Until tomorrow.”

He sauntered out and Blythe followed his exit with mixed feelings. Part of her wished he would stay and talk to her again.

Mercy sat beside her and peered at the notes. “Are you going to read those?”