Claimed (The Women of Wintercrest #3) (7 page)

“Yes, Ma’am, I’m sorry,” the girl said quietly
, before turning to follow Molly from the room.  Lucas found he was very intrigued by her and was glad he had decided to accept his friend’s invitation.

“Don’t be upset with the little thing, Miss Anna,” Lucas implored
, as he hugged her to his side.  “It truly was my fault.”  Anna shook her head and looked up at him with a disapproving stare.

“Well, young man, unless you wish to learn to mend, I suggest you let me decide what is needed.  You’ve obviously grown soft in your travels,” she said
, and saw him grin.  She slapped her own hand against his chest.  “Don’t forget, I’ve known you since you were in short pants, Lucas.  I just pray that you come to your senses soon.”  Lucas laughed, and after bending to kiss her cheek again, he bowed to her as well.

“Yes, Ma’am,” he said with a smile.  “I’m sure Edward won’t hesitate to remind me of my duties.”  Anna shook her head.

“Dinner will be ready soon,” she said, and left the three to ensure that every detail of dinner would be perfect.  After all, it wasn’t often that her second-favorite young man came to visit.

Lucy walked slowly downstairs.  She had changed into another dress and was holding the torn one in her arms.  Expecting everyone to be seated for dinner, she was surprised to see that the dining room was empty.  Hearing voices, she turned and walked towards the library.  She stepped into the room with the intention of placing her dress in her sewing basket.  Before she took another step, she froze.  Professor Lloyds was standing at the fireplace opposite her, in conversation with Lord Huntington.  She must have made some sound because his head turned and his gaze found hers.  She felt her face heat
, remembering the last time she had seen him.  Lucas followed the direction of Lloyds’ gaze and saw Lucille seemingly frozen in mid-step.

“Ah, there’s the little kitten,” Lucas said.  Lucy’s eyes moved to his and her color heightened.  Louisa, standing by her husband, swiveled her head between her sister and the two men.  No one was aware of her smile.  She could practically feel the battle for her sister beginning
, though neither man was yet aware of it.  Edward, seeing that his ward had not moved into the room, beckoned to her.

“Come, Lucy, I’d like you to meet my guest,” Edward said.  Her guardian’s voice broke the spell and Lucy moved her gaze to him.  She walked
over to him and only then realized that a beautiful woman was standing beside Edward.  Edward reached out and took her arm, pulling her closer.

“Lucille, may I present
Miss Eleanor Summers,” Edward said. “Miss Summers is a dear friend of mine,” he added.  Lucy gave the woman an awkward curtsey, as one arm was holding her dress and Edward hadn’t yet released her other.

Eleanor smiled.
  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lucille.  Your guardian speaks highly of you and I can see why,” she said, immediately recognizing the girl’s potential.  She was beautiful even with her face flushed, her eyes clouded with insecurity.  “You didn’t exaggerate, Edward.  You are a very lucky man.  Your wife and ward are both just adorable.”  Louisa watched her sister’s face redden further and knew she was embarrassed.  As the woman spoke, Charles left the fireplace and came to stand close to Lucy.

“Good evening, Miss Furniss,” he said quietly.  “I trust you
are well?”  Lucy was grateful for his interruption but could only nod for a moment before remembering her manners.

“I’m fine, thank you, Professor Lloyds,” she said
, and managed a more respectful curtsey as Edward had released her arm.  Lucas leaned against the mantel.  He might appear casual but his every sense was evaluating the scene.  It was obvious that the Professor was infatuated with Edward’s ward, and yet didn’t seem to know how to handle himself.  Eleanor was no stranger to Lucas as he had visited her establishment many times before he left the country.  He had learned quite a bit under her guidance and fondly remembered quite a few of her students.  His eyes raked up and down Lucy’s form before doing the same to Louisa’s.  He had been correct about their size.  Though twins, he could tell that the girls were dressed differently and yet both far below their correct age.  He found he couldn’t wait to speak with his old friend in private and discover all that had happened in his absence.  Meanwhile, he would be quiet and simply observe.

