What will become of Mary Ann and of us?
He was still thinking of James’ words, when a gentle knock interrupted him. He exchanged looks with James before watching him leave to get the door.
“All right, I will deliver your message right away,” he answered to a female voice at the other side of the door.
“I will inform you of his decision in a moment,” he added after hearing few things from the lady again.
He stayed still for a second before closing the door.
“Lady Rebecca asked about you,” James bowed, walking closer to him as he continued speaking. “She wanted to know when you will be joining them for breakfast.”
I should have thought.
Rebecca had never been a straight person. Thomas knew breakfast was her only chance of seeing him early in hope of being presented the gift James must have told her he went to get the previous day.
“Do we have the gift ready yet?” he asked James who was puzzled since Thomas didn’t warn him beforehand.
“When we are taking breakfast, rush to the jeweler and purchase the best ring from his stock.”
James nodded. He left shortly after, to prepare Thomas’ bath. As he did, Thomas began thinking of how he was going to approach Phillip again without Rebecca intruding.
When we get to the bridge, we’ll know how to cross it.
He stood up feeling the pang of headache hit him in a way that made him stagger.
“Your Grace,” James called as he tried to get a hold of him.
“I am all right,” he told him as he walked confidently to the tub. The water appeared to have calming effect on him when the warmth embraced his face and body. This, however, didn’t stop Oliver’s voice from ringing in his ears.
James walked back to the door and told the female servant who had been waiting there.
“He will be down shortly,” he heard James respond.
He closed his eyes for a moment but opened them just as fast.
I need to get to the bottom of this.
He knew being ignorant of the truth was eating him up. So, Thomas rose from the bath the moment he was done, and started putting on his outfit for the day. In a couple of minutes, he was walking downstairs with servants greeting him as he walked past them.
He didn’t have the chance to reach downstairs before he heard Rebecca’s voice speaking to his mother. With a sigh, he decided walking up to them would be for the best.
“Good morning, Mother, Lady Rebecca,” he greeted, trying his best to sound enthusiastic.
Rebecca’s eyes ignited on seeing Thomas but after a quick assessment with her eyes, she frowned a little bit.
“How was your journey, Thomas?” his mother asked as he walked closer.
He pecked her mother’s cheek and she did the same before taking his seat beside her.
“My journey was… cathartic,” he replied, with a loud voice. His eyes stayed focused on Rebecca, waiting for her reaction.
This made her shift on her seat comfortably. But it didn’t take long before she opened her mouth again.
“You didn’t tell me you would be traveling, I—”
“How is your health now?” Thomas cut in, not wanting to hear it.
“Oh! Good, I feel much better, thank you.”
“That is good news then. It means we can pick our discussion from where we left it, right?”
Thomas could see the pleased look in his mother’s eyes. She must have thought he was trying to make things work with Rebecca. This almost made him laugh at such ridiculous assumption, but he knew that would be a major setback for him, so he refrained from it.
“Yes, I would love that,” Rebecca replied with a smile.
They hadn’t finished on this topic when a servant walked in to inform them of their breakfast. They walked together to the table; Rebecca clutching Thomas’ arm. He pulled back the chair for her to sit while doing the same for his mother. Thomas was still at it when Phillip entered the room.
Ah, the man of honor.
Thankfully, when they sat down, the main discussion was the food and nothing else. This allowed him the chance to think about what James had said when he was in his room.
What will become of Mary Ann and I?
This torturous thought lingered in his mind, until Phillip’s voice yanked him back to reality.
“How was your journey?” he inquired, looking ever so calmly at Thomas.
“Splendid. It saddens me that I wasn’t here to welcome you myself when you arrived yesterday, I hope there is a way I could make it up to you,” Thomas apologized.
“Nonsense. A man has to attend to his business. Moreover, I only came to see how Rebecca was faring. A servant of mine overheard your butler when he was at the physician, so I received the information of my daughter’s illness quickly.”
I hope James returns soon.
He was certain James would return with the best ring the jeweler had to offer. Thomas was hoping he came back early so he could present it to Rebecca. He was still thinking of this when he suddenly had an epiphany.
Yes! That’s it!
“I insist,” he countered with a broader-than-before smile. “You are here now. It would be a great honor to spend time with you over wine, while I learn a few business strategies from an experienced man such as yourself.”
Phillip glowed in self-admiration. Thomas knew he loved to be complimented. This was how he was going to get him to talk.
