Lucas cocked his head. Well, that was unexpected. “What have I done to earn their ire?”
“Helped several of their employees find gainful employment.”
“Ah. I always knew I was a monster.”
Colin grinned. “’Tis probably nothing, but apparently we have saved more than a few men from the manual labor of diggingcanals and the pitiful wages they earn in doing so. I would not ’ave said anything, but one of the men ye recently helped—a Patrick Trenway—stopped by ta let me know that his parting with the company was less than ideal. There ’ave been grumblings from the higher-ups addressing the loss of several men. It’s unlikely but possible that they may start digging for information and find a connection with ye.”
Lucas rubbed his chin. “I’ve always said I do not mind being found out. I simply prefer not to. Our work with the men would not be possible if everyone knew we were doing it.” The club served as a place for men to congregate and for Colin and Lucas to get to know them. If they found one in need, they “sent” them to Lucas—not Luc the prizefighter, but Lucas Berkeley, the earl and heir to the Cheltenham marquessate. If it became widely known that he was helping the downtrodden to leave their low-paying jobs, then he would get a lot of pushback from those employing such men. Plus, those that were already wary to meet with a man of Lucas’s standing might be even less likely to do so for fear of being seen as a charity case.
Colin nodded.
“Inform me if you hear anything else on this?” Lucas asked.
“Of course.”
“And the three men you’ve found?”
“Two are working for the company. One is a dockworker. There was a fourth, but I think he’ll do well working with Bow Street. I’ve passed him along.”
“Very well. Thursday evening?”
Colin agreed to it. After settling the details, Lucas bid his friend farewell. He’d stayed out too late already, and the next day’s work wouldn’t wait just because he’d undertaken clandestine activities in the night.
His carriage—the coat of arms conveniently masked—waited around the corner. Jack sat within and grinned at him as he entered.
“Jack,” Lucas greeted, settling across the carriage. He took the offered shirt and pulled off the grimy, lower-class one he’d worn in the club.
“Sir. That was some fighting there tonight.”
“Thank you, Jack.” He put the clean shirt on and straightened his cuffs, donning his ever-present controlled demeanor. The only place he allowed himself to remove it was at Colin’s club because at the club, Lucas was not Lord Berkeley, heir to the Cheltenham title. He was just another fighter at the same social level as the rest. It was the only place Lucas did not need to watch his every action. Because just by being there, he was atoning for his past.
The carriage jolted forward, and his valet handed Lucas a towel. Lucas scrubbed it across his face, removing the soot that aided in hiding his features. With each swipe of the cloth, a level of tension stretched down his back and settled on his shoulders. The weight of his title, his responsibilities, and his mistakes.
It was a heavy load indeed.
***
Colin might not have hit him in the head, but Lucas’s head certainly pounded the next morning when he awoke. It was made worse by Charlie’s loud announcement at breakfast.
“We are going calling today.” His younger brother settled himself in a chair with a thump.
Lucas stopped staring at his toast and looked up slowly.
“Wonderful. Who is we?” Mother’s eyes strayed to Lucas.
“My dear elder brother and I, of course.” He drank from his cup, grinning at Lucas.
Lucas did not feel particularly dear with Charlie surveying him as if he were about to open a trapdoor beneath his feet.
“Lucas has agreed to join me in visiting Miss Faraday. It is the perfect scenario. He keeps the attention off me because everyone is focused on theheir,not thespare, and in return, I teach him a bit about the finer things. Like courting women.”
Father laughed at that, having lowered his paper to join the conversation.
Lucas pressed his eyes closed. For a brief time, he’d forgotten about this little deal. Even if he hadn’t, he’d hoped to have more than a morning’s notice of when they were to depart. What if he’d had plans today? Could he have plans today? There had to be several things he needed to do. More than enough excuses to avoid the outing...
“While I am sure you will both benefit from an outing together, I do not think you need to sell either of you short, Charles. You are perfectly desirable in your own right, and Lucas is perfectly capable of charm when he wishes.”
“Why, thank you, Mother.” Charlie’s gaze swung languidly over to Lucas’s. “So he was charming before I was born, was he? Here’s hoping he hasn’t buried it too deep.”
