Page 12 of Thomas
Cameron had deluded himself into feeling like everything was normal until there was a soft knock at his door. Instantly, his anxiety spiked and his spine went rigid. “Yes?”
The door opened and Lennon stepped inside. “Dinner is ready.”
Exhaling, Cameron nodded. “Should I change clothes? Do I need to be more formal?”
Lennon tilted his head, regarding him. “I don’t believe so. You look very nice.”
This gave Cameron the smallest bit of relief. If he had to start wearing formal clothing to dinner in his own home, he might impale himself. Well, it would give him even more reasons to do so.
The corridors were quiet but warmly lit as they both made their way to the small banquet hall. Cameron held his breath as he stepped through the entryway, but no one was there. He was first to arrive.
“I’ll let Sulee know that we’re just about ready,” Lennon said, continuing on to the main kitchen, further down the hall.
Cameron nodded, then went over to the table. He sat, nervously adjusting the flatware and his knee bouncing as he waited.
And waited.
And waited.
After ten minutes, Lennon came back into the room. He glanced at Cameron, realizing he was still alone. “Where is he?” the manservant asked.
Cameron shrugged. He assumed somewhere in his house, which was distressing in and of itself, but he was coping as best he could.
Lennon made a frustrated, groaning noise in his throat and disappeared back through the opened doors. Enjoying the prolonged solitude and silence, Cameron folded his arms and continued waiting.
After another five minutes, Lennon returned alone. His face was impassive. “He says he is not hungry and is essentially refusing to come to dinner. Mira said he hasn’t eaten anything at all today. I swear to God, the two of you areimpossible.”
“Sir Thomas is a fully grown adult,” Cameron reasoned. “If he isn’t hungry, we can’t force him to eat.”
“He is obviously upset about something,” Lennon countered. “He’s also refusing to speak to or even glance at Mira, his maidservant, and he looks like pale death. The man needs to eat, Cameron.”
Sensing where this road was heading, Cameron shook his head. “This is not my responsibility?—”
“It most certainly is your responsibility! He was not this badly off when he arrived, but you’ve been ignoring him for two days?—”
“Oneday, Len. Just one full day.”
“And now he’s offended and likely insecure in his position here. You need to go and talk to him.”
Blinking, Cameron sat back. “I’m not going to force him to eat dinner with me if he isn’t hungry.”
Lennon sighed. “It isn’t about dinner. Go and make him feel welcome in your home. Apologize for your behavior—be honest with him about your temperament so that he understands. Give him a chance toknowyou, and you’ll come to know him as well.”
The image of Thomas’s elder father rushed to the forefront of Cameron’s mind. He did not register as a man who held empathy and patience for others. Could Thomas have inherited that same trait?
“And what if he doesn’t understand?” Cameron asked.
“Then you’ll know how to move forward,” Lennon said, “and at least you will have tried.”
Resigned, Cameron pushed himself up from the table. “Where is he?”
“In the antechamber of his bedroom. Announce yourself and he might let you inside.”
“Alright.” Cameron walked past the older man. “I’ll try.” Cameron had indeed orchestrated this arrangement (albeit against his will). Therefore, it was his responsibility to set it right.
“Good. While you do that, I’ll go dig my own grave. The two of you can shove me into it and put me out of my misery once you’re done.”
Shaking his head, Cameron left the small banquet hall. He took several deep, intentional breaths as he moved down the corridor, then slowly up the curving stairs. This situation was strange and uncomfortable, but Lennon was right. Cameron had started them off on the wrong footing and he was paying for that now. He didn’t regret giving himself time to recover from that initial meeting, but this might be a distinct consequence of his actions. He’d have to be more careful going forward.
