Lydia laughed at that. Her insides seemed to be bubbling with this new information. She felt very nearly giddy. This was the end of her needing to rely on someone else. She could survive on her own with this sort of inheritance.
She could not marry, but if she could put Lord Tarrington off for just two years... In just two years, she would be free. What was two years when she’d spent nearly the last eighteen under someone else’s governance? It was incredible. Unbelievable.
Her head jerked up. “Did you know any more of my family?”
The clock in the corner of the room suddenly chimed the hour. She pushed from her chair, Mr. Sperry scrambling to follow. She had to go before Jones found her to be missing. After all, she was notquitean heiress yet and could not anger Lord Tarrington and his staff by going missing on a shopping trip.
“Thank you, Mr. Sperry. You’ve given me a great deal to think on. Can I—Might I meet with you again soon? When I have more time to spare.” She needed to know everything, needed to see the official documents. Learn more about her grandfather. Find out how she would receive the inheritance when the time came and what she would do in the meantime. So many questions. Her parents. Would the solicitor know about them? Her father mighthave been a lord, if that was why her grandfather did not want Lydia to marry one.
The solicitor gathered up his papers, returning them to the portfolio. “Certainly you may. Come by anytime.”
“I will.” She was backing toward the door. “I will come soon. Thank you, Mr. Sperry. Thank you very much.”
She pushed into the front room, peering out the window to see that Jones was, even now, at the edge of the street, peering into the road in the opposite direction. Wasting no time, Lydia slipped through the front door, hardly giving the bell time to ring, and ran to the front of the hat shop. She had no wish to share the news she’d just received. She wanted to be entirely sure that it was true and correct before she did anything, and that meant keeping it a secret.
Slowing her breathing, Lydia made to appear as if she was coming out of the store. “Oh, Jones, there you are.”
The middle-aged woman turned about, hand grasping at her chest. “Miss! Where have you been?”
Lydia gestured behind her. “In the hat shop, of course.”
Jones looked over Lydia’s shoulder, confusion creasing her brow. “I searched for you there and did not see you.”
“I do apologize, you must have missed me. I have been in the back, by that beautiful feathered hat, all this time.”
“Gracious, girl, you gave me a fright. But we must be going now. We have been gone far longer than intended.”
Lydia ducked her head in acquiescence, trying to restrain her grin. “Certainly, Jones. Lead the way.”
As her maid turned toward their carriage, Lydia glanced one last time at the solicitor’s office behind them. Warmth bloomed through her chest, and repressed energy made her fingers shake. This afternoon had changed everything.
Chapter 9
“It is brilliant.” Charlie graspedthe back of the chair opposite Lucas and grinned wildly.
“Hello, Charlie,” Lucas said, not looking up from his work. He was in the library today to give his father sole use of the study for estate business. “What is so brilliant?” Did he really want to know?
“My plan, of course.”
Lucas set down the letter, schooling his expression into one of interest. He did not want to offend Charlie, but he was immensely busy. “That plan being?”
“Courting Miss Faraday.”
Lucas’s next breath was tighter than usual. But then Charlie added, “But not truly courting her.”
“Charlie, if you intend to play with that woman’s emotions—”
His brother shook his head. “You misunderstand me. I have no desire to play with her emotions. Quite the opposite. I dislike the idea of having to declare oneself before getting to know the object of one’s declaration, so this will allow me to get to know her first.”
Lucas took in Charlie’s open, excited expression. He had a bad feeling about this. Probably because it involved Charlie and women. He’d already shown himself to be flippant with money, horses, time... Why would this be any different?
Would Lucas care so much if it were another woman?
Of course. That was a ridiculous question. It was the principle of the thing. It was not honorable to play at courting someone one did not intend to marry. It had nothing to do with Miss Faraday in particular—he hardly knew her. Sure, she had been surprisingly kind to the children the day before. And she had shown a bit of wit when they’d visited her home. And shownloyalty and humor at the ball. But that was not enough to know someone or to care if one’s brother courted that someone.
Charlie circled the chair, sitting down. Or, more appropriately, throwing himself down. His brother did nothing sedately.
“Here is the plan.”
