“That must have been a trial. I hope you wore thick shoes.”
“Yes, I did.” He held her closer as they made the turn and she wanted to lean against him.
“Do you have only the one brother?”
“No, I have two brothers and two sisters.” Dotty grinned. “It is quite a lively household when everyone is home.”
He was quiet for a moment. “I used to wish for other children in the house.”
The music came to a stop and so did her heart. “You are an only child?”
“Yes, my father died when I was very young.” He placed her hand on his arm, but when he glanced at her, his eyes had a bleakness she'd not seen before. “Do you miss your family?”
She searched for something to say to lighten his mood. “I did not until this evening when the younger girls came down to look at Charlotte, Louisa, and me before we went out. I wished my sisters were there as well. Mama, too.”
“Perhaps your mother can come to Town.”
“She broke her leg. That is the reason I am staying with Charlotte. I suppose she could come after it has healed, but Stanwood House is so full of people as it is, and Papa let the house we were going to lease go.”
Finally he smiled again. “I think that is probably a vast understatement. I do not know where Worthington and Grace put them.”
When she looked up, their eyes met. Dom's hand on her waist tightened. Suddenly, she did not want to find another lady to marry him, but did he feel the same way? And what was she to do about his views? Not to mention what her friends thought of him. She stifled a sigh. She had not even been in Town a month and already things were in a muddle. Could one retrain a marquis and if so, how would one go about it?
“Fortunately, most of them are in the schoolroom.”
“There is that.”
Dom inhaled sharply as Thea's warm gaze captured him. A rush of longing came over him as he held her. If he didn't stop, he'd do something stupid and likely to cause a scene. Not for the first time he considered Worthington's advice. Dom should leave Town and let Thea get on with finding a husband. Then he would be free of her spell. But for now, he'd savor the feel of her lush curves and inhale her light lemony scent.
He tried to ignore the part of him urging him to carry her away and make her his forever. He could not allow desire to override his duty to his family and dependents. After the set ended and he escorted her back to Grace, Dom vowed to stay away from Thea, no matter what it took. As soon as he was able, he left the ball. If only he didn't care for her so much.
* * *
Rising early the next morning, he determined to get his life back on course and went to White's for breakfast. He sat in one of the club's large leather chairs with the
Gazette
opened, ostensibly reading it, even though he hadn't turned the page, when someone tapped his shoulder. Putting the paper down, he glanced up.
“Thought I had your schedule down to the minute,” Fotherby said tightly. “But I haven't seen you around here much. Wouldn't have to do with that Miss Stern, would it?”
Dom's blood began to rise at the way Fotherby spat her name. Lately, he'd been more of an irritant than a friend. Who Dom kept company with was none of Fotherby's business, and, furthermore, even if Dom could not marry her, he didn't like the way the man treated Thea.
Carefully folding the newssheet, he bit back the retort he was about to make. “My mother's in Town. When she is here, I must spend time with her.”
“Yes, of course, I'd forgotten.” Fotherby's tone was contrite, and he paused for a moment, contemplating one of his many fobs. “Didn't see you at Lady Aliesbury's ball last night either.”
Where the devil was the man headed with this? Dom kept a rein on his rapidly fraying temper. “I allow my mother to select the entertainments she wishes to attend. She only chooses one each evening.”
Fotherby let out a huff of air. “That explains why you were at Featherington's ball. I told Alvanley it had nothing to do with that young woman.”
In a cold tone, calculated to suppress further discussion, Dom asked, “Do you have a point to make, Fotherby?”
Apparently taking the question as permission to continue, Fotherby nodded. “Alvanley, Petersham, and me, we're your friends, Merton, and we don't want you to make a mistake. That female.” He paused. “Well, she was seen at Lady Thornhill's house.”
He'd been focused on a spot over Dom's left shoulder, but now glanced at him. He carefully schooled his countenance. If his friend was hoping to see a reaction, he'd be disappointed.
