Page 23 of Miss Thornfield’s Daring Bargain (The Troublemakers Trilogy #1)
Sterling House
London, June 1851
“A ren’t we going in, Basil?” Ada asked, nudging his arm. He hummed in response as he stared at the bustling entrance to his parents’ London home with skepticism. He wasn’t entirely certain he wanted to enter at all. They could just have dinner with Richard. Richard was lovely company.
When he’d received the invitation to dinner, he hadn’t known what to do at first. His instinct told him it was some kind of prank. After the way he’d parted with his father and brother, he had expected the occasional letter from his mother. He hadn’t expected an invitation to his mother’s last dinner party of the season where several members of the ton would be in attendance. Especially not an invitation which explicitly named him and his wife.
He’d even visited his mother to ask if she had actually meant to send him an invitation, wondering if perhaps it was some kind of plot set up by his brother. She hadn’t been amused. When he attempted to explain the latest run of bad luck, namely the second kidnapping and the issues with security, she’d been furious at his refusal to keep her informed. Apparently, she and his father had heard all about the heroic raid by Scotland Yard from the commissioner. What they hadn’t been aware of was that Ada and Basil had been at the center of it. This in turn triggered a second lecture about his poor taste in humor. And his refusal to see her as his mother, despite her acceptance of him and his family. Two hours later, his ears ringing, he returned to Ada with the invitation in hand.
After an hour of mulling, she had given him permission to accept. Now they were here at the London house for one outing before embarking on their honeymoon in Europe.
“Basil, I’m not staying in this carriage.”
“That’s fine, but we still don’t have to go in. We can say that I’m ill.”
“Mmm, I can see you’ve come down with a strong case of yellow fever,” she commented dryly. Somehow, based on her expression, he could tell she meant something different.
“Are you trying to imply something?”
“What a coward you are.”
“I am not a coward. I am only trying to avoid what is likely to be a very uncomfortable situation for both of us. You should be thanking me, you ungrateful little shrew.” The fact that his palms were sweating was entirely immaterial.
“Weakling,” she replied, shaking her head in the same pitying way Richard did.
He tried a different approach. “Father will still be cross and my brother will be there. You haven’t met that bundle of joy as yet.”
“Craven.”
“Wouldn’t you rather be making love in your bedroom?”
“Wouldn’t you rather make love to me in your father’s garden after dinner?” she countered.
He blinked, an image of Ada naked among the peonies springing to mind immediately. “Would you allow me to do that?” he asked.
“You’ll never know if you don’t get out of the carriage .”
“If only I’d known how much of a little bully you are.”
“You mean kidnapping you wasn’t your first clue?”
“Not you too. You did not kidnap me. I am a grown man.”
“Apologies, husband. I won’t forget again. However, a pillar of strength like yourself should be equal to enduring one night of food and conversation.” She smiled and his eyes narrowed. Minx .
“Don’t play the lawyer with me, Woman,” he grumbled, but he opened the carriage door and the footman, who’d been waiting for nearly half an hour at that point, took down the steps before Basil stepped out and held out his hand for Ada. She was stunning in a green gown embossed with flowers and birds along her skirts. Her sleek hair was decorated with peonies and a coral hair pin he knew belonged to her mother.
“It’s one night,” she said, taking his arm. “If it goes badly, we don’t have to return. If it goes well, you will still have your family.”
“I already have that,” he said resting his hand over hers.
“And now you are about to have more,” she replied, wiggling her eyebrows and pulling him along with a cheerful smile.
“I’m going to have to talk to your brother about you.”
“He’s aware. Why do you think he was so eager to be rid of me? You’re stuck with me now.”
He winked at her and followed her lead to the front door where guests were still entering. As they arrived, he handed his hat to the footman and followed the line to his father who was greeting guests. When they reached him, their eyes met for a long, humming moment before his father nodded in acknowledgement.
“Good evening, Basil,” he said.
“Good evening, father.” Basil’s hand tightened on Ada’s as his father turned his attention to her. His beautiful little firecracker was watching the old man with a certain measure of arrogance, as if daring him to make a scene.
“Mrs. Thompson,” he greeted her finally. “I am pleased you are here.”
“I was gratified to be invited,” she replied.
“I do not want to lose my son,” he said by way of explanation. The words seemed lacking but there was a sheen in the old man’s eyes, as if he truly meant it. As if he had sincerely been worried about it, as if he’d regretted his ultimatum. Perhaps it hadn’t only been his mother trying to shoe horn him into an event. Perhaps it had been a genuine wish from his father to see him again.
“I have no intention of losing him either.” Her hold on Basil’s arm tightened. It was strange hearing his father express that sentiment, but it was even stranger watching her be his champion and stake her claim on him so blatantly.
“For Basil then,” he said, glancing at him. It was an apology to him, he knew it, and an acknowledgement of Ada in a way. He glanced at her, wondering what she would make of it, but she was staring at him with a small smile.
“Indeed.”
“Adelaide, I thought I’d heard you.” They turned to see Basil’s mother emerging from the crowd, glittering with diamonds, her face wreathed in a bright smile.
“Good evening, Mother.”
“Hello dear.” She patted Basil on the shoulder.
“Good evening, Lady Sterling,” Ada replied before his mother took her arm, pulling her away from him and escorting her to the sitting room while he trailed behind.
“My dear, there is someone who is most eager to meet you.”
“Oh?” Ada asked before glancing back at him in confusion. He shrugged in response. He had no idea who the hell she was referring to.
“Is that the new Mrs. Thompson?” he heard a woman say, and then none other than Miss Felicity Ashwood came forward, gloved hands outstretched to take Ada’s. Ada glanced at him again this time in surprise and he fought back a smile. She was adorable.
“Ada, this is Miss Felicity Ashwood.”
“Oh.” Ada’s eyes widened before she dipped into a curtsey. “I’m pleased to meet you, Miss Ashwood.”
“And I am thrilled to meet you, Mrs. Thompson. Thanks to you, I shall soon be Mrs. Halsbury,” she gushed before shooting an apologetic look at Basil. “No disparagement meant towards you, Basil, of course.”
“Are we doing first names now, Miss Ashwood?”
“You jilted me three weeks before our wedding. We’re practically related now.” She replied archly, before turning back to Ada. “I must introduce you to mama. What a beautiful dress you are wearing as well!”
“Where is Hamilton?” Basil asked his mother, as he watched Ada slowly warm up to the infectious energy the soon-to-be Mrs. Halsbury exhibited.
“Your brother wasn’t invited,” she replied. “He informed me that he couldn’t pretend to be happy for you, so I agreed that any events you were invited to, he would not be.”
“Oh.” What on earth had happened when he left? “And he is at peace with that?”
“That’s his business. He drew the line; I’m simply abiding by it.” She patted his arm. “This is your home. It always will be so long as you wish it. I’ve spoken to your father, and he agrees. Despite everything, he wants your happiness.”
He nodded and looked over at Ada, who was now smiling fully in the face of Felicity’s earnest enthusiasm. “Ada is my happiness.”
Ada was his home. So long as they kept that smile on her face, he would stay in theirs.