Page 8 of No Match for Love (Regency Love Stories)

“Your brother tells me he is going calling today.”

Lucas looked up from his correspondence. His mother stood in the doorway of the study. He came to his feet. “That is far better than his usual activities.”

Mother let out a chuckle. “Truer words have never been spoken.” She entered the room. So she was not simply imparting news. He placed his pen on the paper and set them aside, earning him a small smile.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What do you need?”

“Go with your brother.”

That was concerning. “Do you not believe he intends to go calling?”

The corners of her eyes creased with amusement. “Oh no, I fully believe he plans to see the young lady he spilled punch on during our ball.”

She’d puzzled that out rather quickly. “Did he confess then?”

“Of course not. His valet did.”

Lucas nodded. That made more sense. “Then why do you need me to go?”

Mother sighed. It was not particularly weighty, simply a gust of air expressing minor displeasure. “I rather liked Miss Faraday. I would appreciate it if Charlie did not... ah...”

“I see.”

She shot him a grateful look. Lady Cheltenham was every inch the marchioness, with impeccable manners and a steely look that portrayed her importance.

But with her family, she was simply a mother.

One who seemed increasingly frustrated with the antics of her youngest son and unwilling to allow him to hurt or harm anyone.

Hopefully no harm had come to Miss Faraday.

Lucas had struggled with his decision not to explain the situation to her guardian, and he was concerned that it may have reflected poorly on her.

“I only want the best for him, you know. I want him to be happy. And if that means settling down with a young lady... well, I would welcome her heartily. More than heartily. I would fly flags at her appearance. Sing her praises. Write poetry in her honor.”

Lucas very nearly laughed. Mother lost herself in her own entertainments more often than not. How surprised the ton would be to see her at her leisure.

But then she sobered, placing a hand on Lucas’s. “I wish the same for you.”

“I will marry when the time is right.” He’d mulled over the potential for this Season but had decided to wait another year or two. There was no rush, and he did not wish to make a poor choice, especially not one that had to be so perfectly thought through.

She shook her head a little with amusement dancing on her lips. “I certainly hope you do not time your falling in love. That is no fun at all, nor is it feasible. But it would be very entertaining to see you try.”

Lucas did not say what he was thinking. He had no intention of ever falling in love. Therefore, choosing whom he would marry would not be fun. It would be controlled. Safe. One could not make mistakes that way—nor be hurt.

When he did not respond, she added, “You are sure you do not mind wiling away your afternoon with your brother?”

He minded a great deal, in fact. Not only was calling on women the last thing he wished to do with his time, but calling on Miss Faraday added a bit of danger to the discomfort.

She had indicated recognition the night before.

Even if she hadn’t been able to pinpoint how exactly she’d known him, that could always change.

The possibility left a heavy sensation in his chest. It very nearly felt like panic.

He’d kept his pugilism secret for years now, and the fact that one person could unravel that had him immensely on edge.

However, he could not tell his mother that, nor could he deny her request when she hardly asked anything of him. So, with regret and plans to remain in the background, he shook his head. “I do not mind.”

Mother reached up and patted his cheek, her eyes twinkling. “Thank you, dear. Perhaps you will meet someone you should like to call on yourself.”

“Perhaps I shall.” Not likely, but he would not contradict his mother.

With a smile, she left the room. Without one, Lucas finished his letter, checked the financial ledgers he’d been perusing, and left to find his brother.

***

Charlie swung himself up into the phaeton and grabbed the reins.

Lucas would have opted for the more private carriage, but Charlie had never cared for the same things as he.

The gulf between them had grown in recent years, though Lucas was not entirely sure why.

Perhaps it would be good for them to spend time together today.

His brother urged the horses forward a little too quickly, causing Lucas to be pushed back into the seat. His stomach protested the movement, the muscles sore from a round he’d gone at the club the night before.

He should have stayed in the drawing room.

Charlie glanced over at him, hands loose on the reins.