“It's just that”âFotherby swallowedâ“Lady Thornhill, you know.”
Dom did know about the Thornhills, a Radical couple interested in promoting liberal ideas and the arts. It came as no surprise to him Grace would have taken her charges there. “Miss Stern
is
residing with Worthington.”
“Of course, that must be the reason.” Fotherby nodded, but didn't move away.
He knew Dom hated to be interrupted reading the paper. Trying not to grit his teeth, he asked, “What is it?”
“You marrying her wouldn't do. There are plenty of young ladiesâ”
“Enough!”
He slammed his hand on the arm of the chair. “I am perfectly capable of choosing my own wife, without assistance from you or anyone else.”
Fotherby stiffened, and gave a slight bow. “As you say. I shall leave you to your reading.”
“Thank you.” Dom shook out the paper and buried his nose back in the newssheet. Lines of words faded to be replaced by the image of a raven-haired temptress with green eyes. He wondered what Thea would say about how he saw her? She would probably be shocked. Except for that one time last night when he couldn't break his gaze from hers, she most likely did not even realize the torment he was going through.
Other ladies offered themselves up to him on a silver platter. Any one of them would be flattered to receive a proposal of marriage from him, but would Thea? Did she even care that much about him?
A half hour later, after forcing down a cup of the club's normally excellent coffee, he was walking down the front steps and ran into Alvanley. “Good morning.”
Alvanley stopped. “Hiding yourself away lately?”
Since when was Dom answerable to his friends? He kept from scowling. “No. My mother's in Town.” Was he going to have to go through this with everyone? Attempting to forestall more questions, he continued. “She has a desire to visit old friends.”
Alvanley took out his snuff box and with a flick of one finger opened it before taking a pinch. “You have my deepest sympathies.”
At least he wasn't going to ask about Miss Stern. “Indeed.”
Taking the opportunity to make his escape, Dom stepped onto the pavement. He strode down St. James Street toward Piccadilly and then on to Bond Street. The nerve of Fotherby. Even if Dom hadn't already decided Miss Stern wasn't eligible, his friend had no business sticking his nose into it. He knew his duty, and he would do it even if he hated every minute of it. He'd find an excuse to make to his mother and leave for his estate in Devon tomorrow. First he would pick up the books his mother had asked him to fetch.
“What ye think you're doin', miss? Let go of the lad; he's mine.” A man's rough shout disturbed Dom's cogitations.
A group of people huddled in a circle. Standing taller than the rest, a footman in Worthington's livery was near the middle of the small crowd.
A furious female voice Dom knew well rose above the rabble. “He is only a small, hungry child. You
will not
arrest him.”
Thea
. He should have known. Quickening his stride, he swiftly arrived at the gathering of street cleaners, vendors, and the merely curious. The small crowd of onlookers parted for him. At the middle of the scene was Thea squaring off with a sturdy-looking farmer. An underfed, filthy child of perhaps six or seven years clutched an apple in one grubby hand and her skirt in the other, clearly recognizing her as his savior.
“How much for the apple?” she demanded of the farmer.
“That ain't the point, miss,” the man said belligerently, spittle flying from his mouth. “He's a thief and deserves to be punished.” The child ducked behind Thea as the farmer leaned to one side. “Hanged or transported.”
Thea's chin rose as she stood her ground. “I am not saying he was right, but you might steal too if you were starving. The law in this case is too harsh.”
Dom's cravat threatened to choke him. The law she referred to was one he had supported.
“Looky here, miss. Don't you go sayin' I'm a thief. Look't him. He's got bad blood.”
The boy huddled closer to Thea and whimpered. Somehow, when Dom had voted for the bill, he hadn't envisioned small children, even though in theory he knew it applied to them.
She opened her mouth, then clamped her lips together and shook her head. “I am not casting aspersions on you.” She dug around in her reticule. “Oh dear. I spent the last of my money on a pair of gloves.” She glanced at the footman, apparently hoping he'd have a few coins, but he gave an imperceptible shake of his head. “Very well, then I shall remain here while you return the fan for me.”
