“A misunderstanding?” Sarah scrunched up her nose. “You truly believe that will work?”
“Oh, my dear,” Cass said, patting Sarah’s hand again. “You obviously don’t know our Lucy.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Minutes later, Sarah retired to her bedchamber to rest. Christian stood and watched her leave the room, hoping she wasn’t too discomfited by the discussion with Lucy and Cass. No doubt the poor young woman needed to lie down and think about all the outlandish things she’d just heard.
As soon as Sarah had gone, he turned to his friends. “You two can be a lot to take in at first. I wanted her to know I trust you.”
“Don’t worry about a thing, Berkeley,” Lucy replied. “You know my plots always work out in the end.”
He resumed his seat. “Yes. That’s why I summoned you. Thank you for coming, by the by.”
“Anything for you, my friend,” Lucy said from her perch on the sofa, a genuine smile on her face.
“Now, you must tell us, how in heaven’s name did you get wrapped up in this?” Cass asked, settling her lavender skirts around her.
“Sarah told you. She mistook my hunting lodge for her father’s and then—”
“We heard all of that,” Lucy replied. “But certainly you weren’t obligated to escort her back to England and summon your friends to help. How didthathappen?”
Christian scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I felt sorry for her.”
Lucy arched a brow. “Sorry for her? Really? I couldn’t help but notice she’s quite beautiful, too. Didthathave anything to do with it?”
Christian crossed to the sideboard and poured himself a drink.
“And now you’re drinking?” Lucy said. “I don’t think I’ve seen you have more than a spot of whiskey or a glass of champagne the entire time I’ve known you.”
He splashed brandy into a glass. “Care for some?” he offered his guests.
They both declined.
Christian carried the glass back to his chair and sipped the drink slowly.
Lucy smoothed one dark eyebrow with a fingertip. “You didn’t answer me, Viscount. Has Lady Sarah’s beauty anything to do with your sudden interest in her?”
Christian leaned his head against the back of the chair. “You know me, Your Grace. Always the loyal friend to any damsel in distress.”
“Yes, what you did for Alexandra and Owen was exceedingly kind of you,” Cass said, referring to her brother. “They’re engaged now. Thank you.”
Christian raised his glass. “Glad to hear it. Always a pleasure to help a beautiful lady find the man of her dreams. But at least in this case, Sarah’s actually been helping me, too.”
Lucy’s jaw dropped open. “Pardon?”
“Yes, while we were snowed in together, she gave me some advice on how to go about finding a wife,” Christian said.
“Snowed in together? I’ll leave that be for now.” Lucy put her fists to her hips. “But Berkeley, if you wanted help finding a wife, why didn’t you askme?”
Christian laughed and took another sip of brandy. “Perhaps because you and I have never been snowed in together. Funny what you’ll admit when you have days alone with someone. By the by, I am counting on your discretion with that information, the snowed-in bit. No one knows about it except Fergus, Mrs. Goatsocks, and a dog.”
“Absolutely,” Cass offered loyally.
Lucy sniffed. “I still don’t see why you never asked me.”
Christian took another sip of brandy. “Apparently, Sarah’s the belle of the last Season. She’s engaged to the most eligible bachelor. I thought she might know a thing or two about the current crop of ladies on the marriage mart.”
“It’s true, Lucy,” Cass said. “She is younger than we are. I daresay she knows quite a bit.”
