Page 71 of An Unwitting Alliance
Tom was used to rilingpeople, but he had not meant to upset Cassie. He had only been trying to help in his own oafish way. Had he not been so preoccupied with his fruitless errand to the workhouse, he might have been thinking clearer. Rapping his hat against his leg, he found his way to the drawing room but stopped at the sight of Miles sitting diagonally on the sofa across from Cassie. As put out as she was with him now, it brought him joy to be able to introduce her to one of his best friends.
“You are staying with Mr. Miner?” she asked.
“Yes, we share the same profession and are old friends.”
“You are a vicar?”
Miles nodded.
“And you are still friends with Mr. Harwood?”
Tom laughed, letting his presence be known. “Is that so hard to believe?” In a few wide steps, he was across the room. He set himself directly beside Cassie, knowing full well she would not like it, and put his arm across the back of the sofa, mere inches from her back.
Cassie’s brow rose in challenge. “After seeing you and Lord Reynolds together, yes, it is hard to believe.”
“You have met Lord Reynolds?” Miles asked.
She nodded. “At Lady Kellen’s ball.”
Just then, Mrs. Buttars stepped in with the tea things. Their conversation lagged as they waited for her to exit.
Cassie asked how Miles took his tea and set to fixing and serving it. Tom watched her every move. She was graceful—elegant. And she would undoubtedly make a fine baroness. His lips twitched. He was getting ahead of himself. There was so much to be resolved between them. So much he had to work through so his heart could fully be hers.
Miles took a sip of his tea, his gaze straying to the door. “Miss Vail, apparently Mr. Harwood has not told you much about his friends. I only mention this because I would not want you to lump me together with Lord Reynolds.”
“And why not?” came a deep voice from behind them.
Tom’s eyes swung to the door. “Ian?” His hair was mussed and he was looking quite proud of himself for his surprise arrival.
Cassandra turned, too, and instinctively put her hand on Tom’s.
He snatched it while he had the chance, standing when she did. He squeezed her hand gently and then released her to greet another friend. Throwing his arm around Ian, Tom led him into the room. “You remember Cassie?”
Ian bowed. “My deepest apologies for my part in your accident at Bellmont Manor. I do hope you have made Tom suffer abominably for it.”
“I did my utter best.” Cassie sent Tom a quelling smile before turning back to Ian. “Please, join us for tea.”
Tom gave Ian a friendly slap on the back as he passed by him. “Miles did not mention you were coming as well.”
“I haven’t had the chance.” Miles moved over to make room for Ian on the sofa. “But until I saw him in the doorway, I didn’t think he would arrive until tomorrow. We all did our best to put our business in order and come as soon as we received your letter.”
Ian ran his hand through his hair. “Lady Kellen is a hard one to shake. As soon as I appeased her by being present for at-home visits, I tried to catch Miles, but his mare is surprisingly fast. Although, Miles, you did have quite the head start. As for the others, Lisette and Jemma should be here tonight with their grandmother. We wrote to Paul, but he is still on his wedding trip, and we cannot count on him.”
It was Paul’s expertise in the law that Tom needed most, but he appreciated all the support he could have. “If the three of us put our heads together, we ought to manage well enough for now. There have been several developments since my letter.”
Ian cleared his throat and motioned to Cassie with his head in a silent question.
“I meant developments concerning the workhouse,” Tom said.
Cassie squirmed at the awkwardness.
“And if there is any concern, Cassie can be trusted to hear our plans.” He stole a glance at her, but he did not like the way she wouldn’t meet his eyes. It was time to prove he believed what he said. “Settle in, gentlemen, and I will get you up to date.”
He quickly told them about his plan to move Mrs. Kelby and her son. “I know there are far more than just the Kelbys struggling, but I’ve made a personal connection with the boy, and I must see this through.”
“I have met little Alan only once,” Cassie added, “but I was struck how similar he is in nature to Tom—free-spirited and a rebel in his own right, with the best intentions.”
Tom’s brow rose. “You forgot to mention our sweet nature and handsome features.”
