It was all very well that Thomas knew he would never fall to that sort of thing. Lady Valeria didn’t know.
And she didn’t want him anymore.
But he wasn’t going to give up. He hadn’t given up when Crowle had tried to force him into ending his courtship, and he wasn’t going to give up now, either. There had to besomeway back for him, some way through this mess that would allow him to find his way back to Lady Valeria.
The door of the pub opened and Thomas turned to see Duncan enter, followed closely by Henry.
His heart lifted. His friends were here. They would know what to do. Both Duncan and Henry were more prominently placed in Society than Thomas was, and both had connections that he did not. They would be able to help him win Lady Valeria back over. He was sure of it.
They came to his side and he returned to his table, taking his seat. They sat down on either side of him.
“We’ve just come from dinner at Earlington Manor,” Henry said by way of greeting.
Thomas’s heart lurched. A week ago, he knew, he would have been invited to that dinner. He would have sat at the table with them, perhaps with Lady Valeria at his side. He would have served her food, watched the smile break across her face like the sunrise when she laughed…
And tonight they had dined without him while he had waited, angry and lonely, in this pub.
Duncan read the look on his face. “Perhaps you can join us next time,” he said quietly. “Once she’s had a chance to adjust to everything that’s happened.”
“I’m not giving up on her,” Thomas said firmly. “I’m not giving up on this courtship.”
Duncan and Henry looked at one another, and Thomas had the horrible feeling that they had expected him to say this, that they had perhaps even discussed what they would do when he did.
“Thomas,” Duncan said. “I know you’re disappointed. Believe me. I know how long you’ve admired her. But she’s made her decision, and the family has decided to honor it.”
“You know me,” Thomas said. “You know that I’ll never try to compel her to do anything she doesn’t want to do.”
“Of course I know that.”
“As long as she doesn’t want me in her life, I won’t be there,” he said. “But the moment she wants me back, I’ll be at her side. Doesn’t that sound reasonable?”
“Well, itdoes.” Duncan hesitated. “But I wouldn’t want you to get your hopes up about this, Thomas.”
“I’ve spent years hoping for her to notice me,” Thomas said. “I’m certainly not going to stop now. Not when I’ve come this close. What she fears about me isn’t true. You know that. I would never turn to criminal acts to pay off my debts.”
“Of course you wouldn’t,” Henry said. “But don’t you worry, Thomas?”
“What have I got to worry about?” Thomas asked, rather fiercely, even though he knew it was a foolish question. There was plenty for him to be worried about.
“Don’t you worry that you won’t be able to settle your debt in a reasonable amount of time?” Henry asked. “Because… I hate to say this. I really do. But if you’re going to be paying it off for years, with debt collectors following you around, maybe itisbetter to let her move on. Maybe that’s the kindest thing you can do for her.”
“No,” Thomas said. “Iwillsettle my debt. I’m determined.”
Duncan was looking at him with something like admiration. “You know,” he said, “I believe you will, Thomas. I can see how committed you are to it.”
“You believe me?”
“I do.”
“And you believe that I wouldneverturn to underhanded means to earn the money I need?” Thomas pressed. “That I would never do anything illegal, that is?”
“Oh, of course,” Duncan said. “That one’s easy. I couldn’t imagine you doing any such thing.”
“Then I have to ask you to help me,” Thomas said.
“Help you? Help you with what?”
“Help me find my way back to Lady Valeria. I just know that if we handle the situation correctly, there’s a way back for me. There has to be.”
