Page 27 of No Match for Love (Regency Love Stories)

Lucas’s eyes strayed back to Miss Faraday. He had been struggling to keep them from her all day, but after Lady Teresa had pulled him aside and asked if the gossip was true that there may be a future alignment with Miss Faraday, it was imperative that he stop showing her so much attention.

And not just because of the potential gossip. He was walking a precarious line with his emotions. Ever since meeting Miss Faraday, his emotions had been boiling closer and closer to the surface. Memories of Marietta were more plentiful, and he felt increasingly out of control.

He did not like losing control.

“Why exactly is your brother courting Miss Faraday?” James leaned against a tree beside Lucas, gesturing to the remainder of the party gathered on the blankets before them. Lucas had stood on the pretense of stretching his legs, and his friend had followed.

“I think it must be obvious.”

James raised his brows at Lucas.

“She is accomplished, beautiful, and well-appointed as the ward of a baron. My brother could do far worse. Certainly, he could not do much better.” If Lucas were one to show emotion, those words might have dripped with bitterness. In that way, his years of practice were serving him well.

“You misunderstand me. I am wondering why your brother is courting her when you so clearly wish to.”

Lucas froze. “I do not know what you mean.”

“I’ve always taken you for the smartest of us. Do not disenchant me now.”

“I am merely helping my brother make a match that will serve him well.” Lucas’s jaw was so tight as he said the words that they struggled to even get out.

James laughed. “You remember my bungled attempts at marrying Kate?” His eyes followed his wife’s movements as she stood to get a drink.

“They would be hard to forget, considering that you started the attempts with deceit.”

James lifted his brows as if to say exactly , but Lucas could not see why.

Lucas was not being deceitful in any way.

Nor was he attempting to marry Miss Faraday.

Something jerked in his midsection at that thought, but he pushed it aside.

“Once Charlie is settled, I might think seriously about marriage. My father has asked me to.”

“Not your mother?”

“Well, yes, but that is a regular occurrence. This request from my father is new.”

“Does he have reason?” James turned more fully to Lucas, arms crossing.

“He wishes to have me take on more responsibility with the estate and wants me to be married when I do. For various reasons.”

James nodded, mulling the information over. “You seem unsurprised.”

“I was quite surprised, but I’ve come to terms with it.”

“Do you have anyone in mind?” James’s eyes slid to the party in front of them, and Lucas purposely did not follow his gaze. He could not poach the woman his brother was interested in, not that he had any desire to.

Though the idea elicited some sort of reaction in him.

“I had thought to draw up a list of candidates.”

James cleared his throat, eyes back on Lucas. “That is...”

“Smart?”

“I was going to say romantic, but I was not going to mean it.”

Lucas straightened. “I have no need for romance.”

“Your future wife might wish it.”

“I intend to pick someone who does not.”

“Pick? Lucas, you sound as if this is a business transaction you are planning.”

“It is, in essence.”

“In essence? Please explain to me how marrying someone is akin to . . . to . . .”

“Money trading hands? Alliances being made? That is exactly what marriage is.”

James’s arms uncrossed, his expression flabbergasted. “You cannot truly see it that way.”

Lucas checked his words, not wanting to offend his friend. “For you and Lady Bowcott, I see that there is more to it than that, but not all of us need that. Not all of us want it.”

His friend’s brows pulled together, the cogs in his brain clearly spinning as he thought through what he would say next. When he finally spoke, it was not with some retort or argument, as Lucas might have expected. “Have you always felt this way?”

Since Marietta had died, yes, but that was the last thing Lucas would admit. Instead he said, “Since I have considered it, yes.”

The expression on James’s face was that of a man only just seeing his friend for the first time.

Lucas did not like the scrutiny. “Come,” he said, “let us rejoin the party.”

James followed, but the way he cut his eyes to Lucas was evidence that he would not be letting the conversation go so easily.

James would have to be disappointed then because Lucas had no intention of expounding on his feelings regarding marriage. He did not have to explain himself to his friend. Their experiences in life were drastically different. It made sense that their outlooks on love would be different as well.

Miss Faraday looked up as Lucas settled himself back on the blanket.

They were on opposite sides of the picnic, but he felt as if the distance were much smaller.

