“Lucas?” Heathcliff reminded him.
Lucas gave a curt nod. “As much as I was able to explain under the circumstances.”
Heathcliff gave him a reproving frown. “So you were able to sow the seed, but not be bothered to explain the deed, eh? I would expect more, Lucas. Yet . . .” Heathcliff’s expression was thoughtful. “I do not think you to be in danger.”
“Danger?” Lucas repeated, confused. He had been expecting his friend to give him a solid set-down, not alleviate the guilt.
“Yes, of the lass trying to bring you up to scratch. After all, this actually works out neatly for her, should she care to use it well.” Heathcliff nodded once, as if impressed with his own brilliance.
Lucas decided he must be having an off day, since he wasn’t following the trajectory of Heathcliff’s thoughts—amongst other mishaps.
“You had mentioned the details of her betrothal . . .” Heathcliff let the words linger.
Understanding bolted through Lucas’s mind, and he was surprised he hadn’t seen it from the start.
He had been rather distracted at the time, and as such he gave liberal license to the inner workings of his mind. Yet now, it had become quite clear.
He wasn’t sure how he felt about it.
And he suspected that it could as easily work against him, as for him.
“Finally catching on?” Heathcliff asked, raising his glass in a toast.
“Yes, it’s an intriguing idea,” Lucas replied, mulling it over in his mind.
“True enough, and, you scoundrel, it leaves you quite free and unattached,” Heathcliff added.
“It would seem so.”
“Yet you don’t seem as encouraged by the prospect as I anticipated,” Heathcliff noted.
Lucas shifted his weight and glanced down to his almost empty glass. “I’m contemplating it.”
“You should be bloody celebrating it!” Heathcliff remarked, his tone frustrated.
“But you’re forgetting that this grand idea can also be used in another way, and I’m trying to ascertain if that is likely.” Lucas speared Heathcliff with a glance.
Heathcliff shook his head. “As I see it, should the world be inflicted with one of your progeny, it is much better for the lady in question to allow others to believe it is the heir of Greywick. You said yourself that they are to be married soon, and even I am aware that the timelines match up enough to give the babe credit as Meyer’s child—all without having to bed the lass when he’s enamored with another. It quite sews up the problem neatly, if I say so myself. And it gives Lady Liliah relief from the pressure to produce an heir. Heaven knows Lord Greywick will be a pain in the arse concerning a probable heir to his title; this creates a solution to every problem—you lucky dog. And you haven’t the need to own up to any action. You’ll be free to continue on in your merry debauchery of ruining ladies of quality.”
“Lady,” Lucas amended, glaring at his friend. “Singular.”
“Ah, that’s right, you’re quite the monk. Though I do find it splendidly funny that the one time you decide to engage in congress with a woman, you find the one who makes you forget reason. It’s amusing, I tell you.”
“I’m laughing . . . on the inside,” Lucas remarked. Yet he considered Heathcliff’s explanation of the situation. Honestly, he couldn’t have solved more problems if he tried, yet something about it rubbed wrong.
He couldn’t quite place it, and as he examined it he saw more merit in the idea. If Liliah wished to continue their tryst after her marriage to Meyer, it would be simple, and he need not become entangled.
“Cheers!” Heathcliff strode toward Lucas with the decanter of brandy and splashed a generous amount into his cup. “Let us celebrate! You’ve neatly dodged every obstacle, and that deserves a commendation!” Heathcliff lifted his own glass and took a long sip.
Lucas followed suit, not quite celebratory—but warming up to the idea of having no consequences for his actions.
After all, for one who appreciated control, it was a delightful relief to find out that his lack of it would produce no unforeseen consequences.
He simply had to make sure that Liliah and Meyer married when they had planned.
Yet where did that leave the situation with the duke? Was Greywick still planning on blackmailing him to keep the information concerning Catherine a secret? Was that even worth looking into anymore?
He refused to answer the probing questions of his heart and instead celebrated his good fortune with his friend.
