Page 12 of Miss Thornfield’s Daring Bargain (The Troublemakers Trilogy #1)

A da handed her gloves, bonnet, and cloak to the butler, “Where is he, Lewis?” she asked.

“I believe Mr. Thornfield is in his study, Miss Ada.”

“How did you find Brighton, Miss?” he asked.

“What?” Ada turned to him.

“Brighton, you went with your companions.”

Lord, that was right. The last time she had seen Lewis, her only concern had been begging to go to Brighton with Regina and Elodia. Too much had transpired in such a short period of time, so much had changed. But now Zhenyi was back home. All was right with the world. She was more than half sure Basil was as in love with her as she was with him.

“Brighton was absolutely spectacular,” she replied before running up the stairs and down the hallway at the first landing, half anxious and half excited. She knew that Basil wouldn’t have lied but the nightmares that had plagued her since she knew her brother had been taken still haunted her. She didn’t know what he would look like or if he had been seriously injured or not. For a moment she paused by the door, then she walked through.

There he was standing at his desk without his jacket, facing the window. The light streaming in cast a silhouette around his lean, strong frame. For a moment it seemed that nothing was different at all. His dark hair was a few inches too long, as usual. Perhaps his waistcoat was a trifle looser, but no limbs were missing, and she couldn’t see any bandages. Then he looked up and she saw the colorful bruises marring his usually flawless tawny skin. The dark circles under his eyes. The harsher angles on his face left by hunger. He had suffered no doubt, but he was here. Her Gēgē.

Unconsciously, she took a step forward and the floor creaked, signaling her arrival, and he turned around. Upon seeing her, he smiled fondly and put his hands on his hips. “So, you still know to come back?” he teased.

All her trepidation and relief came bursting forth in a torrent of tears. He walked towards her with his arms outstretched, and she ran into them, flinging her arms around his neck as he lifted her off her feet.

“Brother,” she sobbed in Mandarin, desperate to speak it with the one person who would understand it. The one person she’d nearly lost forever. His hold on her tightened further. “I missed you.”

He let out a sharp breath before pressing a kiss to her temple. “I missed you too, A’Wei.”

A’Wei. The name she thought she’d never be called once more. “I was so scared I’d never see you again.”

“Silly girl, you know I’m too willful for that.”

She breathed him in deeply. She had missed that scent and the comfort it brought, sandalwood and cloves. “That’s true. You are too mean-spirited to make anything easy for anyone.”

“Mean-spirited?” he replied with feigned outrage as he pulled her away from him. “And what about you? I heard you got married, insolent girl,” he teased.

She laughed and wiped her face.

“I always knew you were an impudent little sprite but who knew you were so wanton? I haven’t been gone a fortnight.”

“You aren’t cross with Basil, are you, brother? He was only trying to protect me.”

He tilted his head to the side, his eyebrows raised in interest. “Are you worried about him now? Instead of your brother?”

“I didn’t mean that. He was worried about your reaction.”

“He was right to be worried,” he replied, sliding an arm around her shoulders and walking her over to sit on the chaise near the fireplace.

She frowned. Was he being serious? Somehow, she’d never imagined that he’d be truly cross by what they’d done. There hadn’t been a better choice.

“I’m not pleased, A’Wei. I understand why you both did it and I am glad that you are safe, but I’m not happy that you got married without my presence and without my blessing.”

“I’m sorry, Brother.”

“And Basil…it’s not his fault but right now I can’t help but see him as another white man who took something else from me.”

Something else? Was she a pocket watch? Was that how he saw Basil? A thief? Then another word caught her attention. “What do you mean ‘something else’?”

He glanced at her in surprise and then shook his head ruefully, as if he’d spoken unintentionally. “Father’s pocket watch, I can’t find it. I had it at the debtor’s prison, but when they moved me…” he trailed off, his mind lost in a memory that made his jaw clench. She couldn’t remember a time when Zhenyi didn’t have that pocket watch. He’d received it on his eighteenth birthday, but to Ada it had always been there. Passed from one Thornfield to another, always meant for her brother. The idea of such a thing being stolen and likely pawned was painful. “It’s just another thing I can’t get back.”