“I don’t mean to stop you from spending time together but I thought you wanted us to continue our discussion from last time?” Rebecca asked.
If her presence didn’t reek of insincerity, Thomas would have thought she meant well. However, Thomas knew she was smarter than that. She must have realized what he was going to ask her father and she wouldn’t want that.
“We can do that before dusk. I just want to speak with Lord Ruxbell, that’s all,” he responded calmly.
While acting wasn’t something he enjoyed or took part in, it was the only way to outwit the Earl and his daughter. At least, until he was able to find out the hidden truth about their business.
Before Thomas could say anything, Phillip persuaded his daughter to let him spend time talking to Thomas and to Thomas’ surprise, she gave in without a fuss.
This is going to be interesting!
Shortly after they were done with breakfast, Thomas walked Phillip into his gallery. They were about to enter when James appeared from a corner. Thomas excused himself to meet him halfway.
“I have it ready, Your Grace.”
“Good. That was fast.” Thomas assessed him with a frown.
“I have it placed on your bed,” James uttered as if reading his mind.
Thomas nodded his approval as he dismissed James while telling him to stay within earshot. James nodded at this as Thomas walked back to Phillip.
“Pardon me,” he excused, “now, it’s just you and me.”
He had blurted that out before he weighed it. It sounded more like a threat to him, instead of the innocent saying. As he opened the door, he began to wonder if Phillip took it that way too.
“I must say, I am very happy to share useful information with you and I’m sure if followed, your sales will be through the roof,” Phillip boasted in his usual cocky manner.
No, he didn’t take it as a threat.
“I’m honored to have you share your knowledge with me,” Thomas commented.
The inside of the gallery was now back to its initial arrangement. The seat he had dragged closer to Rebecca when she was ill was back to its normal position. As he looked around to assess the gallery, he wondered for a second if Mary Ann had been there doing her chores.
Nevertheless, this thought didn’t last, Phillip’s words had pierced into his mind. He kept talking about how his prowess and knack for business had made his enterprise one of the wealthiest in the country.
“Often times,” he said, “people ask how I did it and I tell them, I’m a natural.”
“I must say I can’t wait to marry Rebecca,” he told Phillip who replied quickly.
“And I am very sure she feels the same.”
Phillip, who clearly had not had his fill of bragging, continued talking about his business.
“So, I have been meaning to ask,” he took another sip from his wine to muster up enough courage to ask what was on his mind. “How were you able to start a business which ended up being so successful? Surely, there must be some sort of secret?”
Phillip gave an awkward smile before responding,
“I inherited a large wealth. It was how I was able to start my own venture when I was not much older than you are,” he told him.
They drank to that, but Thomas could see the uneasy look on Phillip’s face. It was as if he had pulled a string that showed him the reaction he was so expecting. Soon, silence took over and this only made Thomas want to know what Phillip was thinking. Thomas talked about his family business, how it was started by his grandfather long before he was born.
“I can see the resemblance,” Phillip commented when Thomas pointed to a large painting of his grandfather.
They laughed at this. Knowing he had eased the situation, he decided to ask what has been on his mind since the start. “So, who did you inherit your wealth from?” Thomas inquired.
He never expected the expression and reaction he got from Phillip upon asking. He spilled the wine on his shirt and on the floor. Thomas helped Phillip wipe his shirt.
“Thank you. I don’t know what came over me,” Phillip uttered, but Thomas chose to remain silent.
After a while of sitting, Phillip didn’t respond. So Thomas asked him once again. While he was still shaken by the question, he hid it well this time.
“Oh! My grandfather was a well-to-do man. I used to learn about business from him so when he died, he willed his enterprise to me.”
Thomas stared indifferently into Phillip’s eyes, sipping from his cup with their gazes still locked.
“Luck and fortune are on your side,” Thomas replied unconvincingly.
If there was one thing he knew, it was that the document showing the inheritance didn’t have his grandfather’s name or any name whatsoever on it.
“Yes, you can say that again,” Phillip said without smiling.
He rose to his feet and started looking at the paintings.
What are you doing now?
Thomas watched him look at the works of art one after the other.
What is going on in your mind?
Figuring out there was no way for him to know if he stayed apart from him, Thomas walked to his side. Phillip kept his gaze at one of the paintings and it made Thomas tell him about it.
“This was from Thomas Lawrence,” he stated with pride.
