She took another deep breath, pressing her palm against her middle as if that simple act would calm the riotous nerves inside. “My parents intend to announce my engagement to Sir Reginald as soon as my father arrives.”
“What?” Lucas’s eyes scoured every inch of her face. “What do you mean?”
“My mother has unofficially accepted Sir Reginald’s suit. We’re merely waiting for my father to make it official.”
Lucas’s eyes were moving so quickly, Frances could tell a hundred thoughts must be racing through his mind. “When does your father arrive?”
“Tomorrow,” she replied.
“You intend to marry Sir Reginald?” It was posed as a question, but Frances could tell he was saying it aloud as if to confirm it in his own mind.
She swallowed and nodded. “Yes, it’s my choice.”
He scrubbed a hand through his hair and searched her face. “Youwantto marry him?”
She turned away from him and bit her lip. “You don’t understand, Lucas. My family needs the money. It turns out I havenodowry. None whatsoever. My father has gambled it all away.”
He blew a deep breath from his pursed lips as if he was trying to control his temper. “All of it?”
She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. “Everything.”
Lucas’s next words came through clenched teeth. “And Sir Reginald, that ass, doesn’t care that you don’t have a dowry.”
She nodded again. “Not only that, apparently he’s agreed to pay my parents a significant sum.”
Lucas cursed under his breath. His nostrils flared. “So, he’sbuyingyou?”
She let her chin drop to her chest. She’d expected Lucas would be angry, but she hadn’t guessed his words would be so harsh. “I know how awful it sounds. I have no choice.”
He paced away from her, his hands on his hips. “When is the wedding to be?” he ground out.
She took another steadying breath. “As soon as possible. The sooner we wed, the sooner my father will get the purse.”
Lucas bit the inside of his cheek and cursed again. “Just to gamble it away again, no doubt.”
Tears burned the backs of her eyes. “Probably, but what else are we to do? I must think about my family. They’ll be destitute without this match.”
“Your father should be thrown in debtor’s prison,” Lucas growled.
Again, she fought the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. “That’s not particularly helpful, Lucas. Debtor’s prison provides no options for men like my father.”
Footsteps thudded on the staircase above them.
Lucas paced away from her again. “Blast it, Frances. What if… ?”
“‘What if’what?” she asked brokenly, tears sliding down her cheeks. “Please don’t say what if you and I were to marry. I cannot marry a footman, Lucas. Unless you happen to have a secret fortune.”
He clenched his teeth and pressed his closed fist against his forehead. “Damn it,” he ground out, drawing out each word.
She wiped the tears away with her fingers. “I’m sorry, Lucas. I didn’t want things to end this way. It’s not what I prefer.” She swallowed again. “But I’m resigned to it.”
More footsteps.
He swiveled on his heel so quickly he nearly knocked her over. He gently cupped her shoulders to keep her steady. “What if things were different?” he blurted, searching her face. “What if there was another way?”
She shook her head, still meeting his gaze. “What way? What are you talking about?”
“Do you love me, Frances?” He squeezed her shoulders gently. His heart was in his eyes.