She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t recognize the bitter and exhausted man beside her. She wrapped her arms around his and leaned her head on his shoulder, hoping to offer him as much comfort as he would accept. He covered one of her hands with his and leaned his head against hers.

“I’m sorry, Mèimei. I’m not truly angry with you or him. I’m just angry. I’m angry I didn’t know what Trent was before it was too late. I’m angry at myself.”

“You could still see me married you know. Basil and I were planning to get it annulled as soon as you were back.”

“Is he that intolerable to you?”

“No. But it was always a means to an end.” Then she remembered the kiss they’d shared, the way he’d looked at her in the carriage. Perhaps not.

“Why, did you seduce him?”

Maybe. “Brother!” she slapped his arm and he laughed, “What are you saying?”

“You keep defending him. I’m getting suspicious.”

“Well, we didn’t really take no for an answer, but we technically didn’t force him.”

“We?”

“Gigi, Ellie, and I.”

Richard blinked slowly and raised his eyebrows again. “You mean to say you three ladies whisked him away to Gretna Green?”

“He wouldn’t appreciate you phrasing it like that.”

“But I can feel my anger abating, it’s better for him if I see it that way. He was already engaged.”

“He didn’t tell me that until after.”

Richard chuckled and shook his head. “Mèimei, I’ve been worried about getting you married for no reason. Turns out you’ll abduct any man who takes your fancy. I’m raising a highwayman,” he said, nudging her playfully with his shoulder.

“Brother!” She slapped his chest and moved to stand up. He pulled on her hand, sending her tumbling back into the seat, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pinching her cheek with his other.

“If his father wants to defend his honor, I’ll make sure he challenges you to a duel instead of me. I’m still recovering. How’s that?”

Ada rolled her eyes in response and dislodged his hand from her cheek. He was so annoying. She was too happy to have him back to take much issue with it. The more he joked, the more guilty she felt about what she’d done. Basil had mentioned that his father would be angry, but she couldn’t have imagined he would break ties with his flesh and blood over it. Basil had stood his ground, but Ada had seen the look on his face when he made eye contact with his mother before he left his parents’ house.

“He wasn’t happy.”

“Do I need to teach you to shoot?”

“Probably not.”

“Whatever he said, you cannot consider it the opinion of everyone.”

“It’s the opinion of many. But it’s only an opinion, even if it is shared.” She tilted her head to the side and glanced up at him. “Isn’t that so?”

His answering smile was slow but genuine. “Exactly so,” he replied before kissing her temple. “Didn’t he bring you here?”

“I thought he came in behind me,” she said, walking back out to the hallway. Two footmen were carrying her trunk up the stairs, but her husband was missing. “Lewis,” she called out and the butler came out of the parlor.

“Yes, Miss?”

“Where has Mr. Thompson gone?”

“He left directly, Miss; said he had some business to take care of.”

Business? Ada turned to look at her brother who was watching her very carefully. “I didn’t know he wasn’t staying.”

“It’s probably nothing, Mèimei. He’ll be back for dinner. He only has bachelor lodgings in London after all, and we have a cook.”

But Basil didn’t return.

*

Five days. It had been five days since Basil had left Ada at her home and walked off. Three days since her first letter arrived. It seemed his body was rebelling against it. He had no appetite to speak of, he could hardly focus on one task at a time, and his head was pounding. Every nerve in his body felt raw. He’d gone to see Miss Ashwood, to offer her an explanation before he went to have the banns retracted at their local parishes. If she hadn’t heard the news by now, she certainly would soon enough. He didn’t want her to discover she was no longer engaged while gawping spectators openly speculated. She had been gracious enough. Her parents were less so.

