“Daniel and I… Well… We, erm, shared a kiss,” Lucy confessed, feeling her cheeks warm. “A kiss.”
She hoped that her friend would not think she was taking advantage of their friendship.
Victoria seemed a little shaken. Her cup clattered against its saucer. Thankfully, she was not holding it high.
“Daniel? My brother? You’re talking about a man who regards everything like a chess match. The man who has bedded so many women but refused to kiss them on the mouth? Don’t ask how I know that,” she said, shuddering. “B-but that man—my brother—he kissed you?”
Lucy had heard rumors about Daniel, but had never really considered them until now. His own sister just told her what he was like. It struck something within her.
She could not complain, though. Whether or not the rumors were true, he would never marry her.
“I-it was more than a chaste kiss,” she whispered, as shame came over her.
How could she let him? He was a rake, wasn’t he?
“What a scoundrel!” Victoria snapped, no longer caring if anyone else heard. “How could he do that? Lead you on, and then flee to London before breakfast without leaving word. I will certainly have a word with him. I will march into his house right now and give him a piece of my mind. Several pieces, in fact.”
“No!” Lucy cried, reaching for her friend’s hand. “Please, promise you won’t confront him. It will make things worse. Let things flow as they would, naturally. More likely, nothing would come of it.”
Her throat felt raw as soon as she said that. She believed it, but it wasn’t what she wanted to believe.
“I don’t want to sow discord between siblings. At least, that is what I am certain of,” she added.
Victoria took a long, deep breath and folded her arms across her chest. She huffed in frustration.
“All right,” she relented. “I wish I could do something, but I can still say that he’s an idiot. He can be stubborn and thick-headed.” Then, she looked at Lucy, who was still red in the face. Her eyes softened. “But how was it? I am assuming it was your first kiss?”
Lucy bit her lip. Even though she had promised herself to look nonchalant, she could not help but smile as the memory of Daniel’s lips on hers came back in full strength.
“It was amazing,” she breathed. “I did not know a kiss could feel like that. No wonder so many people risk scandal for it.”
“Ugh.” Victoria scrunched up her face in disgust. “He is my brother. I am trying to be a friend to you, but I must scrub the image of Daniel being an amazing kisser from my mind. It may be good for the baby and me since it will reduce my appetite for more sweets.”
Lucy laughed at that. She wished she and Joshua had an easy relationship like the one the Brighton siblings had.
“I am sorry, Vicky,” she murmured. “I will stop. There’s nothing much more to say anyway. That is the extent of it, and it ends there.”
“There is something that you should know and consider, though, Lucy,” Victoria said earnestly. “If my brother weren’t involved, I would have told you that you should follow your heart. But perhaps you should consider that advice anyway…”
Chapter Twenty
“What a way to spend Friday night,” Theo commented, letting out a half yawn.
“Oh, indeed,” Daniel replied.
Cheap ale and greasy roast seemed to be a fixture on some nights. He and Theo were at The Blue Anchor, a London pub that originally served the working class. It was completely different from what he was used to in Mayfair’s glamorous ballrooms, and it was precisely the reason he had chosen it.
He sat with his friend in a shadowy corner, his eyes scanning the crowd.
Theo stood out in his tailored wool coat. Still, Daniel was grateful that his friend had decided on neutral colors rather than his favorites, magenta or pale blue. He leaned back with the ease of someone who could be comfortable in any place, and itmade up for what he was wearing. Meanwhile, Daniel’s posture remained rigid and alert.
“Are we not supposed to be here to hunt for arsonists or at least enjoy ourselves? You have been staring at your glass as if it can answer your questions. I am right here. Yes, your friend Theo!”
“I’ve been such an idiot,” Daniel mumbled, his eyes still on his drink.
“That is certainly an interesting topic to broach, since I can think of several possibilities why you’ve thought that,” Theo drawled, drumming his fingers on the table.
“I—” Daniel began, but then stopped.
