Dare To Love (35 page)

Taking Philip from within her arms, Gwendolyn
wrapped her finger around one of Mary’s long ebony tresses and
curled her thumb around the ringlet and inquired, “What is the
matter, love? You are wearing that look when you have lost a horse
race.”

Mary suddenly buried her face within her
hands. “Oh Mummie— Father, I’ve clapped eyes on someone and he acts
like it does not matter!”

Thomas quickly met eyes with Gwendolyn, “She
is sixteen Gwendolyn, do something!”

She watched him pace the floor out in front
of them. “Thomas, stop panicking, we were young too. I think you
were six when you fell in love with me.”

“So.”

“So,” Gwendolyn retorted giving him a
condescending smirk and caressing her daughter’s back. “Why do you
think he does not care, Mary? What does he do, or does not do when
around you?”

“Like the other day, he was with a group of
friends and I was with a group of friends and normally when I gaze
at him, he is staring at me. He makes my legs go weak with his big
brown eyes. Only this last time when I looked at him, he pretended
not to notice.”

Thomas took Philip away from Gwendolyn and
laid him down on the bed. Instantly, the toddler rolled over onto
his stomach and began to flap his legs and arms like a fish out of
water. “The other day? Why Mary, we were at his majesty’s family
affair, which boy are you interested in?”

Mary suddenly met eyes with her father. “Lord
George Fitzclarence, Earl of Munster.”

“Fitzclarence! Of the Royal Family?”
Gwendolyn shrieked, scaring her son on the bed.

The little guy looked up at Thomas with huge
brown eyes, about to cry. “I know them. I do,” Thomas voiced,
picking up the baby, cradling him in his arms and trying to compose
him.

“Why, isn’t he at least twenty? Oh Thomas,
this must be genuine. What do we do?” Gwendolyn asked, searching
her daughter’s eyes for gravity.

“Oh now you want my advice, well, King George
is quite mad I have heard I bet I could barter the union. I have
business dealings with the Royal Navy.”

Gwendolyn tsked at him, “Oh no you are not!
My daughter will be married for love, not through arrangement. If
Lord Fitzclarence cares for Mary, then he will have to show
purpose. I refuse to force my daughter—”

“Our daughter, Gwendolyn,” Thomas proudly
interrupted her.

“Yes, our daughter Thomas, marry through
orchestration.”

Mary crossed her arms in front of her, “I
agree with Mummie.”

“You do?” Thomas asked suspiciously, arching
a black brow.

“Yes, I do not want George’s forced
attention; I want to know if his affection will be returned.”

Gwendolyn grinned and continued to rub Mary’s
back. “Everyone does,” she relayed, getting back up on her feet,
only to feel extremely queasy. Holding her hand over her mouth,
Gwendolyn darted to the washbasin to vomit.

Mary sprung from her seat and replied, “Oh
no, not again.”

Thomas stepped over to Gwendolyn and assisted
her back to bed. Picking up his little one carefully, he laid his
son back down onto his mother’s chest. Philip had fallen asleep.
“Your mother and I love each other, Mary…children are the result of
such a love.”

Mary rolled her eyes, “I seem to have the
only parents in London who seem to exhibit their devotion. None of
my friends have parents who still procreate.”

Thomas stood beside Gwendolyn and brushed
away hair that mottled her face. When Gwendolyn glanced up at him,
he traced his finger alongside her chin. Rallying her attention, he
related, “And they won’t stop having them until Heaven replenishes
their family. Right, Gwendolyn?”

Gwendolyn blinked back her tears, “I was just
thinking the very same thing.”

Their eyes lock and hold.

“I love you,” he whispered to her.

“I know,” she whispered back smiling.

Thomas grinned into her jesting then swiftly
turned around to address his daughter. He walked over to her
sternly, but then reached for her embrace. Mary warmed up to him
instantly and ran into his arms. “Now love, about you and Lord
Fitzclarence…”

~~~~~

THE END

Did you enjoy this eBook?

Read
A MATCHLESS MATCH

A Hollinger Series Novel

For more information and other great titles visit
Trish at

www.trishafuentes.com

www.smashwords.com