“Yes,” he said.
“She is beautiful.”
“She hated her dress.” Where had that recollection come from?
Miss Faraday laughed lightly. “I hate most of my own, so I imagine I would have been able to commiserate with her. Especially as a child. I was the bane of my governesses’ lives.”
Half a smile pulled at Lucas’s lips. “You? I doubt it.”
Miss Faraday lips pinched to the side in amused recollection. “There is a possibility that I was a bit... difficult. All I wished to do was run amok, and for a time, we ran through governess after governess until one decided to stay. She spent many years trying to mold me into a young lady. Eventually she realized thatLord Tarrington hardly visited, and she stopped trying. She was kind enough—just neglected to teach me much after that. That is when I became close with the tenant families. They did not mind my odd ways.”
“You are not odd.”
She brought her hands to her chest in pretended rapture. “Why, thank you. That is the highest compliment I’ve ever received.”
Lucas chuckled, but the emptiness of the corridor magnified the sound and brought to his attention that they were now alone. Mother and Charlie had continued on without noticing Lucas and Miss Faraday stopped. Suddenly aware of how very inappropriate their current circumstance was, Lucas offered his arm again. She took it silently, and they reached the door of her room within a minute. She was staying in the family wing, but on the close end, with his parents’ and Charlie’s rooms between them. Still, it felt terribly strange to take her to her door knowing his own was mere steps away.
“Sleep well, Miss Faraday,” he murmured as he released her.
“And you, Lord Berkeley.”
He turned before she’d fully opened her door, retreating for his room and the relative safety within. As always, time in her company had made nearly every concern slip from his mind, but they all came rushing back in an instant. He was supposed to beavoidinghis feelings for the woman, not abetting them. Apparently he would need to avoid Miss Faraday for more than three days if the way his heart hammered against his chest was any indication.
Chapter 27
Lydia was becoming more settledin this home, or at least as settled as she could be. The family was more than welcoming and kind, and being among them was overwhelming in the best way. They laughed and bickered and teased and... and it was such a comfortable, loving environment.
It made Lydia long for something similar. And when she had moments with Lord Berkeley, that longing seemed to increase.
The days had begun to form a sort of pattern: A late breakfast with whoever of the family was awake—excepting Lord Berkeley. Morning calls or an at-home day with Lady Cheltenham. Tea with Charlie and Lady Cheltenham. And a social event in the evening. It was a little tiresome, but Lydia had already seen the resulting changes in great number. Several men had shown an interest in her, many coming to visit her, and a handful even taking her on small outings—including Mr. Frank Colbert, who for a time had seemed to lose interest in her but now was back to paying court. If she’d actually wished to marry, it would have been encouraging, but regardless, the stress of putting them off was not so immense. She knew that she could waylay a proposal with a few choice words if it came to it, and not having her guardian breathing down her neck made a world of difference.
The only thing troubling her was the way in which Lord Berkeley seemed to suddenly keep her at arm’s length. Occasionally it was as if nothing had changed, but most of the time, she felt more like an acquaintance than a friend, a friendhehad invited into his home.
She pulled up short as she came into the drawing room, where she was to meet Lady Cheltenham for their at-home. Lord Berkeley was sitting there alone. He sprang to his feet.
“Miss Faraday.” He bowed.
She curtsied. “Lord Berkeley.” After their time at the park, by unspoken agreement, they’d reverted back to formalities in names. Or, she supposed that by “unspoken agreement,” she meant that he had not actually taken to calling her Lydia, and so she assumed he did not want to be called Lucas.
He looked around. “I was told I would find my mother here.”
“Yes, she should be down momentarily. She has her at-home today.”
He nodded, still looking over her shoulder at the door.
“Shall we sit while we wait?” she asked, gesturing for the seats he’d just vacated.
He did not immediately sit, and everything about his person showed a desire to not remain in her company. A pit formed in her stomach.
“Or I can tell your mother you were looking for her? If you do not want to stay.”
“In truth, I just do not want to be roped into joining her at-home.” He gave a sheepish grimace.
Lydia’s shoulders relaxed. Perhaps she was not the sole reason for his wish to leave. “I cannot blame you for that, but I imagine you will be all right. She asked me to meet before the at-home hour began, so there is likely time yet.”
After another moment’s hesitation, he nodded and gestured for her to sit, following suit once she had.
They sat in awkward silence. A large part of her wanted to throw out some inane topic as she had last time they’d spoken, if only to fill the quiet, but the more rebellious part of her did not want to put any effort into conversing with someone who no longer seemed capable of tolerating her company. Surprisingly, she was not the first to speak.
