Page 26 of A Lord in Want of a Wife (Daring Debutantes #2)

I t did not take Lucy months to feel safe again. It was as if saying her piece had transformed her. She expressed her pain and her fears. She saw the shame in Cedric’s eyes, and she felt all the wrenching agony of a love destroyed.

Tears and pain followed. She drenched her pillow in a tidal wave of tears. But in time, the storm passed. She slept. She ate. And soon, she could breathe again.

She stopped hoarding food. She put away her satchel of trinkets and did not think of it again. Cedric was right. She was safe. Her father had not abandoned them. Grace was going to be a duchess. And whether it was her father, Grace or the Duke, she would be cared for.

She would never starve.

That was so momentous a shift that it took her some time to adjust. It helped that she was now officially ‘out’.

She could go to parties with Grace and their new friend Phoebe.

Finally, she was able to meet all those men who were supposed to fall at her feet.

And since Grace was now engaged to a duke, the three of them were invited everywhere.

She tried not to be aware of Cedric. She didn’t listen when gossip reached her ears. If he were at a party when she arrived, he immediately departed. And if all those men asking her to dance weren’t distraction enough, she also helped with the plans for Grace and Declan’s wedding.

And yet, she learned what Cedric was doing anyway.

He was gathering investors for a ship and cargo. Everyone was talking about how experienced he was now that he had spent so much time working on The Integrity . Prinny was said to be so impressed that he invested, as well. And once the royal invested, others joined.

She heard other things, too. Things that she didn’t understand. Cedric was touting the wonders of a children’s book? And he knew of a man who could repair canals for a moderate price. Indeed, for a man who existed on the edge of society, she heard a great deal of what he was doing.

She didn’t care. She was meeting eligible bachelors.

And they were very exciting…for a time. Dancing was fun.

Living life as a pampered woman was fun.

But all too soon, she became bored. The men did not have a twinkle in their eyes like Cedric.

They did not ask her about her interests.

What they did want to know was exactly how much money was in her dowry.

In that way, they were exactly like Cedric. And she couldn’t have despised them more.

And yet, she still dressed in fine new clothes, smiled brightly at Grace and the Duke, and then pretended to love every moment of it. Including the night they went to the theatre.

It was hard to hear among the crush of people. The Duke had a box of his own, so that helped. It lifted them up above all the people milling about on the floor.

She’d never been to the theatre before. Never seen actors on the stage performing a tale. Most everyone here knew the stories they acted. It was part of their English heritage. But she didn’t know them. Neither did Grace. And so they watched with rapt attention at the beginning.

But the language of the tragedy was in a form of English that was hard for her to understand. There were words she couldn’t follow about kings and queens she’d never heard of before. And though she enjoyed it, the strain was significant.

She needed a break. Indeed, her sister did, too. And so when Lucy indicated she needed to find the ladies’ retiring room, Grace went with her. The chatter here was equally loud and soon the two sisters escaped to walk slowly down the hall back towards their box.

They’d barely made it up the stairs when she heard his voice.

Cedric.

He was laughing with a couple, the sound light if not exactly happy.

They were talking cargo and coin, what would be purchased and sold for profit.

Her interest piqued, her head lifted, and naturally she wanted to listen to the conversation.

The exchange of goods always interested her.

But it was Cedric’s voice that drew her most. There was a new quality to his speech that interested her.

They rounded the corner and saw each other. She was acquainted with the couple, Lord and Lady Deforte, who were of an older generation. The man was genial, as far as she remembered, but the lady was a known gossip. Her eyes lit up when she saw Lucy and Grace, and she immediately waved them over.

‘Why it’s the Misses Richards! Come here! You must join us. No, no, Lord Domac, don’t go. I’m sure it’s all water under the bridge now. No need to run away.’

What a shrew! Barely one month had passed since the disaster at Almack’s. Lady Deforte was looking for gossip. She wanted to see how Grace and Cedric interacted so she could tell everyone about the way he still pined for her. But his gaze was on Lucy, and hers on him.

‘You look well, my lord,’ Lucy said as she and Grace performed their curtsies.

‘Thank you,’ he said, his voice rough. ‘You look…’ He shook his head. ‘Astonishing.’ He turned to Grace. ‘You both do.’

‘What a delightful thing to say,’ Lady Deforte gushed. ‘What exactly seems to astound you, my lord?’

