“And he still kept getting you treats?”
“He just slipped me the chocolate, winked, and walked away. Or we would eat it together when we were alone.”
“You had a sweet tooth back then, didn’t you? I remember you being rather pudgy.”
“Hey!” Lucas leaned forward and prodded his friend in the ribs. “Less of the pudgy statement. I’m certainly not that anymore.”
“I know. You’re healthier than I am.” Pierce gestured at Lucas’ body. “You certainly don’t look like you ate your weight in chocolate as a child.”
Lucas swatted Pierce’s knee, which caused his friend to laugh. Then he settled back and stared out the window. It was getting into the late afternoon, and the sun was very slowly creeping down the sky. The shadows were changing, somehow changing the scenery in front of him. All the colours looked a lot crisper to his eyes. Lord Derbyshire’s family had certainly chosen a perfect place to put their country house.
“Do you think we’re going to meet any interesting people?” Pierce asked, waggling his eyebrows. “And when I mean people, I mean women.”
“Pierce, we’re not here to look for any women.”
“Well, maybe I’m not, but you are.”
“I’m not!”
“Your father is going to be mad if you don’t have a wife by the end of the Season,” Pierce pointed out. “He might let you off with being in a courtship when it comes to a close, but if you haven’t got anyone in sight …”
Lucas scowled.
“Father wouldn’t force me into another engagement without my consent. He knows what happened last time.”
“I remember as well. You kicked up such a fuss like a toddler having a tantrum.”
“I wouldn’t take it that far.”
“I would. You were ranting and raving about it the whole time.”
Lucas huffed.
“Come on, Pierce, how would you feel if your father suddenly told you that you were going to marry someone you’ve never met?”
“It’s a common practice nowadays.”
“Not for me.”
When Lucas heard that he was meant to marry Lady Dorothy Napier, he had been furious. He had never met the girl, and he was expected to go along with it without any arguments. For most of the Season, he had fought with his father about it, refusing to have anything to do with the engagement.
He would be absent whenever he had to go and see Lady Dorothy, and he outright refused to attend any social engagement on the off-chance that she was there. Why his parents thought he would go along with it, he had no idea.
It had taken almost the whole Season of him fighting it before his father realised he was not budging and that this was heading for disaster. It had taken far too long for the old man to see sense and call off the engagement, as per Lucas’ request.
After that, he was given his freedom back. Somewhat. The only way he could get out of it was to promise that he would look for a wife on his own the Season after. Lucas knew his father wanted to see his son married before he died, and there was a part of Lucas that could understand that.
But he didn’t like being forced into something he didn’t want. As far as Lucas was concerned, he would be fine if he didn’t marry. Things were far more interesting as a bachelor. He would have to give up a lot if he got himself a wife, and Lucas didn’t want to do that.
“Look,” Pierce sighed. “You’re supposed to be looking for a wife, and the Season is coming to an end soon.”
“I’ve got a couple of months left.”
“And you’re leaving it until the last minute. I would have thought you would find a woman to marry early on, so you didn’t want to have to think about it.”
Lucas shook his head.
“You know my thoughts on it. There’s nobody I want to marry. And I can’t believe you’re on Father’s side.”