“There is no reason why we must stand on formality, Miss Weston.” He didn’t care what she wore, and perhaps the uglier the dress the better. This dress was not ugly, only simple, but the green complemented not only her hair and skin, but eyes as well.
Lucian offered his arm to lead her into the dining room. It was expected, but he had to admit, he liked that she placed her hand on the sleeve.
“I apologize but by the time Cook learned that we were to have a guest it was too late to prepare a more appropriate meal,” he offered after they were seated.
“She does not need to go to any extra trouble for me. I dine simply,” Eliza assured him. “I am used to taking a one course meal in the kitchen with my servants.”
“I also enjoy only a light meal, one or two courses, except when my brothers are at home. They require more sustenance.”
“They are no longer growing boys,” Eliza laughed.
“No, but it is one of the rare times that we spend together. Even though we usually reside at Wyndhill Park, with the exception of Xavier, our interests and priorities do not allow us to interact much during the day. Thus, Cook makes certain there is a large meal that keeps us at the table.”
“She does not want you to grow apart?” Eliza asked.
“Cook was the one who stepped in after our parents died. There was a housekeeper, maids, and a governess, but Cook was the one who fed us, and slipped us biscuits and came to find us if we were feeling down. Our guardian wanted control and to make decisions for the family because I was too young at the time, or that was his opinion. He was the one who sent Elaina away to her grandparents in France without asking any of us. That action made Cook angry and she set out to be protective of me and my siblings.”
“France?” Eliza asked.
“Yes. My mother was French, which is where Father met her.”
“Was he on a grand tour?”
“No.” Lucian laughed. “Father and his friends had decided to sail to France, without making any proper plans.” He chuckled again. “Two of the friends were set to wed within a fortnight and the remaining four knew they would soon be forced to also give up their bachelor state given they were all heirs; thus they were celebrating and mourning what they would each soon lose. When they drank all the brandy, they decided they needed more.”
“So, they sailed to France?” Eliza asked in shock.
“That is where it came from so it made sense.” Lucian offered the same reasoning his father had. “Who knows what would have happened if they would have tried to sail the yacht themselves. Luckily, the friend with the boat also employed someone to captain it for them. But, stopping at the coast was not enough, except to purchase more brandy to settle their stomachs after most of them had tossed up their accounts during the crossing. They then sailed downLe Ranceuntil they reached Dinan.”
“Why?” Eliza asked as soup was placed before them.
“My father could never answer that question.” Lucian chuckled. “But, when they exited the yacht in search of brandy to take back to England, and for food, they lost their footing.”
“Unsteady from brandy and from being on the water?” Eliza asked.
“Yes, to both,” Lucian answered. “None of them were seriously injured, but enough to delay their return. Father was unharmed and as he wandered about Dinan waiting for his friends to fully recover, he met my mother coming out of a café and was smitten on sight. When his friends were well enough to return, my father remained and courted her. Six months later he returned home with his bride.”
“That is such a wonderful story. To think, had he and his friends not been inebriated and in need of more brandy, they may have never met.”
The only people Lucian had ever shared that story with were his siblings. They liked to remember the meeting more than their death. It was nice to share it with Eliza.
It was also pleasant not to dine alone, as he had done since his brothers left the day after the wedding. In fact, he had taken to having a light meal in the library while he attended estate business or he would bring the book he was reading into the dining room with him. There was nothing worse than sitting at the head of a long table, eating a meal, alone.
He was also surprised to find himself sharing more of himself and the family than he ever had, though none of what he said was private, just not usually spoken of.
“It was to my mother’s parents that Elaina was sent after my parents died and where she lived for four years,” he finally said, remembering why he had mentioned France to begin with.
“Well, daughters are not nearly as important as sons,” Eliza offered with a bit of bitterness to her tone and then Lucian recalled how she had been often forgotten by her parents.
“I apologize for what you suffered and had I been asked, or given control, Elaina would not have been sent away.”
She nodded with a sad smile before she dipped her spoon into the soup.
“Cook often came to me in the evenings after our guardian had retired. I would be in the library reviewing the accounting and all documents relating to the estate to understand or make certain the guardian was not making poor decisions, not that I would know what a poor decision was. I was frightened. It was daunting to be the Earl of Garretson at sixteen with five younger siblings. She listened to my concerns and was the one who encouraged me to take over when I reached my majority.” Lucian settled back in his chair now that his soup was gone. “A regret is that I did not send for Elaina immediately, but I needed to make certain that I could manage on my own because my next fear was that I would not be able to protect my sister as I should when it came time for her to attend a Season.”
“So, your reasons were not to ignore her?” Eliza asked.
“No, never that. I needed to prepare to take over the guardianship and I attended those first two Seasons not for enjoyment or to find a wife, but to learn and observe to protect her the best that I could.”
