Page 31 of The Misfortune of Lady Lucianna

The shopkeeper appeared behind Lord Torrington and the women, holding his finger to his pursed mouth, silently demanding silence.

“Oh, I find I like this man very much,” Torrington barked with laughter.

“He does seem quite useful, doesn’t he?” Lady Edith nodded in agreement.

“But he is rather imposing with his dark features and cold, blue stare,” Lady Ophelia said, inspecting him from head to toe. “However, Luci looked like a storybook heroine in his arms. I could hardly tell where her black locks ended and his onyx hair began.”

Were they seriously discussing him in front of him?

“Imposing?” Roderick could not keep up with the group’s banter. “At least I am not the size of a bison.”

All eyes turned to Torrington, not a single person mistaking whom he spoke of.

“Ah, well, I have been called much worse by a far lovelier person, Montrose. You need to do better if you think to wound my delicate sensibilities.” He tapped his finger against his cheek in thought. “I believe an ox was the comparison, though that is very much in line with a bison. Oh, and arrogant and demanding, of course. Am I forgetting anything, my love?”

The blonde, Lady Edith, giggled, lifting on her tiptoes to place a kiss on Torrington’s cheek. “I have apologized many times for calling you arrogant. I still stand behind my oxen reference, though.”

“My lords, my ladies,” the shopkeeper called, bustling down the row toward them, his own silence forgotten as his heeled boots clacked against the hardwood floor. “Please take your rambunctious assembly elsewhere, you are disturbing my patrons who are here for serious pursuits of knowledge.”

“My apologies, Oliver, we will keep our voices down and not disturb anyone.” Lucianna smiled at the shopkeeper, flashing her most angelic, innocent grin, and the man practically wilted where he stood. “If we promise, may we stay?”

Oliver eyed the group, his stare lingering on Lord Torrington a moment longer than the others before he conceded with a nod. “But keep it down, and don’t clutter the row if someone comes looking for a book. I have bills to pay, after all.”

“Of course, sir.”

“We wouldn’t dream of costing you business.”

And finally, from Torrington, “Thank you.”

“This way,” Ophelia waved toward the back of the shop and pushed through the group, making certain not to make eye contact with Roderick. “There is an alcove toward the back where we can speak privately.”

Roderick raised his brow at Lucianna, who only shrugged but followed her friends.

He hung back to allow the women to proceed him into the rear of the shop. That it allowed him a moment to take in the sway of Lucianna’s hips as she linked arms with Lady Ophelia and Lady Edith was only good timing. With their heads tilted together, the trio of women whispered as they hurried to the alcove.

What wasn’t as advantageous, was Torrington matching his slow strides, his hands clasped behind his back.

“They are a formidable group, are they not?” Torrington said in a low tone.

Roderick eyed the women, uncertain what he’d gotten himself involved in and what type of trouble awaited them. “Are they always this…aggressive?”

“Only when they have their minds set on something,” Torrington replied, nudging Roderick onward. “Not long ago, it was me. Thankfully, now, it is…well, you.”

“Me?” Roderick halted as they exited the row of books, and Torrington was able to step next to him as opposed to walking a step behind.

“Oh, make no mistake, Lady Lucianna has her sights set on you.”

The woman was confusing. One moment, she was running from him, the next she’d bitten him, and then she agreed to wed him. “Only a moment ago, she made it very clear she would only agree to a feigned betrothal.”

Torrington patted him on the shoulder and turned toward the women, who’d each taken a seat on the alcove bench as they spoke quietly. “Yes, Lady Lucianna is a bit hard to read; however, she trusts you. It took her weeks to even speak to me.”

Trust was an unfamiliar concept to him, so much more so since his father’s passing.

“I thought this was all about Abercorn and finding proof of what he did…not that I can even say with any certainty what Lady Lucianna is accusing him of.” He watched as the women’s conversation became more intense as their voices rose. Lucianna scowled, and Lady Edith slashed her hand through the air, silencing everyone.

Torrington shook his head. “I fear it took me some time to figure it all out, as well, and it wasn’t until the woman I love“—he tilted his head in Lady Edith’s direction—“disappeared, that I wised up and took this whole Abercorn thing seriously. I’m uncertain if he is guilty of what they are accusing him of; however, the man is guilty of something dastardly.”

“Do you think—“