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“You have brought guests with you,” his mother said. “We did not anticipate you would be traveling in company with others, but if you are friends of my long-lost son, you are welcome here. Lucas, would you please make the introductions?”
“Of course, Mama,” Lucas said with a tight smile. “Allow me to present Miss Delia Weston, Miss Hannah Broome, and Mr. Arthur Drake.”
Artie made a deep theatrical bow, and the women each dropped into curtsies, with Delia curtsying so low Lavinia was afraid her knees would lock and she wouldn’t be able to get up again without assistance. Lavinia was going to have to remind her and Artie once again to be subtler in their manners.
All eyes had turned to her now, and Lavinia felt a hum of expectation riseamongst them that was similar to what she had experienced each time she’dleft her theatre dressing room to meet her admirers—except these people were nother admirers, and there was a look of outright disdain on Isobel’s face.
Lucas’s face was so rigid Lavinia was afraid it might crack. He looked from his mother to his father to Lavinia to Isobel and back to Lavinia. Lavinia hardly dared breathe, so intense was his gaze. And then it was as though the air shifted. Something in his eyes changed—a look of epiphany and defiance.
Lavinia stopped breathing altogether.
He extended his hand to her, taking hers in his own. “Mama, Father, Rebecca . . . Isobel,” he said. “It is my great pleasure to present Miss Lavinia Fernley, my betrothed.”