“Why the sudden interest in joining me? Do not tell me you’ve taken an interest in Miss Faraday yourself, have you?

Did something occur after I left to spark your fancy?

” Charlie had just finished regaling Lucas with the story of how he’d managed to learn the woman’s name.

Evidently, it had involved bribery, subterfuge, and ultimately, hiding outside the door to hear the altercation with Mother after he’d left. True genius, really.

They weaved through carriages and persons at a higher speed than necessary.

Lucas gripped the edge of his seat. “No, I have not.”

“Then why are you coming?”

It was not unusual that their mother would have Lucas watch over Charlie, but Lucas did not want to embarrass his brother, so he told him half of the truth. “I want to ensure she was not ill-treated for having ruined a gown.”

Charlie turned shocked eyes at Lucas. “Blast, I hadn’t even thought of that. You think Lord Tarrington would be upset?”

“I hardly know the man.”

Charlie continued watching Lucas, who reached over and corrected their path with a hand on the reins. Charlie didn’t seem to mind. “I’ll feel a real dunderhead if she was made to suffer for my mistake.”

Lucas pulled the reins again. “And here I thought you’d already accepted that aspect of your personality,” he said with a dry tone.

His brother chuckled, finally returning his attention to the road. Just in time to swerve in avoidance of a horse and rider.

They arrived in front of the Mayfair terrace home, and Lucas’s eyes traveled up the height of the brick facade.

The sun shone weakly on the polished iron surrounding the front courtyard and adorning the first floor.

Charlie bounded to the door, and Lucas followed at a slower pace.

The butler answered, took Charlie’s card with an appraising look at the both of them, and ushered them straight into the drawing room.

“Lord Berkeley and Lord Charles.”

The inhabitants of the room watched their entrance. Lucas’s gaze was immediately drawn to Miss Faraday. She sat between two gentlemen who had risen at their arrival. He met her eyes, and she smiled, a hint of surprise etched across her brow.

That smile did something to his chest. It was startling and unexpected enough that he nearly raised a hand to check the beating of his heart.

And then Charlie was passing him into the room, bowing over Miss Faraday’s hand and greeting the men. Lucas followed suit, ignoring the residual effects of his heart’s strange episode.

“Might I offer you some tea, Lord Berkeley, Lord Charles?” She looked at them both in turn.

“Indeed, thank you,” Charlie responded quickly, seating himself in a chair opposite Miss Faraday.

She nodded and looked to Lucas. He shook his head, and she pulled her attention back to his brother. Some deep part of his mind protested that change.

“How do you take your tea?”

Charlie waved a hand. “I am not particular. Tell me, did you, ah”—he stopped, taking in the two gentlemen. Mr. Frank Colbert and Mr. Belcher. Lucas had the barest of acquaintances with them both—“enjoy yourself last night?”

Miss Faraday ducked her head to focus on pouring the tea, but Lucas glimpsed entertainment etch across her lips before her features disappeared. “Indeed. Though I had to retire early.”

Colbert cocked his head at her. “Did you? I wondered where you’d gone off to.”

Miss Faraday nodded, handing Charlie his tea. “Yes... I suppose I was rather overwhelmed by my first ball.”

“Your first?” Mr. Frank Colbert asked.

Miss Faraday froze in the act of picking up her teacup, looking at it for a long moment before nodding. “Yes. My first.”

“Goodness,” Colbert said, leaning back and surveying her with both surprise and interest. “You cannot tell me you’ve never been to an assembly. A ball hosted by a neighbor?”

Her responding smile was tight. “Lord Tarrington’s estate is rather secluded. I haven’t had the opportunity.”

Lucas seated himself in the chair beside Charlie’s, the farthest away of the four men now apparently fighting for Miss Faraday’s attention.

“You are a wonder, Miss Faraday. Your very first ball, you say? And you danced so prettily.” Colbert leaned in as he spoke, as if to deliver his words to her ears only. But his comment carried, and they all heard it.

She gave a small laugh, but somehow it did not sound genuine.

