Page 31 of No Match for Love (Regency Love Stories)

Lucas scanned the contents of Colin’s letter again—trouble with the canal operation, new prospects in need of jobs, and the monthly financial reports of the club—but though he really needed to pen a letter back, or, better yet, visit the man, his eyes kept straying to the other papers on the desk.

Finally, he gave in, setting down Colin’s letter and picking up the newspaper, a scowl burning his face.

It would seem his brother’s attempts at subtly courting Miss Faraday were not working so well.

Though, maybe they were, since the several features in the gossip columns had more to do with Lucas and Miss Faraday rather than Charlie and her. Dash it all.

“I went to see Miss Faraday today,” Charlie announced, sauntering into the study without any greeting and throwing himself down into a chair by the window.

Lucas’s scowl stayed upon his face, and he did not even care about the outward show of emotion. “Without me? I thought you required one more outing.”

“I came to the realization while I was sick that I did not need another outing.”

And he hadn’t thought to share that realization with Lucas? “Have you declared an intention to court her then?” Lucas ground out. Lucas had not even had a chance to convince Charlie to stop courting Miss Faraday, as she’d asked.

Charlie shook his head. “The opposite.”

Lucas stared at him. “What exactly did you tell her?”

“That I was not prepared to court her. Honestly, I have decided I am not ready to marry at all. One day, perhaps, but not now.”

Of a sudden, emotion flared. Relief so strong that it shocked him.

But even stronger was the frustration. Charlie was not serious in the least. He’d trifled with Miss Faraday and now was determined to set her aside simply because she was not as shiny a trinket as he’d been hoping for. He dropped his papers on the desk.

“You mean to snub her then?”

“It is hardly a snub when I was not openly courting her.”

Lucas pressed his eyes together. “Regardless of your plan, the gossip has already begun. You will harm her reputation with your sudden neglect.”

Charlie did not look exactly un affected, but he certainly did not seem to care as greatly as he ought to. “I am sorry to hear that, but I will not be bullied into marriage or even courtship by some gossiping tabbies.”

“If you never cared, then why the ruse anyway? Why have I...” He intended to say he’d wasted his time with Miss Faraday, but that was not true. It had been many things, but it was not a waste of time. She never could be. “Why have me accompany you everywhere?”

Charlie seemed to be catching on to the anger Lucas was barely keeping at bay. He came to his feet. Lucas matched his stance. “I am not so heartless as you think. The ruse was for Miss Faraday, to avoid such a situation as this.”

“But you did not avoid it,” Lucas’s voice had begun to rise.

“I cannot help that. I did all I could.”

“You could finish what you started. You could do the honorable thing.” Why was he suggesting that? He didn’t want Charlie to further any sort of relationship with Miss Faraday. With Lydia.

Charlie’s expression was incredulous. “Would you?”

“Of course I would.”

“Truly? You would marry Miss Faraday if it were your name tangled with hers in the gossip?”

Lucas ignored the urge to pull at his cravat. It was his name in the columns. “I would if I had brought the gossip upon her, yes.”

Charlie’s eyes narrowed. “Do you ever...” He trailed off, blowing out a frustrated breath.

“What?”

His brother rubbed his jaw then shook his head, scoffing. “Do you ever just do what you want, Lucas?”

That was not at all what Lucas had expected him to say, and he had no answer.

“Truly, brother, you are... you are too honorable for your own good.”

“There is no such thing as too honorable.”

Charlie laughed, but it did not hold much humor.

“Yes, there is. And he is standing right in front of me.” He shook his head, lifting a raised palm accusingly at Lucas.

“You come to London every year though you hate it. You dance at balls if asked, you attend Mother’s soirees if asked.

You even came with me to court Miss Faraday, though you did not wish to.

And now, for the first time in years, this ounce of emotion you show is in relation to me not doing the honorable thing.

Blast, you will probably marry when and whom Mother and Father ask. ”

That last one hit a bit too close for comfort, and Lucas was about to cut off his brother, when he continued, “Well, you can live your life for others, but I will not. I am sorry for any pain I may cause Miss Faraday, but I would cause far more if I were to marry her when I have no wish to.” His voice rose until he was nearly shouting, and when he finally stopped, his breath came quickly.

Lucas stared at him. Then he nodded.

