James felt Lucy’s gaze on him and looked her way, offering her a quick nod.
That sum would be enough to pay Beck and get him out of debt.
“Thank you, Dickson,” James told the man and stood.
Mr. Dickson stood too but with difficulty, struggling to collect all the documents in his arms. Lucy rose to help him when the same blueprints she’d given to James slipped from the crook of his arm.
“If I may just make a few more notes, I shall be on my way.”
“You have a conveyance to take you home?” Lucy seemed to feel sympathy for the harried man. James did too. He’d only come to do as he’d been asked.
“Oh yes, miss. My carriage is in the stable yard.”
“Very good. Shall I show you to the parlor across the hall?”
“He can find it on his own.” Lady Cassandra had risen from her chair too. “Farewell, Dickson. I’d like to speak to his lordship and my niece alone.”
“Of course, my lady.”
After Mr. Dickson left the room, James sneaked a glance at Lucy. She looked as wary as he felt.
Lady Cassandra let the fraught silence continue.
Lucy spoke first. “I want to help resolve this matter, Aunt Cassandra. Tell me what I can do.”
Of course, she would wish to help. But her aunt seemed in no humor to entertain assistance of any kind. James realized he’d offended her by not accepting her offer, though in his mind he hadn’t yet refused or decided anything yet.
“There are two matters before us,” the lady finally said, her voice low and unnervingly cool. “The matter of the sale of Invermere, of course, and the mystery of whatever is going on between the two of you.” She glared at James and then softened as she faced Lucy. “Lucy and I must talk, so you must go, Lord Rossbury.”
James frowned. She’d asked him nothing and might have excused him when she did Dickson if she merely wished for time alone with Lucy.
But James had no inclination to rile her. “Of course, my lady.”
“I want you out of the house. I’ve had the staff collect your things—”
“Aunt Cassandra.” Lucy took a step toward her, but the lady continued.
“There is a cottage on the property, not farbeyond the tree line. I’ve had a maid tidy it and prepare it for you. It should be sufficient accommodation until our two great matters are resolved.”
He tried not to look at Lucy and respectfully kept his attention fixed on the lady speaking to him, but he sensed her. Felt her frustration and yearned to soothe her.
“Please, Aunt, if you’d only listen—”
“It will be all right,” James told her, reaching for her instinctively.
Lady Cassandra lurched as if to plant herself between them.
“Go. Now, Lord Rossbury,” Lucy’s aunt commanded. “I’ll send word to you tomorrow, and we can speak then.”
James held back his anger and headed for the door.
“And if I find you’ve harmed my niece in any way, I swear I’ll bury you in Invermere’s garden.”
Chapter Seventeen
“The smaller the number, the lower the point you receive for putting your puck there. Make sense?”
“I think so.” Lucy wasn’t entirely sure. Her aunt’s description of how to play the game had been quick, her voice still full of the tension of the meeting in the drawing room.
