“Might I call on you tomorrow, Lucy?”
Her eyes widened and uncertainty wavered in her expressive gaze.
“Of course, you are always welcome,” she finally replied. It wasn’t exactly the enthusiastic response he hoped for, but Roderick accepted it.
The next day couldn’t get there fast enough to please him.
Chapter Nineteen
Roderick wanted to call on her.Why?Lucy paced and chewed on her lip and paced some more.
“Whatever is the matter with you, Lucy?” Isabelle had seemed to be trying to allow Lucy to resolve matters for herself in connection with the Season but it appeared she finally couldn’t take it anymore.
“Roderick Northcott asked if he could call but the day has nearly disappeared. All the callers have come and gone and still he hasn’t shown himself,” Lucy exclaimed.
“And you want him to call?”
“I don’t know,” Lucy nearly wailed. “This right here is exactly why I have no interest in a love match. It’s far too messy.”
Isabelle’s eyes widened and Lucy nearly clapped a hand over her own mouth. “Don’t get ideas, Belle, I’m not making any declarations of anything. But I do want to know why he wishes to call.”
Suddenly the knocker sounded and Lucy wasn’t sure if she was in alt or if she wanted to cast up her accounts in the nearest plant pot.
“Mr. Roderick Northcott to see Miss Lucy, my lady.”
“Show him in, please,” Isabelle said with an elevated eyebrow aimed at Lucy.
Roderick was shown into the room and the butler left to collect the tea service. Social niceties were exchanged almost comfortably. Maybe it was even comfortable for the other occupants of the room. It certainly wasn’t for Lucy but she did her best to go through the motions.
Suddenly to her surprise, Roderick stood and began to pace, much like she had been doing before his arrival.
“Lady Isabelle, might I be so bold as to ask for a moment of Lucy’s time, in private?”
“You may ask but I’m uncertain if I ought to grant your request.”
Lucy turned to stare at her sister-in-law, her jaw nearly falling open. Belle actually laughed.
“Very well, but only for a moment. And the door remains open,” she added with a stern expression aimed at Roderick.
Butterflies and maybe even pigeons took up fluttering in Lucy’s midsection. She wasn’t certain that it was a pleasant sensation. Once again, she thought she might be going to be ill. She took a deep breath, held it, then let it out slowly.
Observing her, Roderick laughed, bringing a stop to the flutters and a frown to her face.
“Are you laughing at me Roderick Northcott?” Lucy demanded, gaining her feet and marching toward him.
“Not in the least, Lucretia Scranton,” he answered immediately, gaining hold of her hand when she drew near. Lucy didn’t take exception to the gesture. It felt as though his hand were an anchor holding her secure in the tumult of her feelings.
“Why did you wish to speak with me privately?” her voice was nearly a whisper. She wondered if it was because she was afraid of the answer.
He didn’t answer her directly. “Do you remember when you asked me why I didn’t askyoufor your dowry?” When she nodded, he continued. “I never answered you, did I?”
Lucy shook her head and shrugged. “I figured you thought the suggestion was laughable.”
“As I said, I would never laugh at you, Lucy. But I didn’t, at the time, think you would be able to tolerate the life I had in mind. I also couldn’t seem to bring myself to the point of considering hunting for your fortune.”
“Why was someone else’s better than mine?” Lucy demanded. “I think my dowry is a generous one; I’ve never actually confirmed the particulars.”
“It certainly wasn’t that there was anything amiss with your dowry, Luce, I can assure you. It was the fact that I didn’t want to use you. I want to enter into a marriage that feels like a union of equals. I know we cannot truly be equals in every sense. You are far prettier than me. I am far more educated than you. But I didn’t want to trick anyone into marrying me nor did I want anyone to feel that they had disadvantaged themselves by our marriage.”
