Page 31 of Surrender

“Perhaps you’re willing to take on an opponent who can,” Sebastian Rockwood, Earl of Melton, chuckled as he entered the billiards room. Following close behind Theo’s father was Uncle Lucien.

“I’m happy to do so, Uncle Sebastian. Shall I set up now?”

“I can’t win if you don’t,” Theo’s father said with a grin as he removed his coat and laid it over the back of a chair.

As Rufus set up the balls, Sebastian Rockwood selected a pool stick and turned to face the table. From across the distance, Theo met his father’s gaze. The relaxed expression on his features belied the look of appraisal in Lord Melton’s dark eyes. Beside him, Jamie lifted his glass at the tall man who’d challenged Rufus.

“Would you care for a glass of whisky, Uncle Sebastian? Theo can vouch for its quality given the amount he’s had so far.”

At Jamie’s playful offer, the earl’s eyebrows rose sharply. With a glare at his cousin, Theo forced a smile to his lips as he returned his attention to his father’s face.

“It’s a fine quality whiskey. It’s from the Glenturret Distillery in Crieff we visited last year with Uncle Ewan. You, Uncle Lucien and Uncle Percy each brought a case back home with you.”

“Ah, then pour away,” the earl said with a smile, although his gaze didn’t shift from Theo. Before Jamie could reach for a glass, Theo had one in hand and was pouring his father a drink. Behind them, the sharp clack of two balls being hit on the billiards table made Theo jump. Turning around, he saw his father straighten upright as he and Rufus waited for their balls to return to them.

Since Rufus’s ball held the least amount of distance between it and the side of the table compared to the earl’s, his cousin proceeded to take his next shot. Theo crossed the room with his sire’s whiskey, and the earl accepted the drink as he watched Rufus take another shot. Without looking at Theo, Lord Melton murmured.

“Do you have time to come see me tomorrow morning around ten? I have something I wish to discuss with you.”

The soft question made Theo’s throat close up. His father rarely asked to speak with him unless it was a business matter, but he’d not said he wanted to discuss business. In fact, the earl hadn’t given even a hint of what their meeting was about.

“Of course, is there something wrong with one of the investments I recommended to you last month?” At Theo’s question, his father’s mouth twisted with a slight smile as he turned his head to look at him.

“You’ve done nothing wrong, son. I simply wish to discuss your future,” Lord Melton replied.

“My future?”

“We’ll discuss it tomorrow.” A warm smile curving his mouth, his father shook his head and clasped one hand on Theo’s shoulder. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

Theo nodded his understanding, although he wasn’t sure he believed his father’s reassurance. Whatever the earl wanted to talk about could be anything, and Theo didn’t like being unprepared and on the defensive.

§ § §

Theo arrived at Melton House just a couple of minutes before the hour of ten, and knocked on the door frame of the open doorway into his father’s study. Lord Melton looked up from the paperwork he was reviewing and smiled. Quickly rising to his feet, he circled the desk and embraced Theo in a warm, fatherly hug. When his father released him, he gestured for Theo to take a seat while he moved to close the study door.

Resigned to whatever lecture he believed with all certainty he was about to receive, Theo sank down into the leather chair in front of his father’s desk. He’d expected the earl to return to his chair behind his desk, but instead, Lord Melton moved to the front of the desk, leaning his hips against the furniture. His father studied him in silence for a long moment, and Theo struggled not to shift restlessly in his seat. A contemplative expression settled on his father’s features, and Theo frowned slightly with puzzlement. He was about to ask his father why he’d been summoned, when Lord Melton cleared his throat.

“First, I’d like to say how proud your mother and I are of you, Theo. There are too many men of your age who are lacking in character. You and your cousins are exemplary young men. ” Lord Melton’s words startled Theo, and he stared at his father in surprise.

“Thank you, my lord.”

“You thought I was going to chastise you, didn’t you?” The earl chuckled.

“Quite frankly, yes.”

“I told you last night I wished to discuss your future, and that’s precisely what I wish to do, or rather your mother and my sisters have encouraged me to bring up the subject with you.”

“Mama and my aunts? I don’t understand.” Baffled, Theo shook his head, and the expression on his father’s face dissolved into one that said the earl was ill-at-ease expression was that of someone who appeared uncomfortable.

“You know the Rockwood women. They enjoy meddling.”

“I think there are quite a number of men in the family who are equally guilty of the trait.” The note of irony in Theo’s voice caused the earl’s face to redden somewhat, and Lord Melton cleared his throat.

“Yes, I agree, and I know I’m meddling now, but under duress, I assure you,” his father said as he acknowledged his complicit behavior, while grimacing with a pained expression. “However, I have no wish to go through the hell I went through with your mother when I thought Val guilty of compromising Amalie. So, I agreed to speak with you.”

The earl’s explanation caused Theo to go rigid. The an dara sealladh. One of his aunts had seen something concerning him and Genevieve. Tension locked his jaw tight until it ached. Christ Jesus, what had they seen? Theo stared at his father in silence, waiting for him to continue. With a soft sigh, Lord Melton winced.

“While I’ve always been a skeptic, the family has a gift I can’t explain, and over the years, I’ve learned not to question it, which is why I agreed to speak with you about your future.”