The Temptation of a Gentleman by Jenna Petersen Page B

you were forced to seek me out.”
    He offered her his arm and led her to that salon where their tea would be served. It was the same room where he’d shared tea with Marion, her father and Lucas a few days before. Marion had sat across from him, her eyes sparkling with mirth when he said something amusing…
    “ You seem distracted, Noah,” his mother said as she smoothed her skirts and motioned for the maid to pour their tea. “Is anything wrong?”
    He forced his focus back to his mother. “No, I’m sorry. I was just thinking about my tea with Mr. Lucas a few days ago.”
    Her cheeks darkened with distress. “Yes, I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it down. The idea of facing a group of strangers was a bit overwhelming that afternoon.”
    With a sad smile, Noah touched her hand. “I realize this is still difficult for you, Mama.”
    She nodded. “I don’t know why. I did plenty of things without your father’s presence while he was alive. I hosted teas and ran charity guilds. But now that he’s gone, doing anything without him seems…”
    “ Wrong?” Noah finished for her.
    She nodded as their eyes met in sad understanding. “Wrong.”
    “ I’m sorry you feel that way. I know he’d want you to continue with the things that give you pleasure,” he said, thinking about what his father would want for him . To fill his shoes, and Noah was doing his damndest to try. Whether or not he was a success was another issue.
    “Perhaps in time that will get easier,” his mother said with a sigh. Then she seemed to push aside her sadness. “It wasn’t only Mr. Lucas who had tea here, was it?”
    “ No, a Mr. Walter Hawthorne and his daughter, Miss Marion also attended. They aren’t from Woodbury, but are visiting Mr. Lucas.” He paused to appear indifferent. “Lucas has lived in the shire for over ten years hasn’t he?”
    His mother nodded as she sipped her tea. “Yes, since he took over Toppleton Square from Squire Green. The poor man lost everything in some kind of gambling problem. Why do you ask?”
    “ What kind of man do you take him to be?”
    His mother knew most of the people who lived in his father’s shire… his shire. He doubted she had any useful information, but something was better than nothing.
    “ I haven’t had many occasions to talk with him personally.” His mother’s voice grew cold. “But he’s always been pleasant enough when I have.”
    Noah cocked an eyebrow at her tone. “Mother?”
    “ I don’t like the man,” she admitted. “He married that poor young woman, Georgina I believe her name was. The girl seemed miserable. She died not long ago.”
    Noah nodded. “So you don’t think their marriage was a happy one?”
    “ No.” Tabitha’s answer was quick and firm. “Her parents made the match without any thought for her happiness. He was far too old for her.”
    He shivered. Marion would face a similar fate if he couldn’t find a way to help her.
    “ Noah?”
    He glanced up. “Hmm?”
    His mother set her teacup down and leaned over to look at him. “Why are you really here in Woodbury?”
    With a start, Noah stood. He hadn’t realized his mother found his visit odd, though perhaps he should have. He hadn’t come to Woodbury since his father’s death. He’d certainly never asked in-depth questions about the inhabitants of the shire. It seemed sacrilegious, like he was dancing on his father’s grave.
    “ I’m… I’m only here to take up the duties I’ve neglected for so long,” he said. “It’s time for me to behave responsibly, to take the mantle of the Marquis of Woodbury and put it around my neck.” He had a sudden vision of a noose slowly strangling him and amended his statement. “Er, around my shoulders.”
    Tabitha folded her arms with an incredulous smirk. “Somehow I doubt that. Tell me, are you on a case?”
    Noah coughed. “What are you talking about?”
    Though he assumed his parents might have guessed about his duties in the War