“Of course not,” Lucy protested, colour again filling her cheeks over the suggestion but also out of embarrassment for her heated reply. Caroline didn’t bother replying, just gave her a knowing look and a small smile as she waved and turned on her heel taking her maid with her, leaving Lucy and her footman to climb the stairs into the house.
Chapter Eighteen
Roderick was tired down to his bones, but it had been a good week. He would soon be the proud owner of a rundown estate that would eventually be perfect for his friends to continue their work. And he hadn’t even needed to marry an heiress to do it. Of course, to keep food on the table and heat in the houses, he might still need to, but he was just relieved that his delays hadn’t meant he’d missed out on the perfect property.
When he had arrived at Alldred House, it had been just as Lucy had suggested. The current owner was even more eager to sell than Rod had previously suspected and wanted to discuss a lower price than had originally been publicized. It had been fortuitous that he had done all the calculations with his man of business to know exactly how much he could afford to offer. The deal had been struck and within weeks the deed would be changed over to Roderick’s name.
He had toured the property once more, filled with even more conviction than before that it was perfect for his plans for his scholarly foundation. Every nook and cranny that he had poked into though had made him wonder what Lucy would think of it. He could almost picture her there working alongside him as she had briefly in the matter of Gilbert’s investigation. With a sigh he shook his head and tried to push such imaginings from his mind.
His house and his foundation were very real and would be advancing quickly. He could leave Town behind and never bother with it again. He might even be able to avoid wedding if he was very frugal. He had never wanted to see himself as a fortune hunter so it was a relief to no longer feel he must wed to finance his future. But the relief he thought he would feel wasn’t there. Especially not the thought of finally retiring from Society. When he thought of never seeing Miss Lucretia Scranton again, it was despair and disappointment he felt, not relief.But would she ever consider his suit?
It was because of her that he was hurrying back to Town. He had made her promise to be careful until she heard from him. He needed to visit her to absolve her of that promise.
Even he didn’t believe himself. He could write to her or ask his family to tell her. In fact, they probably already had. When Gilbert had written to tell him that all the would-be assassins had been taken care of, he had assured Roderick that Lucy would be informed.
So it was foolish of Roderick to be on the mail coach back to London, spending money that could be better spent on roofing supplies or hiring help with the cleaning. But he couldn’t not see her. It was like a compulsion.
Roderick worried for his own future.
How was he going to get the girl out of his head? She was clearly already in his heart, but he hoped he’d be able to ignore that. He needed to get his head straightened out if he was going to help his scholars make a success of their inventions and discoveries.
When he finally walked into Northcott House, Caroline greeted him warmly. “Welcome back, Roderick, how did it go? You look worn around the edges.” She glanced at a clock on the mantle. “You have time for a bath and a nap before we head out to the Ainsley ball this evening. We didn’t accept any supper invitations aside from what might be served at the ball, so I can have a tray ordered for you if you’d like.”
Roderick stared at his sister-in-law with a frown. “I don’t feel terribly inclined to attend a ball this evening. Did you accept on my behalf?”
“Young gentlemen are never unwelcome at balls if they’ll dance with the ladies,” Caroline answered with a light laugh. “But the invitation was for the whole household. I wasn’t terribly specific when I answered. You needn’t feel obliged to attend, but you were invited.” She paused, looking at him carefully. “I would have thought you’d want to tell Miss Scranton about your successes.”
Roderick wanted to deny Caroline’s astute observation but he couldn’t, he merely turned on his heel and headed for his chamber. “I’ll take that tray, thank you, Caro,” he called as he tightened his grasp on his bag and climbed the stairs, ignoring her tinkle of laughter.
He didn’t feel much rested despite the bath and nap he had taken. But anticipation at the thought of seeing Lucy swept the fatigue to the back of his mind.
He was late arriving to the ball. Caroline and Gilbert hadn’t bothered to wait for him so he had walked the short distance to the Ainsley townhouse. It was sure to be a crush as their rooms weren’t all that generous. Roderick only hoped he would be able to find Lucy. And that Caroline hadn’t been teasing when she had implied that Lucy would be in attendance.
When he finally found her, Lucy’s face brightened and Roderick’s heart clenched in his chest. If he wasn’t used to that sensation in her presence he would have been worried for his health. But instead he just grinned at the beautiful woman before him.
“Have you promised all your dances for the night already?” he asked, the worry true in his heart.
“Is that an invitation, Mr. Northcott?” she asked with laughter dancing in her eyes.
He was flooded with warmth both physically and metaphorically as he gazed into her intelligent stare. She wasn’t avoiding his company or his own watchful eyes, a fact for which he was grateful. Was it possible she could be warming to the possibility of his pursuit of her?
“It is an invitation, Miss Scranton.”
“I didn’t know you would be here,” she said. Not really a reply, but she wasn’t turning him away either. Roderick could see there was another gentleman not so patiently waiting for her to join him. “Did everything go well? Did you secure your property? I have so many questions but I can’t really wait for them now.”
“Have you promised the supper dance?”
Her smile turned mischievous. “I have now,” she said looking him directly in the eye. “Don’t forget to collect me.”
“Never,” he vowed to her, not sure if she took his sincerity as a jest or if she could hear it clearly even in the crowded, noisy room. Her gaze clung to his for another brief moment and then she disappeared in a swirl of skirts and swaying bodies, joining the waiting gentleman on the dance floor.
Likely a viscount or an earl or even the marquis she claimed to want to wed with. Any marquis would do, she had claimed. He didn’t believe her for a minute. Maybe he just didn’t want to.
Roderick tried not to growl or even appear grumpy over the matter, but what was he supposed to do? The proprietary way he felt about her was barely civilized for the high Society event.
He managed to pull himself together and go through the appropriate motions one was expected to participate in at a ball. He even danced with several young women. Pleasant young women, probably highly eligible, even slightly eager to be in his company. But they left him feeling neutral or even a little cold. He wasn’t interested in them. It was sad. He would have to do something about it. But not that night.
When the supper dance was about to be struck, Roderick felt energized and almost giddy. It took a deep breath and another recounting of chemical elements to calm himself sufficiently to approach Lucy and claim his dance. He was pleased to note that once again it was to be a waltz. He couldn’t keep the wide smile off his face as he bowed over her hand.
