Uncommon Places, Book 3 in Autumn Club Series

Chapter 2

The next morning Bea was ready for a ride on Rotten Row. She couldn't believe her father strong armed his own friend to take her out. Things couldn't possibly get worse.

Thomas picked her up in the morning, and they quickly maneuvered out the door to their horses. The conversation flowed easily as they had known each other forever.

"You don't have to ride with me for long, Thomas. I know father forced this," she finally said.

"Darling, this is no chore for me," he replied.

She always loved how he called her that. For so long she saw him as a father or uncle, but it was always hard when she saw his pained eyes.

"Oi! Tom! What the hell, man? Where the fuck have you been?" A deep voice came from behind them.

"Shit," Thomas muttered. He pulled the horses over to meet the man who called out to him. "Damien, please watch your language. There is a lady present."

"Apologies, miss. Tommy boy, I tried your place last night and this morning. Where the fu... heck have you been?"

"Well, Damien, first let me introduce you to Lady Beatrix Crosby. Lady Beatrix, this crude man is Captain Damien Jones. We sailed together for years."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain Jones," Bea said. She studied the man before her. He must have been younger than Thomas. Perhaps in his twenties. He wore his dark hair unfashionably long, but it was pulled back. His eyes were almost black. He has the widest shoulders she had ever seen and they looked like they were going to burst through the seams of his riding coat. His thighs were thick with muscles as they straddled the horse. From the horse he seemed even taller than Thomas. However the most noticeable thing about the captain was the scar that ran down his right cheek. He looked dangerous.

"Lovely to meet you, ma'am," he said with a nod and smirk. "You courting a debutant, Tommy?"

"Um, not really..."

"Not really?!" Damien laughed. "You need an heir, my lord." Damien clearly was giving Thomas a hard time.

"What do you need, Damien?" Thomas asked.

"I need a place to stay. The whore...the nice lady I was living with kicked...asked me nicely to leave," he chuckled out.

The captain could not be any more different than Thomas if he tried. Where Thomas was poised and polite, Damien was informal and brash.

The captain seemed completely himself unlike Thomas who hid behind a smile. He only changed his words to make another happy. His blunt demeanor was refreshing.

"Damien," Thomas growled. "We spoke..."

"Tom, come on," the captain said. "You know you miss me."

Damien's smile was wide and inviting. Bea looked at Thomas to see if he would smile back. And when he finally did, it went to his eyes. It was like seeing his soul.

"Yes, yes, fine! I can't seem to be rid of you," Thomas feigned annoyance.

"I knew I could count on you, Tommy! Now you woo this fine lady. I would love to see more of her," Damien said with a wink and a smile.

Bea blushed a crimson red. Was this man flirting with her? No man had flirted with her in years.

"Damien. Go home," Thomas instructed.

"Haha! Sorry, brother," Damien laughed as he turned his horse and left.

"Who is he, Thomas?" Bea asked immediately when Damien was out of earshot.

"No one important, darling. Let's continue, shall we?" Thomas acted like a vulgar ship captain didn't just become his roommate.

"Thomas...argh, fine! But clearly he has some significance," she said.

They began plodding along the route. They didn't speak again for a while, "Gah! He was my captain for years. We grew close on my first voyage and bonded over some common interests. Yes, he is crude. Yes, he a commoner. Yes, he is a womanizer. But he and I are...friends."

He said "friends" like it was a swear. "You didn't have to tell me, Thomas. But thank you for trusting me with that information. He was...intriguing."

"Oh no you don't, Bea! He is not for you!"

"What on earth are you talking about, Thomas? I just found him interesting. Nothing more," she said. Goodness, Bea's father would rather see her dead than with someone like the captain.

After some additional chatting about his trips out at sea and some gossip about the ton, they finally ended their ride in the park.

"Thank you for today, Thomas. I know my father can be a little insistent in these matters. I was on a ride with his friend Lord Finwick yesterday," she said with disgust in her tone. "He was as round as he is tall!"

"Oh, Bea darling! No!" Thomas declared in disbelief. "Fenwick? I'll speak to your father."

"You won't! He will just push you to me more," she implored.

"I will do as I please, darling," he said. "I will see you tonight at the Kendrick ball. Until then, Bea."

Bea wasn't sure what to make of Thomas. She could no longer call him "uncle." It seemed inappropriate. Especially since she was looking at him more as a man, not a relative.

That evening Bea dressed in one of her favorite dresses. It was a pale blue that set off her eyes. Her maid added a little rouge to her cheeks and lips. She almost saw the girl she was a few seasons ago.

Bea entered the ball on her brother's arm. Frank was older and much more mature than other men his age. She had always hoped he would marry one of her friends. But alas they all seem to be finding husbands.

After about thirty minutes, she spotted her father speaking to Thomas. Oh no! This would not end well.

Bea made her way around to the duo, hoping to stop any talk of marriage before it began. She could never marry Thomas. He deserved the best. Plus she could never compare to Grace. She was truly a lovely woman in all ways.

"Beatrix! Thomas was just telling me of your ride today. He seems eager to have another one soon, but I informed him that Lord Fenwick was already inquiring."

"Oh, father, nooo. Please not Lord Fenwick. He is a fat old man and a bore!"

"Beatrix Crosby, I did not teach my daughter to speak of others in such a way!"

Before she could offer her apology, Thomas interrupted, "Bea, may I have this dance?"

"Yes, of course, my lord," Bea said with a quick look to her father. He looked like he was winning a bet. Grrr, that man was worse than some of these grasping mothers.

Bea and Thomas danced a country dance together. After the dance, Thomas asked if she would like some air on the terrace and she agreed.

She hadn't been alone with a man on a terrace since Preston Dudley - that ass. But she knew Thomas wouldn't ruin her.

When she looked up to his eyes, she started to doubt her assumptions. Although the pain remained, something new was brewing...heat.