He smiled winningly at the lady. ‘Only that such beauty surrounds me tonight. I fear with the three of you ladies here, no one will watch the stage. All will watch you as if you were Helen of Troy directing the way of their hearts.’

The lady pinked and giggled. Cedric was always able to flirt, but now Lucy saw how smoothly he turned a shrew into a blushing girl. Odd that she wasn’t jealous. Indeed, she was pleased that he need not suffer any sleight or jab from the woman.

Meanwhile, Grace was looking towards their box. ‘A pleasure to see you three again, but—’

‘Have you heard?’ Lady Deforte interrupted. ‘Lord Cedric is getting together a ship and cargo. Prinny himself has invested!’

‘That is excellent news—’ Grace began.

‘What is the ship?’ Lucy interrupted. ‘What choices have you made for cargo?’ She knew she shouldn’t ask.

She should walk away. She’d burned him out of her heart, hadn’t she?

And so why would she need to know his particulars?

But she did want to know. Indeed, she wished him well for himself and his family.

‘I haven’t found the right ship yet,’ he said. ‘Everything seaworthy is either too expensive or full of holes.’ He flashed a chagrinned expression to Lord Deforte. ‘I mean that quite literally. Wood rots. And if it’s the wood beneath your feet, that’s a big problem.’

‘Yes, yes,’ Lord Deforte said. ‘I’m very interested, mostly because Prinny wants me to be interested. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to help you out blindly. Come see me tomorrow afternoon at my club. We can discuss the particulars then.’

Cedric grinned, his cheeks flushing to a healthy colour. Indeed, now that she was this close to him, she saw that he’d lost weight, but the slight tightening of his body was offset by the gleam in his eyes. He was pleased. And that made his natural charm all the more handsome.

‘But we’re missing the end of the tragedy,’ Lord Deforte continued. ‘Come along, my dear. Our business here is done.’

‘But—’ his wife interrupted.

‘Lord Domac, I’m sure you can see these ladies back to their box, yes?

You know it’s never good to have tension among families.

Makes Christmas awkward. And all those christenings and Easter.

’ He shook his head. ‘Best make one’s apologies immediately and move on.

’ The last words were aimed at Lucy and Grace.

Clearly the man thought that they were the ones punishing Cedric, and he was doing his part to see that they forgave him.

Cedric, however, was quick to reassure the man. ‘Both Miss Richards have been exceedingly gracious to me.’

‘Good, good. Then go with them and see what the Duke can do to help you out with your boat problem.’ He arched a brow at Cedric. ‘And then come talk to me tomorrow and tell me what you’ve arranged.’ Then he gently, but firmly, steered his wife through the door of a nearby box.

Which left the three of them together, awkwardness increasing by the second. Until Cedric smoothed it over, not with charm, but honesty.

‘I am so sorry,’ he said. ‘I didn’t know you would be here, and Prinny commanded me to find Lord Deforte. So I had to come here, but I’ll leave—’

‘You couldn’t have known we were walking back from the retiring room,’ Lucy interrupted. ‘And you needn’t run away.’ She glanced over to Lord Deforte’s box. ‘Won’t he expect you to talk to Declan now?’

Cedric winced. ‘I’ll make something up. You needn’t—’

Grace set her hand on his arm. ‘We are going to be family now. You cannot run out every time we walk in.’ She glanced at Lucy. ‘Shall we walk together back to the box?’

‘Yes.’ She fell into step beside her sister.

Neither of them gave their hand to Cedric, and he didn’t offer his arm.

She saw him twitch to do so but then stopped himself.

Nevertheless, he walked beside them with all appearance of courtesy.

So she smiled at him. ‘It’s true then? Prinny has invested in your venture? ’

‘Yes and no,’ he said. ‘He’s promised money, but not how much. He’s put his voice to my project, which is a significant help. But it will be for nothing if I cannot find the right ship at the right price.’

Grace nodded. ‘Good ships are hard to find.’

‘They’re expensive to find,’ Lucy corrected.

‘But I’ll find it. Never fear.’

She didn’t. He had a strength in him when he spoke that hadn’t been there before.

He’d always had determination to succeed, he’d always been willing to work for it, but this time he seemed to have a clear vision.

One that he believed in. One that seemed to guide him in a good way instead of a destructive one.