Molly appeared in the doorway and
announced that dinner was served.  Charles stepped forward and offered his arm to Lucy.  She glanced at Edward and saw him nod.  She took the offered arm and then had to release it when she realized she was still clutching her mending.

“Allow me,” Lucas said stepping forward and plucking the dress from her hand.  Lucy’s mouth dropped open and she flushed again at his action.   “I feel responsible, after all, it is I that caused
your dress to rip.”  Charles gasped and looked at the two.

“What does he mean, Miss Furniss?  He ripped your dress?’ Charles said
, and actually took a step towards the much larger man.  Edward chuckled.

“It was an accident, Charles,” Edward said.  “There is no need to call Lucas out for it.  He was simply keeping Lucille from taking a tumble from the library ladder.  Come, Mrs. Bremmer will not be happy if we spoil all her efforts by being late to the table.”  Charles tucked Lucy’s hand firmly into the crook of his arm and nodded.  Lucas grinned
, and after dropping the ripped garment into what appeared to him a sewing basket, turned and offered his arm to Eleanor.

“Shall we?” he asked.  She looked up at him with a knowing smile. 

“Do I sense the little one has already captured your attention, Lucas?” Eleanor asked quietly. 

“How can anyone’s interest not be captured, Eleanor?  How often have you seen ident
ical beauties under one roof?” Lucas said, and then chuckled, “…although one seems to be a lamb and the other a lioness.”  Eleanor’s eyebrow quirked at his words.  Lucas might have appeared to be just teasing, but Eleanor was very experienced with men and their interests.  She smiled and squeezed his arm. 

“Hmm, not ever before but it shall be educational I do believe
,” she said.  Lucas just grinned and followed the others from the room.  Edward seated his wife and waited until Lucy and Eleanor had been seated as well.  With Lucas’ unexpected arrival, he had totally forgotten he had guests arriving for dinner.  He found himself very grateful for such an experienced housekeeper. It appeared Anna was unflappable in all matters, whether she be preparing dinner for additional guests or keeping his girls in line.  Wine was being poured and sampled.

“I believe you will enjo
y this wine,” Charles said to Lucy as he tasted the full-bodied red.  “Shall I pour you a glass, or would you prefer to try the white?” he asked.  Lucy flushed and shook her head.

“No, thank
you.  I’m not allow…um…I usually just drink milk,” she confessed.  Charles could have kicked himself for his faux pas.  He should have known that.  Not only had he been a dinner guest at Wintercrest before this evening, his tutoring under Eleanor had also been an example.  Every one of her girls drank milk with their meals.  He felt his face flush, but quickly set down the wine bottle and picked up the pitcher of milk.  Lucy glanced up to see Edward’s friend watching her.  She quickly dropped her eyes.  Lucas grinned.

“
Charles, it is well known that kittens prefer cream,” he said after Lucy’s glass was full.  She lifted her head and shot him a glance that was very unlike a loveable kitten.  He watched as she turned to address Charles.

“Thank you, Professor,” she said sweetly
, and gave him a smile.  “I’m sure it is as delicious as any wine.”  Lucas thought her ruse might have worked if she hadn’t picked up her glass to take a sip.  Although she attempted to hide her grimace, it was very clear that milk was not her first choice.  Lucy heard Lord Huntington chuckle and her face flushed.

“Make sure you sample the cheese course, Lord Huntington,” Lucy said with fake sweetness.  “I’m sure a man such as yourself will find it most enjoyable.”  Eleanor hid her
amusement behind her wine glass as she saw Lucas look surprised.  He recovered quickly and laughed, realizing the little kitten was calling him a rat.

“Thank you, kitten,” he said
, smiling as he tipped his wine glass towards her in a salute.  “I shall look forward to everything you have to offer.”  He watched as her eyes flashed at him and her face turned as red as the wine in his glass.  She finally dropped her gaze and Lucas shook his head in amusement before turning his attention to Eleanor. 

As the meal progressed, Lucy was the sole object of
Charles’ focus.  She alternated between embarrassment when she saw Lucas watching her to embarrassment over how to properly respond to her Professor’s attention.  By the time the meal was over, she felt exhausted.  Charles pulled back her chair and again offered her his arm, which she took automatically.