“No, miss, I can't. My orders were not to leave you.”
Thea passed a hand over her brow. “I suppose the only thing to do is . . .”
Just then it dawned on Merton that she was perfectly capable of leading this motley crowd down Bond Street to the shop so that she could return the gloves and give the farmer his money. Just the thought of the resulting scandal made him cringe. “Miss Stern, may I be of assistance?”
She turned quickly toward him and the worry lines etched on her face cleared. “Oh, my lord. Yes, thank you. Will you please pay this man for his apple? I seem to have spent all the money I brought with me.”
At the mention of “my lord,” the farmer took a step back. This time when he spoke, his voice was not as loud and considerably more polite. “That boy stole from me. I'm calling the constable.”
Holding his quizzing glass to his eye, Dom took his time surveying the man from the battered felt hat on the farmer's head to his hobnail boots. Someone tittered. He needed to get Thea out of this mess in a hurry before she became the latest
on dit
. “How much for the apple?”
The farmer glowered, but finally grumbled, “Two pennies.”
Raising his brow, Merton replied, “Indeed. Perhaps we should have the constable on you. I'll give you two farthings and nothing more.”
He dropped the coins into the man's outstretched palm before piercing the rest of the group with a stern look. “There is nothing for you to see. Be about your business.”
The group scattered, and the footman heaved a sigh of relief.
Thea turned to the boy. “You may eat the apple now.”
The child watched warily as the farmer left. “Wot if he comes after me agin?”
“He will not,” she said soothingly “Lord Merton and I shall protect you.”
The child gazed worshipfully from Thea to Merton. “Are ye really a lord?”
“Of course he is,” the footman said. “That's the Marquis of Merton.”
“Gor,” the lad breathed. “I ain't never met a lordship before.”
Merton stifled a sigh. It was too much to hope for that Thea would allow the child to return to his life of crime. “Miss Stern, what do you plan to do with the boy?”
She drew her brows together, wrinkling her forehead. “I shall try to find his family. If he is an orphan, there must be some way I could send him home. I am sure my parents could find a family to foster him until he was old enough to train for some sort of profession.”
She glanced at Dom hopefully. Her leaf green eyes wide and anxious, and he knew he would regret what he was about to say. “I shall take him with me for the time being.”
Thea smiled as if he'd offered her the most expensive and exquisite jewels in existence. “Perhaps he could be your Tiger until we find a permanent solution?”
He glanced at the lad. Despite the current fashion, there was no way in perdition he would allow a small child to handle his cattle. “I'm sure we'll think of something.” It was not until then that it occurred to him that neither Cousin Louisa nor Lady Charlotte accompanied Thea. Was she alone? He'd kill Worthington for not taking better care of her. “What are you doing here by yourself?”
“I am not.” She waved her hand at the footman. “I have Fred here, and Grace is at the shoemaker's. I came to get a book. That was when I saw the farmer grab Tom.”
“Yes, yer lordship.” The boy nodded and turned his reverent gaze back to Thea. “That's how it was all right. Miss saved me.”
Apparently, no matter what Dom thought, Fate was determined to throw Thea in his path for the sole purpose of rescuing her from her follies. It would be Divine intervention if this turned out well. He glanced at the footman. “Take the boy to Merton House. Tell my butler that the child is to be bathed and fed. I shall remain with Miss Stern.”
As the footman bowed, the corners of his lips seemed to twitch. “Yes, my lord.”
Tom's clutch on Thea's skirts tightened, and she calmly removed his hand. “You will be fine with Fred. He'll take you to his lordship's house where they shall take care of you, but you must do as you're told.”
Tears filled the lad's eyes. “Willâwill I see you again?”
She smiled gently. “Of course you shall. I shall come see how you are doing as soon as I am able. Run along now. Everything will be fine.”