Charlie raised his brows and held his hands up as if to say, Is that all ?

Lucas was too busy trying to make sense of what Charlie had already said to answer the unspoken question. He—Lucas— did what he wanted. He simply wanted to be honorable. To be better. To—

“Is something the matter?”

Charlie had left the study door open, and now Mother appeared in the doorway, her eyes concerned.

Charlie set his jaw with a glance at Lucas before he answered. “I have determined not to court Miss Faraday.”

“Oh?” Mother’s eyes darted between them. She did not seem as shocked as she ought to be.

“Yes. I do not believe we shall suit.”

“Oh.” Again, Mother glanced to Lucas. “And you do not like this?” she asked him.

Lucas sighed. “Charlie has courted her enough that Miss Faraday will suffer ill effects of his decision.”

“I see.”

The room was filled with an awkward silence that spoke of her disappointment. Somehow, though, Lucas felt it was aimed at him, though he was not the one abandoning a woman to the gossip mill.

“What do you propose we do, then?” she asked.

Charlie’s expression registered surprise. Lucas felt similarly. What could they do outside of Charlie marrying her? Which, despite how Lucas might be acting just then, was the last thing he wanted.

“Well?” she prompted.

“I could marry her,” Charlie said, speaking Lucas’s thoughts with a tone that left no one confused at his feelings on such a possibility.

Mother shook her head, clasping her hands in front of her stomach. “No. No, I do not wish you to be in an unhappy marriage. But I agree with Lucas that this will negatively affect her, and so we are honor bound to do something to address it.”

Honor bound. Yes. Exactly. See? Mother felt the same as he, and Charlie was not accusing her of anything.

“We can have her and her guardian for a... dinner?” Charlie offered.

Mother nodded her head slowly. “If we make a show of friendship with the family, maybe we can convince the ton that that is all it ever was.”

Neither son had any other suggestions. Mother pursed her lips. “I will think on it.” She pierced Charlie with a look. “You think on it too.”

Charlie nodded.

With one last glance at each of them, she swept from the room. Charlie fell back into his chair, cutting his eyes to Lucas. “I notice she did not ask you to think on it.”

“It was not my mess to fix,” Lucas said, returning Charlie’s stare with one of his own.

“Are you certain of that?” Charlie quirked a brow.

Lucas lowered himself into his chair. “What do you mean by that?”

“You do not have a monopoly on reading the newspaper, you know.”

Lucas froze for half a second then continued his sitting. He grabbed at a ledger and studiously avoided looking at the paper beside it, still opened to the gossip pages.

Charlie’s tone was amused. “It seems you are doing more to hurt Miss Faraday’s reputation than I.”

Lucas read the ledger’s first line, waiting several long seconds before responding to his brother. “Yes, I suppose it was not so smart a thing for me to agree to your plan after all.”

Charlie chuckled, coming to his feet. “Perhaps one of the solutions I will present to Mother will involve you. You did say you would marry Miss Faraday if needed.”

Lucas’s gut clenched not unpleasantly, and that was terrifying on its own. “ If I were to blame for her predicament, I would.”

Charlie tsked. “It would certainly uncomplicate things.” He tilted his head, as though truly considering the possibility. Lucas’s mind raced, trying to see the situation from all angles. Should he marry Miss Faraday? Father wanted him to marry. Mother too. It would help Miss Faraday herself...

Charlie suddenly shook his head. “I know, I know. You need not say anything. You are far beyond her in rank. Society would not look well on the match at all. She has not been raised to be a marchioness. Etcetera. Etcetera.”

Lucas’s mind came to a stuttering halt. Thank the heavens for Charlie saving Lucas from himself. He could not marry Miss Faraday. That was not the plan. It was the farthest thing from the plan.

“Well.” Charlie stood, stretching. “If you come up with any brilliant ways to appease Mother, I will take any enlightenment I can get, but for now, I intend to go to the club. A few rounds are sure to get my mind moving.” He left, leaving the door open in his wake.

Lucas stood to close it, trying to rid his body of its sudden influx of nervous energy.

It made no sense. He was saved from helping Charlie court Miss Faraday.

He no longer needed to spend time in her disconcerting company.

Yet he felt the need to call on her. To see her. To speak with her.

And that was no good at all.