Lydia hesitated, glancing at Lucas, but then she took a step forward. “Thank you. I... Thank you.” With one last look at Lucas, she took to the stairs. Lucas watched her go as a feeling of loss drooped over him—more than it should have.
“Study, Lucas. Now.” His mother’s voice was not exactly harsh, but there was a level of command that would not be ignored. As he walked to the room, his mind began to override his heart.
He had become tangled in lies; brought injury upon his brother not once, but twice; caused Miss Faraday to be abducted and degraded by Mr. Frank Colbert; and then, as if that were not enough, he’d kissed her. He’d lacked the constraint, thehonor, to push back against his base desires and restrain himself. He was no better than Colbert. He’d taken advantage of her as a guest in his home.
His hands clenched into fists. He’d lost control, and look where it had gotten him.
His mother closed the door behind her and turned to him.
“I know,” he said before she could speak. “I have done poorly by Miss Faraday. I accept all responsibility and will do whatever I need to rectify the situation.”
She heaved a sigh. “I cannot tell you the extent of my thankfulness that all of you returned home tonight.”
He had no answer. There had to be more to it than that.
She came closer, grasping his hand. The lines around her mouth and shadows under her eyes spoke to her exhaustion and worry. “It feels a small thing compared to the danger you were in tonight, but I will not stand for this behavior. You cannot make a habit of it.”
Lucas swallowed.
“We brought her into our home, Lucas. She is ourguest. And even if she were not, I raised you to be respectful of women. You cannot dally with a woman’s emotions. I thought you were better than that. I did not think I had to worry aboutyou.”
He wanted to say that he was not dallying with her emotions—that he genuinely cared for her—but he could not bring himself to admit it. Because despite being true, it felt wrong. Wrong that he would allow himself to care for her. Wrong that he had allowed himself to lose control at all. Once again, he’d been unable to protect those around him. Including from himself. “What do I need to do?” he asked.
“At the very least, you need to apologize to her.”
“I will do that.” He started for the door.
Mother stepped in front of him. “Not now. She needs her rest. And we need to discuss theotheraspects of your evening. Your father should be down shortly. But before you kiss her again, you must make things right.”
Lucas rubbed a hand across his chin, agitated and embarrassed. It was the early hours of the morning, but he wished to fix everything at that exact moment. Though he knew it was necessary, he did not want to sit in his father’s study and fill his parents in on the semi-clandestine activities in which he’d been involved.
The door opened again, revealing his father, who looked to Mother. “Charlie is resting. It seems he will make a full recovery.”
“Charlie?” Lucas asked. He’d assumed that he and Henry were well.
Father turned to him, his expression as weighted as Mother’s. “A broken wrist, several bruised ribs, and a few too many blows to the head.” He took a steadying breath. “What are you embroiled in, Lucas?”
Lucas ground his teeth in anger at himself. “And Henry?”
“He is upstairs as well. Nothing broken, but just as black-and-blue as your brother. I’ll ask again, what are you embroiled in?”
So Lucas told them. More than he’d ever told anyone. He told them about training to become a pugilist. He told them about starting the boxing club several years ago with Colin and about fighting there under the guise of being a member of the lower class. About the first time he and Colin had heard of one of their patrons needing a position and being unable to find one, and how Lucas was able to use his connections as Lord Berkeley to find one. Thus, the entire enterprise was born. They were doing good work. There was nothing wrong with it... except that it had attracted the attention of Lord Colbert and his company, and Lucas had not treated the threat with the seriousness he ought to have.
“Colbert? The viscount?” Father asked.
Lucas nodded.
“His son is Mr. Frank Colbert? The man that has been forbidden from courting Lydia?” Mother asked.
“I do not know that she has forbidden him, but she turned down his proposal.”
Mother shook her head. “No, her guardian forbade the match. Said the man was nothing but a fortune hunter and could not beallowed to court Lydia. Mr. Frank Colbert has been by twice, and Drake turned him away for me.”
Lucas’s brows pulled together. “Did Colbert know of Lord Tarrington’s wishes?”
“Yes. Lord Tarrington said he had made his wishes clear. A dance or two was fine, but nothing more. And no time alone.”
“Then how did he propose to Miss Faraday?” Lucas asked.
