Her determination wavered as she looked into the darkened interior.
But then the door closed behind her, and Lord Charles was moving through the dimly lit room to another door. After a moment’s hesitation, she followed. The floor was soft beneathher feet, and shadowed pieces of furniture and frames upon the wall were hardly visible.
Lord Charles reached the door. “This next room is a sitting room, but then we’ll be able to go through the library to the drawing room then to the entrance hall.”
“What are you doing, Charlie?”
Lord Charles stiffened, blocking Lydia’s view into the next room. She shrank behind him, mouth pulling into a grimace. So much for removing from the house undetected.
“Ah, Lucas. Just taking a break from the party. And you? Have you even made an appearance?”
There was a pause. “No. I have been busy.”
Lord Charles started to back up, pushing Lydia back into the dim room.
“Well, you’d best get out there. I know you will not dance with any young ladies, but Mother will expect—”
“Is someone with you?”
“What? No.”
“Charlie.” The voice was closer now, accompanied by heavy footfalls.
Lydia swung her head back and forth. She should hide. She might have been raised on a steady diet of running amok outdoors and playing with the tenant children, but even she knew this was not a position she wished to be found in.
Yes. Hiding was the best option. She darted for a couch.
“If it is a woman, Charlie, so help me...”
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Lucas. I only—”
The room suddenly brightened as Lord Charles was forced out of the doorway. Lydia had not made it to the couch. She was only steps away, but now she froze, staring away from the man that must have just entered the room. If she did not turn around, maybe he would just... leave.
A throat cleared. She felt like a child playing a poor game of hide-and-seek.I cannot see you, so you cannot see me.
“I dumped punch on her, Lucas. I was just trying to help her leave without being seen.”
“Without Mother seeingyoumore like.”
“Well the end goal was twofold.”
If they kept bickering like that, perhaps she could just inch her way to the door. Suddenly, the idea of a few partygoers seeing her in a ruined gown did not seem so bad.
Chapter 4
Lucas stared down his youngerbrother before facing the woman. Charlie was forever getting into quandaries, much to the dismay of their mother. Though an accident such as this might not seem so terrible to most, it was just one more tally on Charlie’s long list of mistakes made. She was turned away from them and seemed to be shuffling in the other direction. Exhaustion filled him at the thought of cleaning up one of Charlie’s messes when all he wished to do was get the evening over with.
Actually, he wished to go a few rounds of boxing, but his mother would not appreciate his missing the ball altogether.
He cleared his throat again.
She froze, but then, slowly, she pivoted back.
The front of her dress was covered with a dark stain from her bodice down to her skirt, but there was something far more interesting about her that arrested his attention. Lucas took in her light hair and wide eyes with a jolt of recognition. This was the woman from the street. The one who’d seen him in his disguise where no one was ever meant to see him.
His guard rose. Would she recognize him? He tried not to shift underneath her regard. Her eyes narrowed then darted away. He breathed an internal sigh of relief when she said nothing and turned back to Charlie.
His brother was not looking nearly as repentant as he ought. No wonder too—the woman was beautiful and young and just the type that Charlie would pursue. Though usually the boy’s romancing did not involve drenching the woman in punch. Could his brother not manage an evening without getting into some sort of trouble?
