This time, both Father and Mother laughed, and frankly, Lucas nearly did too. But any amusement was cut short when Mother spoke. “He has been charming for far longer than that.”
Lucas shifted in his seat at the attention all three of his family members bestowed on him at that moment. He far preferred to be in the background of this grouping, not the forefront.
“Indeed,” Father said. “He could charm biscuits right out of Cook’s kitchen. I remember more than one time that I had to forgo dessert because Cook had given it away before dinner.”
“Oh, yes,” Mother chimed in, delight coloring her voice. “Your lemon biscuits were his particular favorite.”
“No one seemed to care that they were alsomyparticular favorite,” Father said with a laugh.
Mother patted Father’s knee consolingly, her eyes taking on a reminiscing gleam. “Why, I recall an afternoon that he and Marietta redecorated my sitting room while I was visiting neighbors.”
Lucas’s discomfort turned to dread.
“You would have been too young, Charles, but when I tell you I was in a high temper... well, consider that an understatement. They had cut up my curtains in a ridiculous attempt to recover a chair and burned a hole in my carpet carrying a lit candlestick to another part of the room. But Marietta set Lucas on me, certain he could charm me out of my foul mood... and she was right. I remember—”
Lucas stood abruptly. “I have just recollected something I must finish before Charlie and I leave. Excuse me.”
The door to the morning room thudded shut behind him with a slam much like that of his heart against his chest. He stopped several strides into the hall, breathing heavily as he attempted to tamp down his emotions. He pulled in a breath, holding it. Holding back the dam of recollection.
It had been years since he had lost his twin sister. Years. But the moment someone brought her up, even mentioned her name, it still felt as if the wound were wide open, as if he were missing a limb. He released the breath, pressing a hand to the wall in front of him, feeling the rough texture beneath his fingers, and thanking the heavens that his mother had not followed. In a handful of seconds, he had his breathing and his memories under control. But it took longer than usual. That was worrisome.
He pushed from the wall at the same moment the morning room door opened. With disciplined practice, Lucas schooled his expression. Charlie met his eyes, his gaze straying to the hallbeyond, as if wondering why he was still there, just outside the room they’d been dining in, but he said nothing.
“Are you ready?”
“Now?” Lucas hadn’t even had a chance to be caught up in some important business that would keep him from joining his brother.
“Yes. Before you discover some reason to avoid coming.”
Well that was an unfortunate bit of mind reading.
“Very well.” Lucas paused. “But we are taking the curricle, and I am driving.”
Charlie began walking for the door, his speed slowly increasing. “Only if you can beat me to it.”
Lucas was proud of the restraint he showed at generally every moment of his life. It was necessary. It had become a part of him. But anyone with a younger brother would know that his next actions—of overtaking Charlie, grabbing him by the back of his cravat, and soundly beating him to the front door—were more an ingrained physiological response than anything else.
Lucas drove the curricle to Miss Faraday’s home.
Charlie was up the stairs before Lucas had even alighted from the carriage. The butler had admitted him as Lucas was still ascending to the door and wondering why exactly he was being brought along if Charlie intended to run off without him. When he finally joined his brother, the butler showed them both into the drawing room and promised to call down Miss Faraday.
Charlie settled himself on a settee.
Lucas chose not to sit just yet. “What do you have planned for Miss Faraday?”
Charlie cocked a brow. “This.”
“This?” Lucas surveyed the room. “Truly?”
“Yes. I do not think I need to undergo social acrobatics to get to know a young lady.”
Lucas let his lips drop into half a frown.
“You disapprove?” Charlie leaned back, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“It is none of my business how you court a woman.” Lucas glanced at the door, which was still closed.
Charlie leaned forward, also glancing to the door as he whispered, “Careful, brother. Outing my intentions was never a part of the deal.”