He pulled his gaze away. If he were to be true to his conversation with James, he needed to stop whatever was happening in regard to his feelings for Miss Faraday.

This was the fourth outing he’d promised Charlie.

One more, and he could distance himself entirely.

Unless Charlie married her.

The universe could not be so cruel, could it?

“Lord Berkeley, we are at the foot of Spankers Hill, are we not? I should love a walk to the top.”

Dash it. In looking away from Miss Faraday, Lucas had placed his gaze squarely on Lady Teresa, and she’d taken complete advantage.

Thankfully, Lady Bowcott immediately saw the problem and acted quickly. “A bit of exercise while we await the changing of the tides would be welcome. Why don’t we all go?”

Lady Teresa appeared to be the only member of the party unexcited by the prospect.

James offered his arm to his wife, as was expected, but Lord Charleton looked between both remaining women before seemingly settling on Miss Faraday. His mouth opened as his arm lifted.

Lucas ought to have left him to it. The Lucas from two minutes before had been determined to do just that.

But something within him rebelled against the idea of Miss Faraday on another’s arm, so before he’d even come to his feet, he sent out rushed words intended to beat whatever Charleton was about to say.

“Miss Faraday, might I offer you my arm?”

Charleton pressed his lips together, appearing more entertained than chagrined, and easily switched his attentions to Lady Teresa.

Lady Teresa did not take the switch so easily. “My, what a picture you two make. I do declare that must be why everyone seems to be talking of Miss Faraday and the Cheltenham men.”

Miss Faraday turned surprised eyes on Lucas, who had just reached her side and had his arm half lifted to offer it to her.

He did not make a habit of being rude, but really, why had Charlie invited Lady Teresa?

They had no close association, as far as he knew.

But Charlie had handled all aspects of this outing beyond tasking Lucas with inviting the Bowcotts.

Perhaps Lady Teresa was all Charlie could find on such short notice.

Clearly he’d failed to invite another woman to even out the numbers had Charlie attended, so that was possible.

No one was quick to respond, and Lucas intended not to be the first, but Miss Faraday, with a cocked head and a smile playing on her lips said, “Yes, I am very grateful to the friendship of the Cheltenham family. I am glad others have noticed their kindness as well.”

Lady Teresa did not seem to know what to make of that, and her scowl soon returned. Lucas turned from it without concern.

They began a procession up the hill, James and Lady Bowcott leading the group.

Lucas ignored the now-familiar simmering sensation that occurred where his arm met Miss Faraday’s hand.

Perhaps if he could frame her in a different light, he would not feel so drawn to her.

They could be friends, could they not? She had proven trustworthy, and he enjoyed her company.

Friends. Yes. He had several of those and had managed to maintain the relationships.

He could do the same with Miss Faraday. That would not be too dangerous. Or, at least, that’s what he hoped.

“I am sorry you could not read your letter right away,” he said, opening the conversation.

Her lips twisted in a grimace. “I admit that I am as well. I hope it will contain a great deal of information regarding my past and my future.”

“I hope it does.”

She smiled at him then focused on her feet for a moment. “Will Mr. Trenway’s family fare well as he heals?”

That was an astute question. “We’ve found some work he can do in the meantime. Non-physical and fairly easy.”

“That is kind of you.” She paused. “Do you do that often? Find work for others? Something your friend said made me think perhaps that is a job you undertake often, but if it’s presumptuous of me to ask, feel free to keep your silence.”

Lucas paused as well, weighing the risk of sharing all with her, but this part was not so bad as the boxing, and she’d borne that knowledge well. “Yes. We try to help where we can. That is what I was doing at Mr. Sperry’s office.”

Her eyes lit with understanding. “Ah. That makes a great deal more sense than you taking an interest in law.”

Lucas chuckled. “While I am sure it is fascinating, I do not have much knowledge in that area.”

“Nor I. I hope the details of my inheritance do not prove too taxing for me.”

“If they are, I imagine Sperry will help you sort it all out. He is a brilliant fellow.”

She nodded. “He said he receives many odd requests in inheritance cases.”

“Oh? Was yours an odd one?”

She lifted a shoulder. “I suppose not as much as it could be. I cannot marry.”

He stumbled over his own feet. “At all?”