She snorted. “You have been listening to the flattery.”
“I don’t think so. Especially since they believe you despise me.”
She blew out a breath. “I don’t despise you,” she said tartly. “I don’t know you. This is the first we have talked in years.”
He acknowledged the point. “Will you allow me abovestairs now? May I check the windows and the roof without sneaking around behind you?”
“You may. Provided there is no familiarity in your attitude toward me.”
“Familiarity?” he teased. “You are the one who pulled off my mask.”
“Here at Vauxhall, you are Lord Lucifer. There, you are simply Mr. Lucifer, my servant. I would not link arms with him nor stroll anywhere at his direction. No more than I would with the bootblack.” She glanced at him. “Surely you understand that.”
“I understand that a bodyguard is not a bootblack. If I direct you to stroll to Haymarket, you will do it immediately and not question it.”
She stiffened at that, and he could tell she wanted to argue. She’d fought hard for the right to direct her own life—in a small way—and she was loath to give that up. “Lucas—” she began, but he cut her off.
“I am there to protect you, and you will listen if I have to carry you out over my shoulder.”
“You exaggerate the danger,” she huffed.
“You are naïve.” He didn’t say that to hurt her. His statement was pure fact, but she was too innocent to realize that.
“You overstep,” she snapped. “As did my brother to hire you in the first place.”
He snorted. “Your brother did not hire me. I came of my own free will, and I will see the job done no matter if I offend your sensibilities or not.”
Her body stiffened against him. “For how long, Lucas? How long will you hide beneath your mask and your silly moniker? How long do you intend to play dead and skirt the responsibilities of your title?” She narrowed her eyes. “How long shall I have you underfoot when you should be standing in the House of Lords?”
“Until such time as I deem it safe,” he said flatly.
“And when will that be? A month? A year?”
“I will not leave you until it is safe,” he said firmly.
She shook her head. “You are using me to avoid your own family.”
He laughed at that. The sound burst from him in a harsh bark of levity. “I assure you,” he said, “I do not need any excuse to avoid my family. I have been doing it quite well long before I was needed in your household.”
“I can attest to that,” said a voice to the side.
Lucas jerked around at the words, damning himself for being so distracted by her that he paid too little attention to his environment. With his damaged hand, he pressed Diana behind him while his good hand tightened into a fist. His heart beat hard as he searched the shadows for an enemy. There was but one person, and he did not appear threatening at all. At least not to Diana.
“Nathan,” Lucas said.
His brother.
Chapter Nine
Lucas’s only brother,Nathan, stepped out of the shelter of a large tree. He was dressed roughly in worn boots and muddy clothes. If it weren’t for his dark green cloak, Lucas might have mistaken him for one of his tenants.
“What are you dressed as?” That wasn’t even remotely important, but somehow the words blathered out anyway.
Nathan spread his hands. “A farmer. What else?”
“That’s not a costume. You are a farmer.”
“Not in London, I’m not.” His expression tightened. “Apparently, in London, I’ve been playing at being a titled lord.”
