Lucas needed to check for gray hairs when he returned home. Time with Charlie was aging him by the second; he could feel it. “Apologies. It is none of my business how youget to knowa woman.”
Charlie nodded, his smile broadening. “Much better.”
The door opened. Miss Faraday entered, her expression curious when her eyes alighted on Charlie as he came to his feet.
Lucas’s heart decided to undergo its own acrobatics at her appearance. How many times would it do that before it grew tired of the exercise? Hopefully this would be the last.
But then Miss Faraday looked to Lucas, and his heart did cartwheels yet again. Dash it, couldn’t his own body just remain within his control? Was that too much to ask?
“Good day, gentlemen. To what do I owe this honor?” She seemed hesitant to come into the room, as if their only reason for being there would be to cause her some sort of grief, and she was undesirous to discover just how much.
Lucas had no intention of causing her any amount of discomfort, yet he could not speak for his brother, who at that moment was striding to Miss Faraday with an outstretched hand.
“My brother and I determined that we could not allow our association with you to end. I hope you do not mind the intrusion on your time?” He took her hand in his and kissed the back of it. Lucas’s stomach twisted—his body once again going rogue.
“No.” She still appeared rather hesitant. Even more so, actually. “Not at all. It is very kind of you to visit. Might I offer you some tea?”
“That would be delightful,” Charlie exclaimed.
Miss Faraday looked to Lucas. He nodded. “Thank you.”
“Please be seated. I will call for tea.” She retreated from the room. It was even darker today than the last time they’d been there, with the overcast sky out the window pairing with the dark furnishings.
Charlie looked pointedly at Lucas as he retook his seat. “She does not seem to mind my lack of social acrobatics.”
“Likely because you were already falling all over yourself just to kiss her hand. She would deem acrobatics too difficult for such a—” The door reopened, and Lucas clamped his mouth shut. Where had that outburst come from? For years, he had naturally drawn into himself to the point that it took a great deal to elicit any sort of overt response. It was safer to be in control. He could not make mistakes that way.
That, and it was simpler to feel less in the face of just about anything. Emotion clouded his thinking and generally led to some form of disappointment or heartache.
Miss Faraday directed a maid to settle a tray on a low table, then she looked at Lucas. “How do you take your tea?”
“Plain.” At least with the tea in his hands, he would have something to do while waiting for Charlie to accomplish his flirting.
She took a great deal of time to pour, and the dishes clanked loudly as she did so. But her hands did not seem to shake, and when she handed Lucas’s to him, some of the liquid spilled out. Instead of appearing abashed, she, in fact, seemed to be biting back a smile. Did she enjoy poorly preparing tea? Maybe he shouldn’t drink it after all. He’d just hope for Charlie to flirt quickly so they could go.
Only, once Charlie had his own cup in front of him, he seemed content to let silence reign. Miss Faraday sipped lightly at her own tea, glancing at the clock every so often, and a growing need to fill the silence burgeoned in Lucas. Not for his own sake, but for the woman who was clearly growing uncomfortable. What was his brother doing? He’d said that Lucas needed to learn about courting, but clearly it was the other way around.
“Were you able to remove the stains from your dress, Miss Faraday?” After he said the words, he felt immediate embarrassment. Of all things to ask, he had to throw out a question regarding herlaundry?
She did not seem to mind the break in propriety. “Yes, in fact. We used vinegar, as your mother suggested. It worked wonders. I will have to thank her.”
Lucas nodded. “I seem to recall you having already known that trick before my mother mentioned it.”
She nodded and sipped from her tea, an unidentifiable expression crossing her face. A gleam of entertainment or challenge maybe. “It may surprise you to know that I have a fair amount of experience in laundry.”
“Truly?” Charlie asked curiously. Of course,nowhe joined the conversation, after Lucas had done the groundwork for him.
“Indeed. I have helped many of Lord Tarrington’s tenant farmers in the past.”
“That is very eccentric of you,” Charlie said.
She lifted a shoulder. “I am rather eccentric then. I enjoy it.”
Lucas watched her with a growing appreciation. He’d seen how she was talking with the young children the other day, but to know that sort of kindness was normal for her made her rise in his esteem. Who cared if she poured tea worse than a four-year-old?
“You enjoylaundry?” Charlie asked, incredulous.
She laughed a little. “Perhaps I do not enjoy it, exactly, but I do enjoy spending time with the tenants. I suppose that makes me eccentric as well.”
