“It is the middle of the night.”
“It is hardly ten o’clock, you idiot.” He opened the door.
“She may be asleep.”
With a grand sweep of his arm, he pointed into the hall and repeated, “Only one way to find out.”
Lucas followed him to the door. “No, Charlie, this is not how it is done.”
“It is now.” And, like the pesky little brother he was, he—surprisingly swiftly—hobbled his way two doors down and knocked briskly on Miss Faraday’s door. Lucas nearly overtook him, but then Charlie was turning back to his own room, Miss Faraday’s door was opening, and Lucas was caught frozen in his steps at the visage of her, hair in a braid over her shoulder, standing in the doorway.
But what caught his eye next was the large trunk open in the room beyond.
His stomach bottomed out. “You’re leaving?”
Charlie muttered, “That’s my cue.” And his door clicked shut.
Chapter 40
Lydia had rather hoped notto see Lucas again before leaving, yet here he was, face shadowed and standing at her door. She could not meet his eyes for fear he would see everything she could not say, that he would see how he’d broken her.
“Yes,” she said, attempting to maintain a cool facade. “In the morning.”
His brow furrowed. “You cannot leave.”
“I cannot possibly stay.”
He seemed at a loss for words as he glanced over his shoulder at the empty hall. “May I come in?”
Well, that was unexpected. “I do not believe that would be very proper.”
His voice was low. “You are right, of course, but nevertheless, might I come in?”
She really should say no. “Very well.” She stepped aside. It was unfortunate that Jones had left a quarter of an hour ago for bed.
Not only did he come in, but he closed the door behind him before meeting her eyes. “Miss Faraday, I...” He took a deep breath, and he appeared more anxious than ever. “I made a grave mistake this morning.”
“Did you?” She did not allow her mind to jump to conclusions.
“Yes. I never should have spoken to you as I did during our conversation.” His eyes dropped down then met hers again. “A time ago, you offered the use of your Christian name. Does that offer still stand?”
She hesitated but nodded. She was incapable of saying no to him, drat it all.
“Good. Lydia Faraday.” Her name on his lips made her swallow hard. “Please do not leave on my account.”
Was that all this was? Fear that he’d offended her and that was why she was leaving? She built back up her guard that had begunto lower. She never should have allowed it to waver. “You can rest easy; I am not leaving on your account.” She backed into the room, looking for something to preoccupy her hands. “You see, my guardian has died, and I have been summoned back to the Tarrington estate.”
His brows rose. “I am so sorry. I did not know—”
“I only learned of it this morning.” Her back was so stiff that it was beginning to ache. What was he doing here? Had he any clue what pain he was bringing her heart by standing here, taking up far too much space with those broad shoulders of his?
He looked down at his feet and was quiet for a time. His hands kneaded together in front of him, and when at last he met her eyes again, his were intensely determined. “I do not do things without first planning, you must understand that, but it seems I do not have the luxury of time; therefore, you will have to forgive the lack of eloquence with which I speak. Lydia, you terrify me.”
She froze in the act of picking up a discarded handkerchief to fold. Her brows knit together. “I am sorry?”
He stepped closer, closing the space between them. “You terrify me. You have since the first moment I saw you and learned that you had an unexplainable control over my heart.”
Her own heart did a sort of jump. It slammed into the cage she had erected around it, and the bars rattled, threatening to break at such a small declaration by him.
