Becoming Lady Thomas (Becoming Her Book 1) (3 page)

“What is it?” I murmur to my father, whose back is turned to me.

We all watch him as he fills a glass with bourbon and then proceeds to down the entire thing.

Finally, he turns toward us and his grave eyes find mine. “Dear girl, I nearly lost the farm.”

Our home.

Where our mother birthed all three of us.

“I don’t understand,” I tell him.

He runs a palm through his salt-and-pepper hair. “I went into debt paying for Edith’s tuition. The economy isn’t what it was, and we’ve fallen on hard times. My debtor, Lord Thomas, recently came to collect his debt. Our farm.”

Edith must know of what he’s telling us because she seems unsurprised. William, on the other hand, is furious.

“Go on,” I urge.

Another ragged sigh. “I was ready to give it all to him. We’d find a new place to live maybe in London or somewhere else, but then—”

Edith cuts him off. “But then Lord Thomas saw our family portrait, the one we had painted before Mother died, and he struck a new deal.”

Father snatches the bottle of liquor and pours himself another glass. “He’s offered to cancel the debt of the farm. No strings attached. But”—he groans and downs his drink—“he wants to marry one of my girls of his choosing.”

What?

“N-n-no. That’s not possible. This can’t happen, Father. William and I are going to wed,” I sputter out.

My father frowns. “I’m sure that will still be the case. But until Lord Thomas makes his decision, my hands are tied. Edith is the sure choice because of her age and education, so you needn’t worry. This will all sort itself out soon.”

A tear rolls down my cheek, and I glance at William for help.

He slams a fist down on the table, causing all of the dishes to rattle. “This is ridiculous, Franklin! Lissa is going to be mine and I don’t care if I have to put her into that coach and leave this damn town without your approval. I’ve waited too long to wed your daughter only to have her taken right out from underneath me now. Tell him no deal. I can meet with my parents—see about taking out a loan with them. You don’t have to arrange for one of your daughters to clear your debt. We can fix this.”

His words give me hope, and I reach a hand toward him. He takes it and brings my knuckles to his lips, kissing them chastely.

“Yes, Father. The tuition can’t be that much,” I agree.

Father’s eyes flit over to Edith who purses her lips together but nods.

“You see, Lissa, our father has acquired more loans than that of university tuition,” Edith explains. “In an effort to recover the monies quickly, he placed some rather large bets and lost. The amount of money our father owes Lord Thomas is ridiculous. He’ll never be able to repay it in his lifetime.”

I frown, but William explodes. He bursts from his chair and swipes his dishes onto the floor. Glass shatters everywhere, and I stare at him in horror. We gasp in surprise as he stalks over to our father and grabs him by the lapels on his suit.

“Listen here, Franklin. Elisabeth will be my wife no matter what. So do what you have to do to get that prick to choose Edith. If you allow my Lissa to go with him, so help me, I’ll kill you with my bare two hands.”

This time, I fling myself from my chair and over to them. “William, stop it! Right this instant. We’ll make this right, but killing my father is ignorant. Now, come with me. You need to cool off. We’ll take a walk.”

He sends one more hate-filled look toward my father before he releases him. I’ve almost managed to pull him to the door before he turns and points a finger at him.

“Make sure it’s Edith he chooses, because if he doesn’t and he chooses the woman I’m in love with, I will make good on my promise to take your life.”

I CLOSE MY EYES AND the portrait from the parlor instantly materializes. I’ve been obsessing over her for six goddamned weeks. Ever since I stepped into the home of Franklin Merriweather, hell-bent on taking everything he owns for repayment, I’ve been fixated on her.

The one with eyes as green as the grass on a warm summer day.

The one with a tiny smile that seems to hide secrets—secrets I want to know.

“Lord Thomas,” my butler Gerald calls out from the doorway of my study, “shall I pack the coach for your travels this evening?”

As much as I want to steal away to go claim my prize, I know I mustn’t be so hasty. Good things come to those who wait. And she will be worth the wait—this much I know as fact.

“No, Gerald. Please, get some rest. I’m about to retire as well. We’ll set off at daybreak. I want my fiancée tucked away in her suite by this time tomorrow,” I sigh with reluctance.

He nods and closes the door behind him.

Burying my face in my palms, I once again recall the portrait. Franklin Merriweather may not be very proficient in gambling, but the man has excellent genes. Those girls, a perfect mix between their mother and father, are all beautiful in their own right.

But only one caught my attention. In the portrait, she was no more than fourteen years of age. I know now that she’s most certainly of age. And even if she weren’t, I’d take her anyway. Images of her naked, lying on my velvet duvet, flood my mind, and I feel my cock begin to thicken with desire.