Her embarrassment was evident as she glanced at the other three men.

It was an odd situation. She was having what should be a private conversation while under the eyes of three additional participants.

Really, Colbert shouldn’t have put her in that position.

However, Charlie, acting either brilliant or incredibly thick, threw in his thoughts with a normally pitched voice, extending the scope of the conversation to include them all. “I am of the same mind as Colbert. No one would know that it was your first ball.”

When she met Charlie’s eyes, something sparkled within her own. Amusement. Probably that he would say such a thing knowing how her first ball truly had ended. “Thank you, Lord Charles. I am glad to have kept my secret so successfully.”

Lucas could only hope he could keep his own secrets around this woman. How long did Charlie intend to stay?

“Your guardian’s estate is secluded, you say? I had thought Tarrington’s estate was near my own family’s.” Colbert took back the reins of the conversation. The man was clearly used to having attention on himself.

“Oh? And where do you reside?” Charlie asked Colbert before Miss Faraday responded.

“Kilburn,” Colbert said, though his eyes remained on Miss Faraday.

“Tarrington Park is not half so near London as that,” was all Miss Faraday said in return.

Colbert seemed to have exhausted his range of topics, and Mr. Belcher had not uttered a word since their arrival—seemingly preferring to watch Miss Faraday’s every movement as if she were a particularly sweet pastry and he a starving man.

Lucas was not used to having to fill the silence.

He preferred silence—welcomed it. If a conversation lulled, he took it as an opportunity to take his leave.

But they’d hardly stayed five minutes, and he still had not discovered if Miss Faraday had suffered from the events of the ball—his one actual goal for the visit.

In an effort to find something to do, his gaze swept over the drawing room.

It was far different from his mother’s. Hers was light and bright—filled with creams and light greens.

Lord Tarrington’s was dark. Deep reds and dark golds made up the upholstery, and the window hangings were heavy and blocked a great deal of light.

And then he caught sight of Miss Faraday’s expression.

She seemed panicked.

He was not certain why he was able to decipher that emotion from the downturn of her mouth and the minuscule darting back and forth of her eyes as she stared at her empty cup of tea, but he knew it in a moment.

A lurch in his chest much like the one that had occurred on his entering the room had him wanting to erase that panicked look from her expression.

Before he could fully think it through—which was wholly uncharacteristic of him—he said, “Miss Faraday, would you care for a turn about the room?” Dash it all.

That was certainly one of the most foolish offers he’d ever made.

This was just one reason that he strove for more control, usually it kept him from being hurt or hurting others, but it had the added benefit of keeping him from making an embarrassment of himself.

Her startled eyes met his, their widening communicating not only her surprise but her gratitude.

“I imagine you have been at home to several visitors and would perhaps appreciate a... ah... bit of exercise,” he explained.

“How thoughtful of you, Lord Berkeley. I would indeed.”

He came to his feet and offered his arm, only then looking to Charlie.

He had expected his brother to appear offended, but he only looked amused.

Of course, Charlie nearly always looked that way.

As if the world provided endless entertainment rather than endless problems. Though, if Lucas kept them there long enough, Colbert and Belcher would exhaust the amount of time implicitly allowed for a morning call, and that would give Charlie more opportunity to interact with Miss Faraday, so this could be a good move for his brother.

That was a far better reason to have asked Miss Faraday to walk about the room than Lucas’s original one, and it was therefore the one he would adopt if asked.

He glanced back to the woman in question just as she came to his side.

Her head tipped up to meet his eyes as she placed her hand on his arm, so he had a perfect view of how her eyebrows rose as her hand landed.

He was forever grateful for the discipline he had given his expression over the last several years because now he could be certain that no amount of the feeling he experienced in that moment would show on his face.

Her smile had made his chest constrict, but her hand on his arm was something else entirely. It was as if he had been hit with a solid hook to the stomach in a round of boxing—just as jarring yet without any of the ill effects.

Dash it, what did that mean?