Love for Lucinda (30 page)

Lord Thorpe sat up sharply. “No! That innocent? Well, I hope that you drew his cork for him.”

“I didn’t,” said Lord Mays regretfully. “But I think that I very nearly broke his jaw.”  

Lord Potherby was denied more of what he found to be a fascinating conversation. The curtain was raised, the last of the visitors left the box, and the second half of the comedy played on. However, Lord Potherby did not find it quite as amusing as he had earlier.

A small hand was laid on his sleeve, and Miss Mays’s anxious voice inquired, “Are you not enjoying the production, my lord?”

Lord Potherby shook himself free of his reflections, and he covered her hand in his. “I shall enjoy it as long as I have you to share it with me, Miss Mays.”

Miss Mays blushed. She knew that she should not allow Lord Potherby to continue holding her hand, but it felt so reassuring. She stole a glance at his lordship’s manly profile and sighed happily.

After the comedy, Lucinda’s party returned to Mays House for coffee. It was a brief interlude due to the time, and the gathering broke up within an hour. After her guests where gone, Lucinda turned to her sister-in-law and said cheerfully, “I must say, Agnes, I don’t believe that I have ever seen you display to better effect. Have you, Tibby?”

“No, indeed,” said Miss Blythe, also smiling.

“Oh, it was positively the best evening of my entire life,” said Miss Mays, and she drifted up to bed.

Lucinda and Miss Blythe exchanged an expressive glance.

“Let us hope that Lord Potherby felt the same way,” said Lucinda.

“All we can do is wait and see,” said Miss Blythe. “I think it would be a very good notion to include Lord Potherby in as many of our amusements as we can during his stay in London.”

“Oh, definitely,” agreed Lucinda. “In the morning I shall write to all the hostesses whose invitations we have accepted and request their permission to introduce Lord Potherby into their gatherings.”

“Very good, my dear,” approved Miss Blythe. “We shall give Lord Potherby every opportunity and hope for a happy conclusion before many weeks have passed.”

“I hope to bring him up to scratch before that, Tibby, or otherwise the fish will have jumped off the hook,” said Lucinda, mixing her metaphors.

When her companion looked at her inquiringly, she reminded, “Do not forget the dear little lambs.”

“Oh, dear,” said Miss Blythe blankly.

* * * *

A week later when Lord Mays came to call on Lucinda, his expression was such that she knew at once that there was something of import that he wanted to share with her. Her heart lurched, for he appeared so somber that she thought some terrible thing had taken place.

As soon as the amenities were gotten past, she asked anxiously, “What is it, Wilfred? Is there something wrong?”

“I am not sure. That is why I came at once to you, Lucinda.” Lord Mays took her hands. His expression very somber, he said, “Lucinda, Lord Potherby came to see me this morning. I recalled that I had met him here at Mays House, and I saw him at once. You may imagine my shock when he told me that he had come to me because I am head of the Mays family. It was deuced odd to think of myself in those terms, let me tell you! But that is neither here nor there. Lucinda, he informed me that he has admired you for quite some time and had hoped to come to figure in your affections. His lordship was very open, very frank. He—”

“For heaven’s sake, Wilfred, are you trying to tell me that Lord Potherby has made an offer for me?” exclaimed Lucinda. “Why, I have been expecting him to do so anytime these past several months.”

“Not
for you, no.”

Lord Mays regarded her with some worry. “I hope that it is not a great disappointment to you, Lucinda, but his lordship has not offered for you at all. He has offered for my cousin, Agnes!”

“For Agnes?” said Lucinda. At his concerned expression she felt a rising irresistible urge to giggle.

Lord Mays patted her hands. “I see that it is a disappointment to you, Lucinda. His lordship thought it might be a shock since he has made no secret of his admiration for you. Believe me, there was never anything more abject than Potherby’s face when he admitted to his frivolous change of allegiance. But he is staunch in his assertion that his feelings for Agnes are too strong to set aside. He assures me that he has well-grounded suspicions that she harbors the same feelings for him. I am sorry, my dear, but you have lost Lord Potherby to Agnes.”

Lucinda’s chest felt on the point of bursting. A laugh tore from her, then another. She laughed in earnest then. “Lost Lord Potherby! And to Agnes! Oh, how rich that is!”

Lord Mays regarded her in dismay and alarm, mistaking the throes of her laughter for strong hysterics. “Lucinda! You are beside yourself.” He seized hold of her arms and shook her urgently. “Lucinda, you must not! Listen to me! Potherby is not worth this, pray believe me!”

