Page 92 of A Scandalous Bargain
He closed the trunk and turned to sweep Regan into his arms. “I don’t know, sweeting. You liked her?”
She nodded. “I liked her story. I want her to tell it to me again.”
“I could tell it to you, if you like.” Thomas was fairly certain he could remember it. Or at least come up with something that was close enough.
“No, it has to be her.”
Of course it did. Thomas agreed—he wanted Beatrix and not some substandard alternative. He realized that was him in this case.
Honestly, he didn’t mind. He would be thrilled to give Regan a mother she could love and who would love her in return. Was Beatrix that woman?
“I’ll ask her when she can come again,” Thomas said, even as he feared he was setting his daughter up for disappointment. It was too risky for Beatrix to come at night—they agreed they couldn’t continue that behavior. Which meant she’d have to visit some other time. Either she’d disguise herself, or they’d completely flout Society’s rules.
He wondered if she would come dressed as a man. And if that would fool anyone in the light of day. He closed his eyes and silently chided himself. He wouldn’t ask her to do that. That wasn’t how he wanted their future to be.
“Soon, Papa.” She fidgeted with his cravat. “Also, where’s my kitten?”
“I’m working on that,” Thomas said. He’d made some inquiries at the picnic, actually, and Aquilla said she was fairly certain one of the cats at Sutton Park had recently had kittens. He didn’t want to get Regan’s hopes up until he was certain. “You must be patient, but I know how hard that is.”
Baines came into the nursery, surprising Thomas. And filling him with a sense of dread.
“What brings you all the way up here?” Thomas set Regan down.
“You’ve a caller. Mr. Dearborn, I’m afraid. And he is not alone.”
Bloody hell.What could that mean? Dearborn and another constable had returned yesterday and searched the entire house. Thomas didn’t think they’d found anything—at least they hadn’t said they had. “Is Sheffield with him? Broad-shouldered fellow with dark red hair.”
Baines shook his head. “That does not match the description of either of the gentlemen who accompanied him.”
“There are two?”Bloody, bloody hell.“Will you fetch the nurse?”
Baines quickly departed.
Squatting down, Thomas crooked his finger at Regan. “I must go downstairs and meet with someone. I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Thank you for the puppets, Papa.” She threw her hands around his neck and kissed his cheek.
Thomas held her close for a moment. He inhaled the soft, sweet scent of little girl—hislittle girl—and felt a hitch in his chest. He kissed her temple before letting her go.
Miss Addy came into the nursery and immediately took over. Reluctantly, Thomas left.
As he descended, his feet felt heavier and heavier. He realized he wasn’t certain where the constables were waiting. After peering into the drawing room and finding it empty, he decided they must be in the front sitting room.
Taking a deep breath, he went down the final staircase and ran into Baines. “The sitting room?” Thomas asked.
“Yes, my lord. Do you require anything?”
“Strength? Patience?” Thomas summoned a placid smile. “Everything will be fine, Baines.”
Thomas went into the sitting room. The three visitors, and Thomas assumed they were all constables, were spread about the room. One was near the door, another in front of the windows, and Dearborn stood in front of the wall where the portrait of Thomas and Thea used to hang.
“Good afternoon, my lord,” Dearborn said. He inclined his head toward the wall. “What happened to the portrait of you and your wife?”
Whether it was due to irritation or a simple need to just be honest, Thomas said, “I tore it apart and burned it.”
Dearborn’s eyes widened, and the man near the door coughed.
“I see,” Dearborn said. “Well, I suppose that answers our question about your penchant for violence.”