Her father was loud and red-faced. Her mother was cold and rigid but pale with anger. There hadn’t been an acceptable explanation for them, he knew that well enough. In the end, he’d simply sat there and allowed them to vent their anger until they ran out of words. Then he’d apologized once more and left. It seemed Basil was destined to disappoint and vex parents all his life.

Through it all, Miss Ashwood was the only one who didn’t seem angry or even disappointed. She’d sat in the chair with her hands in her lap, somber and wary of her parents, but there was no accusation in her eyes. In fact, Basil suspected she might have been a little relieved. Not the best thing for his ego but it was a balm for his conscience at the very least. Yet another woman spared from the prospect of being his wife.

After that, he hadn’t wanted to return to his half-finished home with admonitions ringing in his ears. As a last resort, he’d taken a walk, hoping that the fresh air would do something for his nerves, but then he’d seen Ada with Richard. In that moment, his heart ached so much he feared something was physically wrong with it. She was the picture of elegance in her dark green walking costume. All that dark hair was hidden under her bonnet and his fingers itched to touch it.

She’d written him three letters so far. Two sent by post and one sent by a footman. He’d devoured each of them but responded to none. He saw rather than heard her laugh at something her brother said, his ears straining for a shard of that joyful tinkling sound. Was she as happy as she seemed? Did she even need him anymore? His throat tightened.

God, he needed to go home. He wasn’t fit for the public if the sight of her sent him to pieces. And if she saw him, if she walked towards him, he would run home. He didn’t care who saw or if it made him a coward. It was better than sobbing in public.

Once Basil managed to find his way home without disgracing himself, the one thing he wanted was silence and the better part of a bottle of brandy. What he got was his part-time housekeeper, Mrs. Crouch, and her husband pacing anxiously by the front door.

“Still here?” Basil asked. He came every day serving part time as Basil’s butler and footman but she only came twice a week to stock the larder and clean the few rooms Basil used. Normally, on those days he left at four o’clock to walk her home and have dinner, before returning for the rest of the night.

“Aye sir, we were leaving but then,” she paused to glance in the direction of the sitting room before continuing in her Irish lilt, “The gentleman arrived and we didn’t think it would be proper to leave him here unsupervised.”

“What gentleman? What’s going on?” Basil asked. Was it Leo? It couldn’t be. Crouch was familiar enough with him to leave him here until Basil returned.

“Is that him?” A familiar voice sounded from the next room. Basil’s shoulders tensed so abruptly it felt like a spasm. Only one person had that unique effect, his brother, Hamilton.

This bitch of a day was only going to get better, it seemed. Basil took a deep breath and turned to the Crouches with a smile he barely felt. “I think you’d better leave now. I’ll see you later on this week.”

“Do ye need me to stay here, Lad?” Mr. Crouch asked, laying a heavy hand on his shoulder.

Basil shook his head and looked away from the Irishman’s worried brown eyes. It was strange how the ones closest to him were invariably unrelated to him. “No, please. Go. He is my problem,” he replied.

The Crouches shared a disbelieving glance but allowed him to usher them out the door.

When Basil turned back around, his brother stood there in all his snobby, sneering glory. Stocky, mousey haired, and spoiling for a fight. The heir to their father’s title, or as Basil called him, The Vicar .

“You took your bloody time, didn’t you?”

Basil walked past him to the sitting room. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. I was entirely ignorant of your intention to visit me today.” He didn’t have the energy to keep his tone civil.

“I’m surprised you have the balls to show your face in public after this last stunt you pulled.”

“What’s life without its little surprises?” He sat on the sofa and waited for his brother to return with his ridiculous gold handled cane.

“Are you trying to be funny?” Hamilton asked, squinting at him in disbelief.

“Not especially. Before we begin, do you have anything to say that father hasn’t covered already?”

“I’m here to speak some sense into you. To prevent you from throwing away your life for the sake of someone who is beneath you.”

Heat crept up Basil’s neck as his blood began to simmer. “Who are you referring to?”

“That little slut you married to shame us.”

Fuck civility. If he wanted a fight, he was going to get one. “Watch your mouth.”