“Perhaps I can persuade Edward to allow you another walk?” Charles said bending close to her ear.   Evidently he had not spoken softly enough
.

“As lovely as the outing sounds, I’m afraid you should not tempt our girl,” Lucas said
, as he walked towards them.  “I would offer to take on her duty myself, since I still feel rather guilty, but I’m positive my mending would not meet Mrs. Bremmer’s standard of excellence.  Still, I suppose Lucille might be persuaded to take the risk, as she seems to enjoy putting herself in dangerous situations.”  Charles looked confused while Lucy looked furious.  Mrs. Bremmer shook her head, though she was amused at Lucas’ antics.

She quickly cleared the air: 
“Professor, what Lord Huntington is attempting to convey is that Lucille has mending to do.  Lucille, go to the library and get started,” Anna ordered.  “Professor Lloyds, perhaps you’d prefer to join the adults for a drink?” she suggested.  Lucy felt both embarrassed and relieved.  The day had contained too much newness for her.  She had grown accustomed to strict schedules and rules.  Though it had originally galled her to be forced to adhere to such strictness, she had discovered that her days had become filled with a calmness that was unfortunately now quickly leaving.  Being surrounded by all these people, especially Lord Huntington, was confusing her and producing feelings that she didn’t know how to decipher. 

“Yes, Ma’am,” she said
almost gratefully, and slid her hand from Charles’ arm.  “Thank you, Professor Lloyds,” she said.  She saw Lucas behind Mrs. Bremmer; his incessant smile as he nibbled around a piece of cheese caused her blood to race.  She knew he found her most amusing.  Before she realized what she was doing, she once more placed her hand on Charles’ arm and looked up at him.  “You were wonderfully kind at dinner, Sir.  Perhaps you’ll be so kind to ask me again, Professor when I’ve not been made to pay for another’s mistake.”  Charles was still confused but nodded immediately and smiled.

“You may count on it, Miss Furniss,” he promised.  Anna rolled her eyes and took Lucy’s hand from Charles’ arm. 
Lucas chuckled thinking the kitten might believe she was playing with a rat, but might discover instead that he too had claws.

“We shall see what Lord Wintercrest decides, but for now, this little one needs to remember her place or chance going to bed with a hot bottom,” Anna said sternly.  Lucy blushed
as she remembered the hand that had connected again and again to her bottom.  She couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes as she hurried to the library.  She knew both men had heard the housekeeper’s words and she was scared that the woman just might decide to make sure they understood that Lucy was not an important guest in the house.  Despite the fact that she was the guardian of Lord Wintercrest, in this house, she was nothing more than a little girl who should remember just how quickly she could be turned bottom-up over someone’s knee. 

She picked up her dress and dropped onto the settee. 
She was soon busy working tiny stitches in the fabric to repair the ripped seam.  As she stabbed the needle through the seam, she imagined it was that awful man’s skin, instead.  She shouldn’t be sitting here mending a dress he had torn.  She shouldn’t be sitting here at all.  It was his fault that, instead of walking out with a wonderful man who obviously still wished to court her, she was made to do something she was quickly learning to absolutely despise.  As she felt the needle stab into the pad of her finger, she moaned and put her finger into her mouth. 

“
Bloody hell,” she mumbled, sucking on the injury. 

“Lucille!” she heard and
instantly knew she was in deep trouble.  She found herself being yanked up from the settee, her mending falling to the floor.  She saw Lord Huntington standing behind the housekeeper and dropped her gaze.  “Vulgar words are never to come from your mouth,” Anna said dragging the girl towards a nearby chair.  Lucille understood her intention.

“Please, don’t,” she
begged. “I…I didn’t mean to curse...I…I stabbed myself,” she attempted to explain, holding her finger out as if to provide evidence of her injury.  Anna had no care what caused the misbehavior; she only cared to correct it.  She was about to sit when Lucas stepped forward.

“Mrs. Bremmer, there is no need for this,” he said.  His voice was no longer light or
teasing.  Lucy felt herself shiver at the absolute tone of authority in his voice.  She felt Mrs. Bremmer stiffen beside her.