Lord Thomas and his bride (The Duke's Brothers Book 3) by Fiona Miers (smallest ebook reader .TXT) 📗

aware that the man was angered by what had happened to Rebecca.

In all honestly, if it were his child who had undergone a traumatic event, he would have been in the same state as well. It was only natural for the physician to feel that way, and he simply clenched his jaw, not complaining at the pain.

Dr. Morton had sent Thomas on his way without him seeing Rebecca again, and according to the doctor, he would not be able to see her again.

Thomas sighed as he stepped inside the manor house only to be met by Charles, who seemed interested in how his morning had gone.

“Have you returned already?” Charles asked with a grin, but as soon as he noticed the grim expression on Thomas’s face, his smile vanished.

Charles’s gaze dropped, noticing the way Thomas dragged his leg in an awkward limp and he rushed over. “Are you all right?” he asked.

“As well as can be expected,” Thomas said with a nod.

“You ought to be in a much happier mood.”

“And why is that?” Thomas asked, brushing past Charles, now limping as he walked.

“I was told you acted rather bravely at the cliffs. Your own near-drowning and the heroic rescue of a local girl were quite the story,” Charles said.

“Where in heavens did you hear that?” Thomas asked with a frown.

“The entire town of Weymouth speaks of it. Emma and I were taking a ride in the carriage with the children and we were stopped by Miss Lucy asking us if we heard of your heroics.”

“That tale is greatly exaggerated, brother,” Thomas muttered.

“So, we do not have a hero in our midst?” James asked suddenly from behind Charles.

Thomas looked over his shoulder and noticed his brothers and their wives approaching from down the hall.

He shook his head. “It was not the case at all.”

“Then why are tales being spread to quickly? There must be some truth to it,” Emma asked.

“Some, indeed. But not a lot.”

“Tell us,” Robert urged, and the others agreed.

Thomas sighed and ran his fingers through his dishevelled brown hair. “Rebecca and I were at the flatter rocks by the bay. It was lovely, and she was enjoying it very much. Then the tide came in, unexpectedly so. I must have miscalculated—”

“Or you simply lost track of time,” James said with a grin.

“Perhaps,” Thomas said. “Nevertheless, the water began to rise, and we made our way across a steep slope to get to the beach where her father’s manservant waited for us. There, Rebecca lost her footing. She was submerged in the water, and I simply assisted her out. We waited on the highest part of the rocks until the water lowered and the manservant carried her across to the beach. I swam back behind them. It was nothing heroic. It was more a case of foolishness.”

“You should not be so hard on yourself, Thomas. You still rescued her.”

“That is not what her father believes,” Thomas said.

“What do you mean?”

“Naturally, I escorted her home. She shivered profusely, which I am convinced was shock rather than cold, and her father...”

His brothers and their wives stared at him expectantly and he drew in a deep breath. “He prohibited me from seeing his daughter again.”

“That is absurd. You rescued her,” Abigail said.

“I need to sit down,” Thomas said, dragging his leg as he walked into the sitting room and landed on the chaise with a sigh.

His siblings walked in after him, arranging themselves around the room and staring at him expectantly.

“Go on, brother,” James urged.

Thomas ran a hand through his hair and groaned. “If it had not been for my carelessness, she would not have been in danger in the first place. I accept full responsibility for what happened, and I even told him the same.”

Robert crossed his arms, something clearly on his mind.

“What is it, Robert?” Thomas asked.

Robert shifted his weight and a grin formed on his lips. “Obviously, Rebecca’s father is a decent and fine physician.”

“He is,” Charles answered. “He is well-respected in Weymouth, as well as the county.”

“Have you been checking on his background, my dear?” Emma asked and crossed her arms.

“I am not the one on trial here,” Charles said softly and stepped back. “I was merely ensuring the safety of my own family.”

Emma rolled her eyes at her husband.

“That is not what I was referring to, Charles,” Robert said. “I merely meant that not many physicians would have scolded Thomas in the manner Dr. Morton did. Those physicians and doctors who fawn all over nobility are not to be trusted. Dr. Morton did quite the opposite, and it shows that he is not biased.”

“Not biased in a biased society. The foolish man. Honest and loyal, but foolish nonetheless,” Charles said.

“But love makes us do foolish things. Is that not so, Thomas?” James asked with a chuckle.

Thomas pressed his lips together to prevent himself from saying something he would regret. He could not dismiss the feelings he had developed for Rebecca, but they were most certainly not love. Infatuation and desire, perhaps. Protectiveness and concern for her well-being, certainly. Wishing that he was able to spend more time with her, absolutely.

But that ship had sailed. Dr. Morton had made his wishes clear and Thomas would not dare to rebel against those wishes, no matter how much he longed for Rebecca.

“Oh, and speaking of foolish,” James said.

His amused smile vanished when Abigail lightly slapped his arm, her brow furrowed in disapproval. “James,” she warned.

“My apologies,” James said and turned to Charles. “Perhaps you can inform Thomas.”

“Inform me of what?” Thomas asked.

“We have a visitor at the estate, brother,” Charles said.

Thomas sighed and glanced at his eldest brother. “Who is it, and why is it of any concern to me?”

“Mother is here,” Charles answered. “And she wishes to see you.”

Never had a phrase struck such fear into Thomas’ heart than the words his brother had just spoken to him. Although Thomas was not precisely afraid of his mother, the mere fact that there was something to discuss privately caused him