Page 30 of The Misfortune of Lady Lucianna

Nothing mattered but his arms around her.

Luci was helpless to pull away, to push him away, to fight the connection she sensed forming with this man.

They needed to discuss everything: her involvement with the Mayfair Confidential, her spying on Lord Abercorn with her friends, and her father’s need to control everything he touched. But not now, not here.

Luci’s handbag fell forgotten to the floor, and she clutched at Roderick’s back, pressing her entire length closer to him.

“A-hem?” The male voice cut through the haze surrounding Lucianna, and she reluctantly pulled back from Roderick, fearing the shopkeeper had found them in a most delicate position.

Glancing over her shoulder, it was not Oliver, the shop owner, but Lord Torrington grinning back at her, Edith at his side, while Ophelia hid behind the couple to mask her embarrassed and reddened face.

* * *

Roderick fairly growled at the interruption when their lips parted.

As quickly and surprisingly as it had started, Lucianna leapt away from him as she stared over his shoulder.

His rebuff died on his lips when he turned to see a gentleman so large he filled the aisle with his sheer size, a petite blonde woman tucked into his side, and an auburn-haired nymph doing her best to hide from view behind the couple.

Roderick eyed the lady doing her best not to be seen. He had, in fact, seen her before.

“You.” He pointed to her. “You were the one from the ball. You blocked my path and almost allowed Lucianna to escape.”

“Which would make us,” the massive man interrupted, “the couple whose betrothal ball you attended without invite.”

“Lord Torrington, Lady Edith, and Lady Ophelia,” Lucianna stepped in front of Roderick. “May I introduce the Duke of Montrose?”

“You may, but that will not be enough to pacify our curiosity at his presence.” Lady Edith placed her hands upon her hips and scrutinized him as if he were a costly, rare bolt of fabric. One she hesitated to stare at for too long and didn’t dare touch.

“Yes, Luci, what is going on?” Lady Ophelia asked, her head bobbing around Torrington’s shoulder.

“I—well—he—“ She glanced between her friends, a rosy hue blooming on her cheeks.

“I arrived at the Camden townhouse to call on Lady Lucianna. Unfortunately, my manners escaped me, and I did not send word ahead, asking for an audience.” Roderick felt, rather than saw, Lucianna’s eyes on him. “And so, I offered to transport her and her maid here.”

Though if he’d known he was going to face a battle squad, Roderick may have departed the Camden townhouse alone, his flowers still in hand.

“Why were you calling on Luci?” Lady Edith pried, her eyes narrowing on him once more.

“It is a long story.” He waved away her question. “But since you have arrived, I will bid you all ado and leave Lady Lucianna in your company.”

Lucianna’s arm shot out and snagged his sleeve, mercifully dried from the earlier flower incident. She held him in place at her side. “Montrose will remain. This is not as much his issue as ours. It seems my father is entertaining an offer from Abercorn.”

“For what?” Lady Ophelia finally pushed in front of Torrington.

“For my hand in marriage.”

Both women gasped, and Torrington’s shoulders stiffened. “That cannot be true.”

“I assure you it is, my lord,” Roderick replied.

“The Duke of Montrose has graciously also made an offer for my hand.” She glanced up at him for confirmation. When he nodded, Lucianna continued. “And, so, I will accept his offer…for now. But we must find the evidence we need to see Abercorn taken in by the magistrate. Then this whole charade can be put behind us and Roder—the duke—can return to his own endeavors.”

“What in the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?” Roderick didn’t have any other endeavors, at least not the emotional kind—or any other he was willing to share with Lucianna and her companions.

And why did he care if Lady Lucianna and her friends thought he was involved with another woman?

Three sets of rounded stares turned toward him.