Page 70 of Love in the Wild

“You can, of course, but you can’t escape the title, Thorne. The world knows who you are now, and everyone is interested in knowing more about you. There’s no running away from this, no hiding in the jungle forever. You can leave the official title behind, but the world won’t forget who you really are.”

Thorne looked down at the floor, his thoughts jumbling as he tried to imagine dividing his life like his parents had. He couldn’t stay in England forever. He missed the call of parrots, the sound of waterfalls, and the humid feel of the jungle air embracing him. He missed Keza and Akika. But he wouldn’t let go of Eden, or this new world that held different joys.

“Were my parents happy? Living in two worlds?” he asked.

His uncle nodded. “Yes, yes they were. Quite happy. Like anything worth having in this life, it required work, but I think you’re quite capable of living just as they did.” Cameron offered a sympathetic gaze. “I know this is not what you want, but you’re British, and you’ll learn that if there’s one thing we do, it’s to keep our chins up and bear anything that comes our way with quiet grace. And the fact is that as an earl you can do far more to help protect the jungle you love than just living there and fighting off poachers, deforestation, and everything else that threatens the wilds of Uganda. You are not alone in all this. Isabelle and I are here for you.” Cameron leaned in and touched his shoulder, giving it a gentle shake.

Thorne nodded and stood. He paused at the doorway of the study and looked back at his uncle.

“I am going to marry Eden.”

“You mean you’re going to propose? We tend to ask our mates for their permission first.” There was a hint of teasing in his uncle’s tone at this correction.

Thorne nodded.

Cameron chuckled. “My boy, I am not surprised. You have my blessing. Isabelle will be thrilled. She sees much of herself in the girl. Take the advice I gave to your father when he first met your mother.”

Thorne waited expectantly.

“Go slow. Take your time. Be sure. Lust is fleeting and can feel a lot like love.”

“Did my father listen to you?”

“No, he married Amelia after just one month.”

Thorne smiled. “My heart has only one name carved upon it, and I will love her until there is no more breath in me. If I am following in my father’s footsteps, then there is no greater honor.”

“Then I am happy for you. To love greatly and be loved like that in return is a gift few have received.”

Half an hour later, the guests started to arrive. Thorne and his aunt and uncle met them at the door. It was a parade of faces that held no meaning to him, but he smiled, shook hands, and learned the art of what his aunt called “small talk.” The description was an apt one. Everything people said to him was of so little importance, and they often repeated one another with the same trivial questions.

Instead of focusing on the names, he focused on faces and the people’s tones as they spoke. More than one woman seemed to be interested in him as a potential mate, which he found irritating. They seemed to regard him as some kind of prize to be won.

Some of the men seemed threatened by him and would posture in defensive ways, putting their heads back, their nostrils flaring slightly, and thrusting their shoulders back to make themselves appear larger. These changes were subtle, but Thorne noticed them all the same. He wasn’t the least bit worried. Thorne had learned long ago how to gauge his strength against others. It was a vital skill of survival in the jungle.

As the latest group of guests passed by him into the large ballroom, Thorne felt an invisible pull, urging him to turn. He did, and there on the stairs was Eden. She wore a deep-blue gown that touched the tops of her golden sandals and pooled at her ankles like a waterfall. The dress clung to her body and only fueled his desire for her. Her long blonde hair was down and curled in waves that made her even more enticing. Why would a woman dress in such a way? If her intention was to stay and talk with people all night, why dress in a way that would make him want to take her away from all this and remove her clothing as quickly as possible? All it did was remind him how much he enjoyed making love to her and how he wanted to banish everyone so he could do just that with her in their bedroom.

She saw him, and the uncertain expression on her face vanished, changing to a delighted smile. He approached the foot of the stairs and caught her hand in a raised position as she reached the bottom. He’d seen others do this for their mates all evening.

“Sorry I’m late. The curling iron and I are not friends.” She laughed, and the sound was sweeter than any music. He didn’t know who the curling iron was, but if they were not Eden’s friend, then they were Thorne’s enemy. But he would deal with them later.

“You look ...,” he began.

“Incredible?” Eden put her arm in his and winked. “Thank your aunt for that. She loaned me the dress. I definitely didn’t pack anything this nice for my trip to Uganda.” She squeezed his arm.

Thorne sighed contentedly and escorted her into the ballroom. He noticed his uncle at the front of the room. When he spotted Thorne, he waved him over. Thorne left Eden with Isabelle and then joined his uncle. Cameron clinked his glass with a fork and caught everyone’s attention. The room was silenced with a soft hush.

“Thank you for joining us at the last minute. Though I was already convinced that Thorne was indeed our nephew, the lab results confirmed it this week, much to my and Isabelle’s joy. Let me start by saying that everything you’ve heard is true. Amelia and Jacob survived a plane crash and lived for two weeks in the jungle with Thorne, only to be brutally murdered by poachers. Thorne was miraculously rescued by a family of gorillas, who raised him as their own. As to how he was discovered, that story has been extensively reported by most major news outlets by this point.

“I’m sure you all have a lot of questions, and tonight is a chance to meet and talk with Thorne. He is, quite literally, our ambassador to the Ugandan jungle, and tonight he’s going to remind you all why it is a land worth protecting. As of today, we have created the Haywood Impenetrable Forest Charity, where you may send donations to protect the wild and beautiful jungles all over Uganda. Please stay and enjoy the wine and hors d’oeuvres.”

Thorne answered with a minute nod and began to walk through the room, smiling and speaking with the guests. With his uncle’s guidance, he had several stories prepared for them, meant to convey the beauty and importance of his home. Eden had explained to him that if he could win the hearts and minds of the people in this room tonight, the money they would donate would help protect Keza, Akika, Tembo, and all the other animals that lived within the jungle. That alone made Thorne want to do his best to be a man of the modern world tonight.

“Thorne!” A man Thorne didn’t know clapped him on the shoulder, holding him in place. “My God, youdolook like Jacob. Remarkable.”

The man, a portly fellow with red cheeks, now thrust his hand out. “I’m Lord Lofthouse. But everyone calls me Lofty, don’t you know? Good man, your father, and a dear friend of mine. Went to school with him at Eton.” Lofty smiled fondly. “Hell of a cricket player, that man. Don’t suppose you ever played? No games in the jungle, eh?”

Thorne could smell an excess of brandy on the man’s breath, but he seemed genuinely friendly, and Thorne detected no hint of danger or deception from him.

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