“Don’t you dare lie to me. It’s all over town that you eloped with that little half-breed—”

Basil interrupted, refusing to listen to any more slurs. He was fighting to keep his hands to himself as it was. “I did marry. But she is not a slut nor a cross-breed as you claim.”

“You are saying mama and papa have been deceived? That you didn’t throw over Miss Felicity Ashwood to save an incompetent oriental merchant and his conniving little sister?”

“I’m saying my wife is a woman of impeccable character and morality. She is also fully human. So, when you accuse me of marrying a ‘cross-breed’ and a ‘slut’, I truly have no idea what the fuck you are talking about.”

“Don’t play word games with me.”

“It is no game, brother. As a proud Englishman of above average education, you should understand your own language enough to use the correct words.” Basil leaned forward, balancing his elbows on his knees, rubbing the knuckles of his hand. “If, however, you are unequal to the task, I’m more than willing to offer you assistance.” With my foot up your ass, if needed.

“You think I’m going to mind my words for that—”

“And if you refer to her by either of those terms or indeed anything close to them in my presence again, I will break that jaw our mother gave you. Am I understood?” It would be messy. Hamilton was shorter but he was broader and heavier. But Basil had a barrel’s worth of frustration to expend, and he wasn’t looking for a quick fight. He wanted to tear something apart. If his brother didn’t mind his words, he’d pound his face through the floor and apologize to his sister-in-law later.

“You think father is going to let that girl be part of our family? You think I will?”

“What can you do about it?”

“You are a disgrace.”

“That is your opinion.” And a popular one lately.

“You are no longer my brother.”

“That is your choice. Since we are strangers now, please leave. I don’t have the habit of inviting unfamiliar persons into my house.”

“What, this palace?” he sneered, glancing around at the unfinished walls, faded rugs, and the furniture in desperate need of reupholstering. “Perhaps it’s best you left Miss Ashwood to your betters.”

He didn’t have a response to that but he certainly had no intention of allowing Hamilton to know how deeply those words cut today. This was all Basil had to offer. Faded, half-finished, and thoroughly second rate but at least it was his. He would build himself up in his own time and find a reasonable facsimile of what he’d tasted briefly with someone else.

“What are you doing, Basil? There isn’t a person alive who can survive without family or their connections. Do you think you’re any different? Who do you think you are? What do you expect to accomplish on your own?” Under the condescension was genuine bafflement. He probably couldn’t fathom anything worth risking his position or his reputation. It was pitiful, but Basil was too tired to think about it too much now.

Perhaps there was an unexpected gift in not being an heir. When nothing was predetermined, more was possible. “I expect I will find out.”

“I will be watching to see what a second born son can manage without his father’s name or his mother’s connections. You are nothing without them, without us. I am curious as to when you will finally understand that.”

Basil stood. He wanted him gone, and from the looks of things, he wouldn’t move unless he was physically thrown out. “I’d be flattered by your interest, but I rather suspect it’s because you have nothing better to do.”

“I hope it’s worth it. I hope they were worth it.”

“Who? Richard? He’s worth ten of you,” Basil scoffed. “I have work to do. I believe I asked you to leave. See yourself out.”

“Enjoy her for now. We’ll see how long it lasts,” he called over Basil’s shoulder as he walked the few feet to his office, shutting the door behind him.

Basil leaned against the wall, willing his heart to stop racing. The pit in his stomach was yawning ever wider. Enjoy her for now. I will fix this. The words from his father and brother kept circling in his mind. What did it mean? Would they actually harm Ada to keep her out of their family? Would they truly do something like that? She’d married him to escape her uncle, but her uncle had never threatened to harm her, had he? If he held onto her only for them to strike out, was that keeping her safe?

Richard was back, Trent was put away. If all of this was to keep her safe, then he couldn’t falter at the last second for his own greed. It was time for him to fulfill his final part of the bargain. His stomach churning, he sat down behind his desk, pushed her opened letters to the side and pulled out a sheet of paper and began to write.

Dear Richard,