Page 86 of An Unwitting Alliance
Alan stood stock-still and did not so much as nod.
Tom shrugged, not as confident as he wished to be. “It might take time.”
“What about Miss Vail?” Ian pinned Tom in place with his eyes.
“What about her?” Tom dipped his head. His weakness shamed him. All afternoon he had attempted to push thoughts of her from his mind and been unsuccessful. He hadn’t worked through all his fears about losing a loved one. Not in the least. Thoughts of Cassie—the life he wanted with her—scared him more than ever.
“She will be waiting for you.”
If she did not hate him more than ever for not returning as soon as he had said he would. He had broken her trust. Such knowledge tore at him even more. “She is likely enjoying her break from me.” The poor-humored comment was all he could manage.
“You know that isn’t true, Tom. The Vails’ dining room door is rather thin. I’ve never heard a woman more concerned.” Ian put his hand on Tom’s arm. “I’m not leaving until the morning at the earliest, but we spend tonight at the Vails’.”
“But Alan...”
“Alan and Nancy can come along.”
“I promised I would not bring everyone back there tonight. Mrs. Vail was a ball of nerves with company she could not entertain.” Tom ran his hand through his hair, knowing he probably resembled a bedraggled dog.
“Then, Nancy will stay here with Alan tonight, and I shall take a room close to theirs. You are needed at the Vails’.”
Tom did not want to leave Alan for anything. “You realize you are acting like Mother Hen again.”
“I know. And it’s for your own good.” There was no sympathy in Ian’s matter-of-fact tone, but Tom knew Mother Hen would carry him to the Vails’ himself if he thought it best for Tom.
“Very well. I will go.”
“Good. And tomorrow we will decide together what needs to happen next.” Ian squeezed Tom’s arm. “I will stay as long as required.”
“Thank you, Ian. For everything.” Especially for seeing the pain Tom was not capable of expressing.
Chapter 27
Cassandra’s eyes darted to thewindow every few minutes as her maid fixed her hair before dinner, eager for any sign of Tom. She could hear faint sounds of the pianoforte from Megan’s practicing, the false sound of normalcy incapable of comforting her. The rush of freeing herself from the pearls had faded, and only her anxiety for Tom remained. Where was he?
With her evening routine finished, she slipped from her room and made her way to the stairs. Midway down, the front door opened and Tom slipped inside.
“Tom!” He was alive! When he lifted his head, she gasped. The area around his right eye was purple. Her feet moved of their own accord, racing down the last steps toward him. “You’re hurt.”
“A little.”
When she reached him, she cupped his cheek with her hand, assuring herself that the rest of him was in one piece. “You would not believe the horrible scenarios racing through my mind.” She studied him carefully, searching for further proof that he was in one piece, before she remembered her ire. Then she dropped her hand suddenly and hit his arm. “What took you so long?”
His answer was a slow, shallow sigh. Why was he not saying anything? There was a heaviness about his countenance, and it worried her.
She reined in her emotions, hugging herself to keep from hugging him. “You must be fatigued. Dinner will be ready soon. Are you well? What about Alan and his mother?”
Tom swallowed. “Ian is looking after the lad at the inn, but Alan’s mother died last night.” He spoke the words without any change of inflection, and there was a sort of numbness that glazed his eyes.
“Oh, Tom.” She blew out a long breath. It made sense now why he was late. “How devastating for Alan.”
“I plan to return to him in the morning, but I needed to come here first, after breaking my promise to you.” He said the last with a note of regret.
It was a relief to hear from him. She had fretted about his safety all day. “You must eat and rest while you can. You will be of no help to Alan if you do not take care of yourself.”
He avoided her gaze but gave a slow nod. He was hurting more than she was.
“Come.” She took his arm gently and steered him into the dining room.