When he mentioned the painter, Phillip was amazed.
“It was a present from him,” Thomas said.
“You know what people say about him?” Phillip asked.
“Yes,” Thomas answered his shoulder held high.
“He paints love and romance with the stroke of his brush,” they chorused the popular saying at the same time.
Phillip walked on to another piece of art, his stance showing a confidence Thomas hasn’t seen before.
“So, tell me Thomas,” he began the second Thomas walked to his side.
“Tell me about your journey, where exactly did you travel to?” he asked now facing Thomas. “I would like to know that, and more about your business endeavors.”
Thomas had expected him to suspect something, especially with his questioning. It was part of the reason he had stayed up late at night, reciting the lies he could tell him one after the other.
“Between you and I?” he whispered as he walked closer, “I went to the countryside.”
“Again?” Phillip blurted out.
“Yes, again,” Thomas replied instantly, as if he wanted to get it off his mind.
“The last time I was there, I met with one of the best jewelers in the country. He was also on vacation. I was able to persuade him to get me the best and most beautiful jewelry in the world. I received a letter from him days ago to send someone over to pick it, but I wanted to do that myself.” Thomas paused as if to allow Phillip process what he had said.
“You could have sent someone,” Phillip pointed out not believing a word from Thomas
“Yes, and that was my plan. That is, until Rebecca found out her room had been ransacked. I wouldn’t want to trust any of the servants with such an expensive gift. It is a wedding gift for Rebecca so it has to be perfect.”
By the time he had finished speaking, Phillip was either convinced or chose not to question him further. Regardless, he nodded with a smile.
Chapter 30
“Is the horse ready?” Thomas whispered to James as he walked out of his chamber.
“Yes, Your Grace. Mary Ann is also waiting for you,” he replied.
Thomas hurried down the stairs but did his best to not make a sound. James followed behind him. He walked past the wall that led to the secret passage without entering, even though he knew a few of the servants would be up working. It was morning, but outside was still pitch black. The crickets and other insects were quiet, but who could blame them? It was colder than usual today.
“What perfect weather,” he noted as he left the manor.
They walked briskly in the cold weather toward the stable. The door was slightly ajar so they were able to squeeze in. The last thing they wanted was a loud creak that would alert the other servants, or worse, his mother. As they walked past, the horses snorted gently, showing their displeasure at being disturbed.
“Easy now,” James used a soothing voice to calm the horses and they appeared to listen to him.
Right at the corner of the stable, where hay was piled, stood Mary Ann with her back turned toward him. She was like a siren whose lovely shape was set to captivate any eyes that befell it. Her hair was long, covering all of her neck and a part of her shoulders. Thomas walked up to her, grabbing her waist gently and turned her around for a kiss. He felt James stop behind him, causing him to step away from Mary Ann.
She is a goddess, Thomas thought, captivated by her beauty.
At that instant, Mary Ann walked close to him again, with a smile on her face. Thomas couldn’t resist. He did what he did before, allowing their lips to meet for a kiss. Mary Ann tried to stand on her toes but Thomas bent immediately to match her height.
“I missed you,” Mary Ann said after they stopped kissing.
It had been a couple of days since they saw each other. After Thomas had the conversation with Phillip, who wasn’t very happy in the end. Thomas thought it would be wise to not give him a reason to have dirt on him as that would not only ruin his reputation, but also cause great harm to his family and their wealth. Even with this, he had used James as his messenger who he always sent to Mary Ann bearing gifts and letters.
It has only been five days but it felt like an eternity to Thomas. He was sure Mary Ann felt the same too.
“You have been on my mind since the last time we saw each other,” Thomas told her, his face glowing at the sight of her.
He looked deep into her eyes, then they hugged again. As they planned on pulling away, something hooked them together.
What is that?
As if Mary Ann read his thought she responded,
“It is the necklace you got me.”
Thomas had noticed the necklace the moment she turned to face him. The sparkling five-pearl necklace complemented her eyes.
Why did I miss that the first time?
“It looks perfect on you,” he complimented as he tried to free his shirt from its hold.
“I hope Oliver will be able t
o answer my questions and maybe point me in the right direction,” Thomas let out.
“Do not worry,” Mary Ann assured. “I am confident in you and I am sure you will find out all you need to know.”
“I definitely hope so,” Thomas replied.
Mary Ann hugged him and almost in tears, she wished him a safe journey.
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