Page 39 of A Wallflower to Win the Viscount

‘I believe that is all settled or soon will be. My solicitor is of the opinion that Primrose’s aunt would not have been able to leave the house to her in the will unless she owned it outright, so her cousin is just trying to use intimidation to take what is not rightfully his.’

‘That is marvellous news,’ Beatrice said. ‘Primrose must be so grateful to you for helping her in her time of need.’

‘Hmm’ was all Lucian replied. The less said about knights in shining armour and Primrose’s expression of gratitude, the better.

‘But it was the discussion I had with Primrose after we met the solicitor that I wish to talk to you about,’ he continued, wanting to move the conversation immediately away from anything that might remind him of his own appalling behaviour.

Beatrice smiled. ‘In that case, I believe we should order afternoon tea first, so you can tell us all about this discussion and its outcome.’ She raised her hand to signal the waiter and ordered high tea for three, and soon the waiter was laying out teacups and pots, along with an assortment of fancy cakes, sandwiches and scones on a three-tiered stand, none of which Lucian had any intention of partaking in.

‘Tell us all,’ Beatrice urged as she poured their tea.

‘Primrose came up with the perfect solution for the disposal of my father’s house.’

Beatrice stopped pouring, and her smile faded. ‘Your father’s house?’

‘Yes. She suggested I might be able to help women and children in distressed circumstances.’

‘I see.’ She handed a cup to her husband. ‘So you still intend to leave?’

‘Yes, and hopefully sooner than would have happened if I’d had to wait until I could find a buyer for it.’

‘I see,’ she repeated, not seeming as keen about this plan as he had hoped. She poured another cup of tea and handed it to him.

‘I thought you might know of a suitable charity I could gift the house to,’ he said, surprised by her lack of enthusiasm for such a worthwhile endeavour.

‘I see,’ she repeated yet again, as if that was all she was capable of saying.

While Beatrice placed cream and jam on several scones and served them to her husband and Lucian, he recounted his plan to find a nonjudgemental charity, certain that once she was made aware of how much good could be achieved, she would start to show some interest in the project.

‘Right,’ she said, with no new enthusiasm. ‘And this was all Primrose’s idea?’

‘Yes, and it’s the perfect solution.’

Finally, Beatrice smiled. ‘She really is a marvel, isn’t she?’

‘Hmm’ was all Lucian wished to say on that matter as well.

‘She’s not only very attractive but also clever and deeply sympathetic, not just to animals, but to people as well. Those are such rare qualities in a young woman, don’t you think?’

Lucian sipped his tea rather than replied, not wanting to think of any of Primrose’s finer points, and particularly not her physical attributes.

‘What will you do once you’ve disposed of your house?’

‘I shall return to America.’

Beatrice held his gaze in a decidedly unsettling manner. ‘Just as you did when you were eighteen?’

No, he wanted to say. She was wrong. This was completely different. Yes, like a coward he had fled from his father ten years ago, but this time he was not leaving for his own sake. Not entirely. He wanted to put as much distance between himself and Primrose as he could, but that was for her protection. He was not running away.

Was he?

No, of course he was not.

‘So do you know of any suitable charities?’ he pressed, refusing to justify or discuss his reasons for leaving.

Beatrice sighed. ‘Well, if you still wish to be rid of your house, then I think I know someone who would be ideal to contact. One of my old school friends has become a Quaker. She works for a charity that provides sanctuary to women and children. She’s one of the least judgemental people I know, and I’m sure her charity will be perfect for what you have in mind.’

‘Excellent. If she is interested, I’ll have another meeting with my solicitor to arrange the transfer of the deeds.’