Page 81 of Give Him a Chance

As she expected, her brother’s face drained of all color. “Do not even jest about that!”

“‘Give up the title’?” Bernard sounded confused—as well he might. “But—I mean, an earl cannot just give up his title.”

“Our Uncle William gave up his,” Lucy said, humming at her brother innocently. “Our cousin Thomas became Duke of Cothrom, oh, early last year?”

“Lucy, do not even put it into Papa’s head,” Percy warned. “Do not even speak of it!”

Lucy ignored him. “And Uncle John decided to stop being the Marquess of Aylesbury, oh, half a year ago? It truly cannot be longer than six months ago, for Cousin Samuel took on the title and was wed that same month, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Papa has seen how much more relaxing it is for his brothers, no longer having to worry about managing the estates and attending Parliament—”

“Lucy!” With that smug smile wiped off his face as he leaned forward, her brother did truly look concerned now, which was a delightful thing to see. After all, what were sisters for? “Do not even consider it. Papa is not about to give up being the Earl of Lindow.”

“And when you do enter Parliament,” Lucy said smoothly, stifling a giggle as she stabbed her embroidery with her needle, “please consider supporting me in the cessation of prisoner transportation, won’t you? Papa has been awfully stubborn about it, and when you are the Earl of Lindow—”

“Handing out my title already, Lucy?” came an amused voice from the doorway. “I don’t know, I go away for five minutes and you’re already passing out the spoils.”

Lucy’s spirits leapt as she saw her parents in the doorway. “You’re home!”

“So it would seem,” said the earl gruffly as Lucy abandoned her embroidery once again and launched herself into his arms.

“Did you miss us, then?” asked her mother as she welcomed her daughter’s embrace.

Perhaps it was a mite too honest to say brightly, “Not really!”

But then, as Lucy watched her brother welcome their parents’ home and relate the lie that he had been watching his sister like a hawk, it had been a rather special few days.

She and Bernard had declared their love for each other. He had revealed his secret, that he was no criminal at all but instead a man who had risked his life for his country. Bernard had shared parts of his past with her she would treasure always for the bravery he’d needed to speak them.

And we are to be married.

Oh, the words had not been said, at leasthehad not said them, but they did not need to be. Lucy smiled as Bernard politely bowed to her parents, asking them about their journey and declaring that long journeys in this heat really were awful.

He was hers. And she was his. And that was all there was to it.

And now that she came to think of it…

“So, what have we missed?” the Countess of Lindow asked as she settled herself on an armchair and fanned herself with her hand. “Goodness, it’s hot. Percy, ring the bell for Cawthorne, won’t you? I’m in desperate need of lemonade.”

“Right you are, Mama,” Percy said promptly, stepping up and ringing the bell.

“Yes, your mother has put down some odds on the events we have missed,” said their father with a twinkle in his eyes as he sat beside his wife, Lucy returning to her seat beside Bernard and carefully not sitting as close as she would have liked to. “Two to one that an invitation came for us from someone we do not like—”

“Mama wins.” Lucy grinned. “The Quintrells are delighted to expect your presence at a picnic next Thursday.”

The earl groaned. “Three to one that Lady Romeril castigates someone in public and it’s written about in the newspapers—”

“Oh, now that’s a hard one,” Percy said lightly as he threw himself down back into his armchair. “Yes, she has castigated someone, but no, it’s not reached the newspapers.”

“Who was it?” the countess asked eagerly, pulling out a notebook and pencil from Lucy did not see where, and opening it up.

Lucy giggled as Percy sighed. “Me.”

Their father stiffened. “Percy Chance!”

“It was only a slight mark on my waistcoat. I hadn’t noticed it and most of the world wouldn’t,” he protested swiftly. “You should have seen the way she shouted at me…”

Lucy smiled as the conversation continued on around them, the warm family atmosphere she had always known and loved somehow magnified by having Bernard here beside her.

She greatly wished to lean over and take his hand, but even she knew that would be most inopportune. No, she would have to wait for just the right moment…