‘How are your sisters?’ she asked. She knew the pressures he felt. Just how desperate was he?

His expression softened. ‘My youngest sister, Lilianna, has written a children’s book.

Several, actually, and I have found a publisher for her.

It will take some time for the books to be printed and sold.

And I have let it about to my friends that it will make an excellent holiday or birthday gift. ’

So that was why there was talk about books for children. He was preparing the ton to buy the books. ‘That will be good income,’ she said.

He nodded, clearly pleased. ‘I hope so, though it will take time. And I know the publisher personally. He will not take advantage of her.’

‘That is most excellent.’

He smiled as he looked directly at her. ‘It was your words that made me think of it. You said that money is made in slow, careful inches. I used to think like a gambler, in large wins and losses. But it is the small, steady progress that works best.’

That was true. And her heart warmed that he would remember her words. ‘Windfalls happen, too,’ she said. ‘Sometimes a generous man goes all the way to China to save a pair of orphan girls.’

He smiled. ‘Your father is the best of men.’

‘He is. But what of your other sisters?’

They were outside the Duke’s box, but they lingered there. Or rather, Cedric and Lucy lingered. Grace waited silently, her eyes and ears missing nothing, but she didn’t interfere in their conversation.

‘I found my future brother-in-law some work. He’s an engineer who understands canals, and I know plenty of people whose canals need repair.’ He rubbed a hand over his face. ‘I leave in two days for their wedding. That’s why I had to find Lord Deforte tonight.’

‘Yes, I understand. You could not give them dowries, but you found a way for them to have income. Income is better, I think.’

‘It’s slow money, but yes. They will survive. Indeed, I think Eric’s money will outpace mine. At least until the repairs are finished.’

‘You are finding your way,’ she said. ‘I am happy for you.’

‘As are you,’ he said. ‘You’re quite the sensation this Season.

’ He glanced at Grace. ‘You both are. But now that you are engaged, every good man I know has asked about you. And many of the bad ones, as well.’ His voice darkened at that, but he needn’t have bothered warning her.

It was that moment Declan stepped out of the box, likely looking for them.

‘I am taking care of them,’ the Duke said, his tone equally dark.

Cedric straightened. ‘Yes, I know. But I’ve warned several others off, just in case.’

The two men held gazes for a long moment. Lucy didn’t understand what passed between them, but it was significant. And in the end, Declan gave his cousin a slow nod.

‘Come see me after you return from the wedding.’

Cedric stiffened. ‘You… How—’

Declan lifted his hand. ‘I know about the wedding and the reason for it. I didn’t beforehand, but—’

‘You cannot tell my parents. Cora doesn’t want them there and I agree—’

Declan held up his hand. ‘I won’t tell anyone. But I am sending a wedding gift,’ he said. ‘It should be enough to finish any repairs and properly furnish their home.’

Cedric’s eyes widened for a moment. And then his breath left him in a long, slow exhale. ‘Thank you, Declan. That is very generous—’

‘It’s for Cora. It’s for them all, really. I should have been watching them closer. And for that, you have my apology.’

Cedric nodded, clearly overcome. Declan’s lips curved. Not quite a smile, but there was warmth there nonetheless. ‘You’re family, Cedric. I can be furious and still not abandon you.’

‘I am sorry,’ Cedric said as his gaze took in all three of them. ‘It will not happen again.’

‘I know,’ Declan said. ‘I hope you make a go of the shipping venture,’ Declan added. ‘The last thing you want to do is take Prinny’s money and fail.’

‘I have no intention of failing,’ he said, resolve in his tone. ‘But it is a risk.’

Lucy spoke up, not wanting to see him waver. ‘Every venture is, but if we never tried anything, Grace and I would still be in China.’

‘And for that,’ Declan said as he pressed a kiss to Grace’s hand, ‘I am truly grateful.’

As was Lucy. For all that she had lost her dream of marrying Cedric, she would not change anything in her life. Leaving China had been a gamble well worth taking.

And perhaps, she thought, it was time she took another one.

Cedric was not the man for her, but she would earnestly open her heart to the other men courting her.

She would stop comparing them to Cedric, she would stop thinking of eradicating him from her heart and honestly spend time with her suitors.

She would stop hating men for abandoning or betraying her and allow herself to truly search for a husband.