Lucinda put both her hands up against his chest to brace herself. She shook her head, still laughing. “Oh, Wilfred! You misunderstand, truly you do! Oh, was there anything better! I must tell Tibby! We have snared Agnes her prince!”

She began to extricate herself from Lord Mays’s slackened grasp, but his hands tightened on her. She looked up in surprise.

“Then you do not mind? About Potherby and Agnes, I mean?” he asked.

“Of course not! I have been holding Lord Potherby off for months. It is one reason that I came back to London. I had hoped that a few months’ absence would allow him time to realize that we would not at all suit,” said Lucinda. A crease was beginning to form between her brows. “Wilfred! You did not actually think that I would ever seriously entertain a suit from Lord Potherby!”

Lord Mays slowly released her. There was a gathering sheepishness about his expression. “He did seem to be an unlikely candidate for you. But then when he kept assuring me how bad he felt about turning coat so suddenly and how he knew that you had always relied upon his friendship, I began to wonder.”

“It is true that Lord Potherby has always been a good and reliable neighbor. It is also true that he has been a faithful admirer, and one, moreover, who enjoyed the favor of my parents. However, I never thought for one instant of becoming his wife,” said Lucinda. She balled her fist and lightly hit Lord Mays. “Really, Wilfred! I thought you knew me better!”

“Then it is all right that I gave Potherby my permission to solicit Agnes’s hand,” said Lord Mays, relieved.

“What an idiot you are, Wilfred,” said Lucinda fondly and without the least offense meant. “Of course it is all right. Tibby and I have both wondered whether Lord Potherby might not suit Agnes. Only see how right we were! Oh, I must go up to tell Tibby! She will be delighted.”

Lord Mays caught her wrist when she would have hastened away, and he gently pulled her back toward him. “I would like you to tell her something for me, also.”

Lucinda looked at him, puzzled. “What is that, Wilfred?”

“This!” Lord Mays hauled her into his arms and passionately kissed her. For several long moments he thoroughly demonstrated his expertise. When at last he raised his head, his gold-brown eyes were blazing, and there was the suggestion of a curl about his lips. He said, a little hoarsely, “You enjoyed that, Lucinda.”

“Oh, yes,” agreed Lucinda in a dazed fashion. She appeared half asleep with her eyelids only half opened. But the glimmering of her eyes told a different story. She clung to his lapel. “How awful of you to take me unawares, Wilfred.”

“Did you not guess my feelings for you?” he asked, reaching up one hand to brush her cheek. She nuzzled into his palm, and he cupped her face, once more lowering his head. He kissed her lingeringly, with a banked fire. “Well, Lucinda?” he asked softly.

“I thought that I saw something in your eyes, but as quickly as I looked, it vanished,” said Lucinda. She glanced quickly at him, and as quickly away. “I... I was never certain that I had seen anything.”

“I did not want to scare you off. You had told everyone how you did not intend to wed again. Oh, yes! I heard it from any number of people, Lucinda. It has been one of the ongoing
on dits
of the Season,” said Lord Mays. He chuckled suddenly. “It was generally believed that the lady was protesting too much that she enjoyed her solitary state and that the real reason you had returned to London was to snare a second husband for yourself.”

“But I didn’t!” exclaimed Lucinda. “Oh, I am so mortified. I never guessed that I was the object of such rude speculation.”

“You will not like it when I tell you that your cousin, Stassart, has offered odds in the clubs against your accepting anyone’s suit,” said Lord Wilfred.

Lucinda’s eyes glittered. “Ferdie always did have the most abominable luck,” she remarked.

Lord Mays gave a bark of laughter. His gold-brown eyes were alight as he gazed upon her. “I am glad in this instance.”

Lucinda reached up to wind her arms about Lord Mays’s neck and pressed close to him. “Wilfred, dear kind Wilfred! Pray kiss me again!”

Lord Mays was not at all loath to do so.

Chapter Twenty-seven

The door opened quietly, but Lucinda and Lord Mays were oblivious to it. Miss Blythe stood on the threshold of the open door, stunned. Then she cleared her throat. She had to repeat herself several times before the intent couple finally realized that they were no longer alone.

Lucinda and Lord Mays turned their heads. His lordship at once released Lucinda, and she reached up in a vain attempt to smooth her hair. “T... Tibby! I did not realize that you had come in,” she stammered.

