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He stole a look at her and met her gaze. She glanced away. He could not decide whether he had embarrassed her yesterday or frightened her even.

She had not seemed it—in fact, she had seemed thoroughly keen to kiss him as much as he had wanted to kiss her. She wasyoung and no doubt lonely out here. She was not indulging in the normal things that a nineteen-year-old should. He was probably the first man to ever attempt to kiss her. If that could be called an attempt. He tightened his grip around his fork. The mere thought of being the first man to kiss her made his blood heat in his veins.

Drawing in a long breath through his nostrils, he focused on eating his meal. Joining her here had probably been a mistake but having seen the effort she put in every morning, he was not sorry he had come. Lucy had been trying her best to make him comfortable in his own home, and he had a lot to make up for. If it meant enduring uncomfortable breakfasts—and this hot, gnawing desire for the next month—he would.

He would do whatever it took to make her happy. She deserved that much, he recognized that now.

He cleared his throat. She glanced up at him, pausing halfway through slicing some bacon delicately.

“I was…I was thinking of holding a ball. In around six weeks’ time.”

That would give his siblings enough time to recover from their various tasks, he hoped. And enough time to prepare for a ball. They would have plenty to organize, and it would keep them busy. More than anything, it would keep Lucy busy. All young women loved balls, did they not? Preparing the flowers and the food and the guest list would make her happy indeed.

“A ball?” she echoed.

“Yes, it is about time we entertained here, do you not think?”

She dropped the knife and fork and stared at her uneaten food for a moment. “If that is what you wish.”

“I was thinking more that you might enjoy organizing it. But if you do not want to, then you need not be involved. After all, you do enough around here as it is. I am more than happy totake full responsibility for it. I can see that maybe it is too much for you to manage.” Christ, he was rambling like an idiot. He groaned inwardly.

Lucy’s head snapped up. “No, it is not too much. I can certainly handle planning something so simple as a ball.”

Her words were terse. He wanted to slap a hand to his forehead. Now he had insulted her organizational skills. Would he ever get it right when it came to Lucy?

He damn well wanted to.

“Lucy,” he said softly, waiting for her attention to reach him. “I would not think any less of you if you did not wish to take it on. It is my idea, and I should be the one to see it through.”

“I did not think you even liked balls,” she muttered.

Theo simply shrugged. What could he say? He did not like balls one jot, but it was part of his grandfather’s terms. And if his siblings did succeed in their tasks, they would certainly deserve a celebration. Though, he could not be certain if Seth would be celebrating. It would depend on his choice of wife.

He could only hope that Minerva would be willing to attend too. There was no update on her as yet, and it seemed Seth had not chosen a wife.

Shaking away the thoughts, he turned his attention back to the problem in front of him. The problem being Lucy. Because she was indeed a problem, even though she should not be. She was the sweetest, kindest, most efficient woman he had ever met. That should not pose a problem at all, yet his feelings for her…

Forcing a wider smile onto his face, he finished his coffee and pushed back his chair. “I shall start preparing today, I think. The ballroom needs opening and airing.”

Lucy stood too, her shoulders squared off and her chin lifted high. “I shall come with you. I have not been in there since we shut it up. I need to see what must be done.”

“You really do not need to…”

“I want to,” she said determinedly.

Theo gave her a sideways look. He was not certain that he was willing to argue with her. With any luck, she would start enjoying the preparations and realize that it was a chance to meet new friends and enjoy herself for a change.

Of course, she would meet new men.

His gut clenched at the mere thought. He would have to witness her dancing with men, talking with men. They would look at her and see the young beauty she had become. He clenched his teeth until his jaw hurt, only releasing them when they reached the ballroom. He had no right to think this way. This needed to stop.

Theo threw open the vast doors to the ballroom. The scent of must greeted them. The room was gloomy, with the shutters still closed. Tiny trickles of light slipped in through the gaps, painting the dance floor in lines. The chandeliers above were gloomy and dusty. All remaining furnishings were covered with sheets.

Lucy stepped into the ring before him. Peering up at the ceiling where some of the most intricate artwork in the house had been painted, she moved all the way into the center of the room until she was under the main chandelier. Tiny droplets of light that were allowed into the room caught on the gems and speckled her with stars. He swallowed.

“Oh goodness.” She glanced at him. “To think I have never set foot in this room before.”

Theo remained in the doorway, unable to urge himself forward quite yet. There was a reason Lucy had never set foot in this room, even before he left the house for good. He was no stranger to balls and no stranger to this room. His late wife held many a ball—too many. Even when it became clear that entertaining was becoming a burden on the estate finances, shecould not cease. Eventually, he had the room shut off and locked up.