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Chapter 27
The family was gathered in the dining room of their rented town home on Upper Grosvenor Street, eating breakfast. Silas had plans to go and visit the solicitor, and then he intended to stop by his gentlemen’s club for luncheon to while away the rest of the afternoon.
“What have you planned for today?” Michael asked Dinah.
Silas raised his teacup to his lips, taking a sip of hot tea.
“Both of the Miss Wildses will be calling on me,” Dinah replied, clearly excited. Silas nearly choked on his tea. Lucy! The woman had been haunting his every dream.
“What time?” he asked, trying to sound cool and composed, though he was anything but. Slowly, he set his cup down onto its saucer. His hand was shaking a little.
“During my at-home hours. We didn’t agree on anything specific.” If his sister had noticed the change in his demeanour, she gave no hint of it, smiling at him serenely as she sipped her own tea.
“I’d be happy to see them both,” Silas mused, already planning to forgo his visit to both solicitor and gentlemen’s club.
Michael glanced up at him, sharply. Silas looked down, then over at Dinah. He knew Michael was going to ask him about the bet.
“Well, I’m sure they’d be happy to see you,” Dinah replied.
“Miss Wilds was a particular friend to both our mother and father,” Silas replied. “I believe that we should foster the friendship.”
“I agree,” Dinah said, smiling. “They’re both very kind, and the conversation is always pleasant.”
“That’s because they’re both well-read,” Silas pointed out.
“Quite right, brother.” Dinah smiled at him, clearly pleased that she had his approval. Michael sat, frowning. Dinah was the first to leave the table. As soon as the door closed after her, Michael spoke.
“You aren’t still considering that bet with Percy, are you?” he asked, as Silas had expected him to.
“As Percy and I are no longer on speaking terms, no,” Silas replied. “I am no longer a friend to Percy Stalton, as such, I will not honour any bet or wager that was ever made with him.”
“Then why do you persist in this madness?” Michael asked, his eyes wide in confusion.
“Because I meant what I said,” Silas replied. “Both Miss Wildses are kind and intelligent. And both mother and father valued their friendship. As the new patriarch of this family, it is my duty to treat those that father liked with kindness and respect.”
Michael squinted at him, then nodded slowly. He doubted Silas, that was for certain. But he also couldn’t deny that it was the correct thing for Silas to do.
Michael got up. “For myself, I will be at the gentlemen’s club,” he said. “I’ll be back to dine with you this evening.”
“See you later.”
Silas remained where he was, in a state of agitation. Today would decide it. He would get Lucy alone—away from her aunt, so he could find out, once and for all, if she loved him. Or, if she did not, if she could in the future.
***
Silas was able to cancel his appointment with the solicitor and reschedule for the following morning. When Miss Lucy Wilds and her aunt arrived, he was in the parlour with his sister.
He greeted the aunt first, even though his whole focus was on Lucy. He was hyperaware of her.
“Miss Wilds,” he said, bowing to her. “It’s good to see you.”
“And you, Lord Thornbridge,” the aunt said, curtsying.
His heart pounding in his chest, he then turned to Lucy. She was dressed in green, her hair styled modishly in curls around her face. He felt the surge of electricity that drew him towards her. He took her hand, pressing it in his as he bowed to her. She blushed as she curtsied, and he watched as she rose, her gaze meeting his. He smiled at her.
“It’s good to see you,” he said, meaning it very much.
“You as well, Lord Thornbridge.”
