“Do you think you’re doing that?”
“I hope so. I’ve only spoken to the earl a few times, and things have been cordial.”
For the moment. Lucas could see that Bedford was wary of him, as if he expected Lucas to do something that would devastate the family and break Dorothy’s heart.
Lucas wasn’t about to do that. He couldn’t.
“Well, you’re going to have to be careful. I’m sure even with you getting them distracted for something daft, you will have his eyes on you.” Pierce gave a half-chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck. “At least I don’t have that problem right now. Frederica’s parents aren’t returning for another couple of weeks, so I have more time to get worried.”
“I’m sure you and Frederica aren’t going to let that bother you. There isn’t a history behind you, either.”
“Fair point. Speaking of which, I’d better go and see if she’s arrived. Frederica did say she was coming here early.”
Lucas watched him walk away. While Pierce wouldn’t admit it to anyone, not even to his friend, it was clear that he was more than taken with Frederica. Lucas had seen him follow her around the room with his eyes. That hadn’t happened to him before. Maybe there could be some good news for him in the future, even if Pierce had told him plenty of times that he would not get married anytime soon.
It looked as if he was going to struggle with that declaration.
Lucas heard the clock chime the hour. It was about the time when the guests would be arriving. There were only fifteen people, most of them Lucas’ good friends, so it wasn’t going to be big. And her friends had been told to be on their best behaviour so Dorothy’s parents would be relaxed in the knowledge that Lucas’ friends weren’t Neanderthals and behaved the same way. Not that they did, but Lucas didn’t want to take that chance.
Thankfully, there was one silver lining among a few good things. Gabriel Burville wasn’t going to be here. Lucas was getting fed up with seeing him around. Burville kept coming over and seeing Dorothy often when he knew Lucas would be present.
Dorothy didn’t say anything to discourage it, talking to him like she would anyone else. She kept telling him that Burville was just a childhood friend and she’s not about to be rude, but Lucas knew what was happening. The man believed he was courting Dorothy as well, trying to make her choose him. Lucas saw the look on Burville’s face every time he stared at Dorothy. He desired her, and she didn’t seem to notice, thankfully.
If she had started looking at Burville like Lucas wanted her to look at him, he would be furious. In his mind, no one should have Dorothy’s heart except him. That sounded selfish and possessive, and it did make him a little uncomfortable feeling like that, but Lucas knew it was special if he was feeling so strange.
Although if he told Dorothy this right now, she would more than likely call him a fantasist and walk away. She wasn’t interested in someone staking a claim over. The woman loved her independence and having some freedom in her choices. Lucas admired and respected that.
He just hoped he didn’t end up losing to Burville after it all. While he was a great catch, and they looked better suited outwardly, it wouldn’t be a good match. Lucas hoped Dorothy would realise it.
The dining room was almost set up, so Lucas wandered through the house and into his father’s study for a drink on his own. Once all the guests were present, he would make his entrance. Standing in the middle of the room as they came milling in made him feel a bit awkward.
Lucas liked to have everyone in the room before he joined them so he could greet everyone at once and not leave a conversation abruptly. His father said it was rather unorthodox, but he conceded that his son was rather like that. And if it worked, he wasn’t about to argue.
Lucas didn’t realise someone was in the study until he closed the door. He saw a flicker of silk from the corner of his eye, but he initially thought it was the curtains. Then Lucas remembered that his father didn’t have silk curtains.
Turning around, Lucas was sure his eyes almost popped out of his head. Dorothy was standing in the corner of the room, just out of sight of the door. She was wearing a gorgeous gown in a deep purple, fitted perfectly to her figure. Her hair was pinned up, revealing that swanlike neck and away from her face.
For a moment, Lucas couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He had seen Dorothy looking beautiful before – he had even been in contact with her wearing just a nightgown and nothing else – but something was different here. She seemed to be more …
The words just left his mind, and Lucas didn’t know what to say.
Dorothy’s smile was amused as she crossed the room to him.
“Surprised to see me in here?”
“I am. I didn’t think you would …”
“Frederica and I told my parents that I wanted to walk around the grounds before we came inside. Frederica claimed to feel very warm and needed some time alone before she came into the house, and we snuck in the side door.” Dorothy hesitated. “I didn’t do something wrong, did I? Are you alright with me coming in here?”
“Of course, I’m alright with it!” Lucas couldn’t help chuckling as he walked towards her. “I’m glad Father isn’t here, though. You wouldn’t be able to get in here without getting caught.”
“It’s the reason I was able to do this.”
“Why would you?”
Dorothy bit her lip, uncertainty flickering in her expression.
“Because … I wanted to see you alone.”