“That is very obvious, my dear.” Miss Blythe’s visage was stern as she turned her gaze on the gentleman standing so awkwardly beside her blushing former pupil. “Lord Mays, what is the meaning of this?”

Lord Mays put a finger up to his cravat. It seemed to have tightened suddenly. He had come to think of Miss Blythe as a friend, and it was a distinct shock to be treated to her arctic stare. “I have asked Lady Mays to become my wife. At least, I actually haven’t, but I hope that she will.”

Miss Blythe turned her eyes to the younger woman. “Lucinda! Do you mean to stand there and admit that you yielded yourself to this exhibition without securing Lord Mays’s declaration?”

Lucinda was fast recovering her equilibrium. Half laughing, she said, “I fear that I must, Tibby. It is shameful of me, I know.”

“Do you intend to wed his lordship?” demanded Miss Blythe. There was a tremor in her voice.

Lucinda glanced at Lord Mays. He smiled crookedly at her and slipped his arm about her waist. She leaned comfortably into his embrace. “Oh, yes,” she said softly, still looking into his face. “I certainly do intend to wed him.”

Miss Blythe burst into tears. She fumbled for a handkerchief. “Forgive me!” she gasped. She turned and rushed out of the drawing room.

Lucinda and Lord Mays stared after her in consternation. Then they looked at one another, the same dismay reflected upon their faces.

“My word! What is that about?” exclaimed Lord Mays.

“I do not know, but I intend to find out,” said Lucinda. She caught his hand. “Pray do not leave until I come back to you.”

He raised her hand to his lips. His gaze was warm. “I shall ask Church to bring me something, some sandwiches and coffee. That will give me all the excuse I need to remain here kicking my heels.”

“Thank you, Wilfred. I knew that I could depend upon you,” said Lucinda.

“You may depend upon me for the remainder of your life,” said Lord Mays simply.

Lucinda’s color rose. She smiled at him before she exited the drawing room. In the entry hall, she discovered the butler to be hovering close by. Without wondering at all at the butler’s convenient proximity, Lucinda said, “Church! Have you seen Miss Blythe?”

The butler bowed. “I believe that I saw Miss Blythe go into the library, my lady.”

“Thank you, Church!”

“My lady, is something wrong? Miss Blythe seemed a little less than her usual composed self,” said the butler.

“I trust not, Church,” said Lucinda, already moving away. She bethought herself of something and paused to look back at the butler. “Lord Mays is hungry, Church.”

“I shall see to it immediately, my lady,” said Church.

Lucinda hurried on to the library. After a slight hesitation, she pushed open the door. She saw Miss Blythe at once. The lady was seated at the desk, penning a letter, occasionally setting her handkerchief to her nose to ward off another sniffle.

Miss Blythe had looked up when the door opened, and she smiled tearfully when she met Lucinda’s anxious gaze. “Pray come in, Lucinda. I promise you that I shall not treat you to another such show.”

Lucinda went over to her and knelt at her former governess’s knee. Looking up into her face, she said quietly, “What is it, Tibby? Don’t you wish me to wed Lord Mays?”

“My dear!” Tears came once more to Miss Blythe’s eyes. She lifted her spectacles and wiped her eyes. “Drat! And I promised not to play the watering pot again. I have been too often in Agnes’s company, I suspect!”

Lucinda laughed, somewhat shakily. “Yes, perhaps that sort of thing is catching. Now, Tibby, do cut line! Whyever are you so upset at the prospect of my marrying Lord Mays? Is it because he is my cousin-in-law, and that you fear I am making another hideous mistake? For I do assure you that is not the case. I care for Wilfred very much and—”

“No, no! You quite mistake the matter, Lucinda. I have nothing at all against the match. In fact, you and Lord Mays between you have made me very, very happy!” Miss Blythe’s voice caught at the last. She laughed at herself and at Lucinda’s expression.

“Oh, I can see that my behavior is quite inexplicable to you, Lucinda. Perhaps, if you read this letter, you will better understand.” Miss Blythe offered the sheet that she had just penned to Lucinda.

Lucinda took the letter with a questioning glance at Miss Blythe, and then started to read it. She looked up quickly. “Why, it is to Mr. Weatherby! But what has he to do with my marrying Lord Mays?”

Miss Blythe gestured at the sheet. “Pray read it, Lucinda.”