How many times will I have to find release with my hand until she’s the one I’m sunk deep inside of?

Soon after Mr. Merriweather and I signed our deal, I took solace in those of local prostitutes. Each one was paid well to please me. Each one was chosen because of their crimson locks. But none were able to satisfy me. As I fucked them hard, all the while pretending it was her, I knew I would never be satisfied.

That is, until I have my prize.

Her father revealed to me that she was a virgin. I had to excuse myself from his presence to get my cock to settle after his proclamation. To take such a vision’s innocence thrilled me beyond repair.

The woman has mangled my mind with her coy smile and scarlet locks. It’s only fair I mangle her innocence as well. My cock is as hard as my mahogany desk from just thinking about her tight body ripe for my taking. After unfastening my trousers, I slide my hand into my drawers and fist my length.

Again, she’s forefront in my mind as I stroke myself. My God, how will I control myself around her when I finally do have her? I know it won’t be easy for her to accept the arrangement her father and I have agreed upon. It doesn’t make it any less binding though. She’ll be my wife and I’ll feast upon her perfect body whenever I shall so please.

She’s almost mine.

“Elisabeth,” I groan out as thick, ropy spurts of my climax wet my pants. I’m sure Gretchen, my housekeeper, loves washing my soiled trousers each day. But I pay her well, so she never so much as gives me a sideways glance.

They’re all under my thumb. Funny how powerful wealth can make a person. The things it makes people do.

This time tomorrow, I shall set to seducing the woman of my literal dreams. She won’t be Elisabeth Merriweather for long. Soon, she will be mine.

Lady Thomas.

“LISSA, HOW DO I LOOK?” Edith questions as she spins around in her cream-colored petticoat. She’s every bit an angel sent from Heaven.

Lord Thomas would be a fool not to choose her. I can see that she’s spent many hours perfecting her makeup while I spent the morning with William.

My poor love. It took some time to cool him off yesterday. But after a long walk and an afternoon spent kissing and cuddling in our barn, he finally relaxed. He didn’t pressure me to make love but, instead, enjoyed his time simply being with me. It was perfection. And this morning, we had breakfast with his parents.

That, however, did not go as planned.

According to them, our whole township is on hard times. Their savings has been depleted, and therefore, they cannot help our cause.

My William, though, devised a new plan—to make me less desirable than that of my two sisters. He instructed me to not wear makeup and to choose one of my simple frocks I sometimes wear when working in our field. I was told to not wear jewelry, aside from the bracelet he gave to me, or perfume.

He wanted me simple.

So now, as I gush over my older sister, I can’t help but glimpse at my own reflection. I’ve pulled my hair into a tight bun and affixed a frown on my face. Compared to Edith, I’m a moth. An utter mule in comparison to her thoroughbred appearance. Her dark hair has been curled into tight kinks that hang down her back, which lies open due to the daring design of her dress. If I were a man, I would most certainly choose her.

“Father is waiting in the parlor,” Ella murmurs from the doorway. “He sent me to fetch you both. Lord Thomas is here as well.”

When I turn to regard my younger sister, fear seizes me. She’s spent some time dolling herself up as well. It worries me that she appears to be more than that of her seventeen years. What happens should he choose her instead of Edith? The thought sickens me.

“You look much older than your age,” I chide as I rush over to her.

Her lips form a pout when I set to braiding her long, blond hair. I want her to appear to be more childlike than she does at the moment. Ella has a chance at a normal life, and I won’t allow her to be thrown out with the rubbish.

“Maybe I want to get married,” she whines, knowing my stance on the matter without my saying anything.

Shaking my head, I yank the black ribbon from my bun and tie off her braid. “You will, dear sister. Just not to Lord Thomas. This isn’t your debt to settle.”

She pins me with her blue eyes. “It’s not yours either, Lissa. Nor is it Edie’s. Father did his, and it’s only fair that I’m able to do my part for this family. You’re the one who has a chance at a wonderful life with William. He adores you. That’s where you belong. Not with some debt monster.”

Tears spill over her cheeks, and I quickly pull my handkerchief from the pocket of my dress to dab at them. Her nose turns red as she cries, and I can’t help but be thankful that it makes her appear younger. Edith is most definitely the one he’ll choose now.

“Come, girls. Let’s not keep Lord Thomas waiting,” Edith tells us firmly as she leads the way out of the bedroom.

Ella sighs but gives me an encouraging smile before following our sister. My heart does this wicked thing where it pounds rapidly in my chest. We’ll get through this. The man will choose Edith and it will all be over.