Page 46 of The Misfortune of Lady Lucianna

Luci swore she heard her mother chuckle as she closed the door to her daughter’s room.

Pushing her waist-length black hair over her shoulder, Luci hurried to the door and turned the lock before facing the unmistakable sound coming from her veranda.

Her heart thumped nearly out of her chest as another spray assaulted the window.

For only a brief moment, Luci considered fleeing her room and calling for a footman to explore where the noise had come from.

Even with that plan still solidly in mind, Luci moved toward the French doors and reached for the latch.

Chapter 17

Roderick huffed, tossing yet another handful of pebbles toward the lit window above. His head pounded relentlessly following his meeting with Camden and Abercorn. His arm ached from throwing so many bloody rocks at Lady Lucianna’s veranda. And blast it all, he was sick and tired of the pitying looks from Torrington, Lady Ophelia, and Lady Edith. To make matters worse—much, much worse—at some point, Torrington’s younger sisters had joined the party.

Lady Chastity and Lady Prudence were agreeable enough young women; however, they talked a lot. They spoke of never having met Roderick before. They spoke of Lady Edith’s grand ball. They chattered on about Lady Ophelia’s new hairstyle.

The veranda they all stood on was large, yet the group’s combined excitement seemed to reduce the area to that of a confined, closed carriage.

Giving Roderick little time to ponder his next move—and there had to be a next move, and fast. His blood boiled at the thought of the alternative…

Lord Camden had settled on the Duke of Abercorn as the best marriage prospect for Lucianna.

He hadn’t even entertained any additional offer from Roderick.

Lucianna’s fate had been secured and signed before Roderick could ask for a drink. His interest had all been for show, to push Abercorn to offer more and make more business agreements to have Lucianna as wife.

Bloody hell, but that was not the end of things.

Lucianna deserved far more than to be bartered like an old boat in jeopardy of capsizing due to her hellion tendencies and disagreeable nature.

She was not disagreeable, only adamant against the misdeeds of others.

She deserved to be cherished and loved. She deserved a home and a family of her own. She deserved to never fear the man she was wed to.

Roderick was unsure if he could give her everything she ought to have, but right now, at this moment, he was the best option for her.

“Mayhap if you aimed a bit higher, Your Grace,” Ophelia said, mimicking her improved throwing style. “The pebbles are certain to hit the window then.”

“What if she isn’t in her room?” he asked, worried the auburn-haired nymph had used up her daily supply of words.

“Then Pru and I will go to the door and knock,” Lady Chastity offered.

It struck Roderick as odd a woman he’d met less than an hour before would risk anything to help him gain a word with Lucianna.

“Shhhh,” Edith swiped at the air. “I think I heard the latch unlock.”

“Oh, the door is opening,” Pru and Chastity said in unison, clapping their hands.

“Do quiet that noise.” Torrington turned a scowl on his sisters, but it vanished quickly. “It might not be Lady Lucianna who steps out—and we will all need move quickly to hide.”

“Who—who—who—” Lucianna’s normally deep, confident tone echoed down from above. “Who is it?”

Roderick stepped from the shadows at the tree line and into the pool of moonlight below her veranda. They’d arrived when it was still light outside, but the day had passed to twilight as they’d bided their time.

He despised hearing the fright in her tone.

“It is I, Lady Lucianna.”

“The grim reaper!” At Luci’s sharp inhale, Ophelia elbowed Edith, and the two fell into a fit of giggles.