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“Thank you, sir,” she said, looking around, her face flushing. “I wasn’t disagreeing with you about, is just that Camilla didn’t sheath her claws like Lucas said.”
Edward lifted his gaze to his friend’s. “Does that make any sense to you because I’m at a total loss here.”
Lucas grinned and nodded. “I believe Lucy is saying that Camilla didn’t make the right choices tonight. Is that correct, Lucy?”
“Sort of… what I mean is that I’m not really upset because Camilla is being spanked. If she was naughty, well then, she only has herself to blame, right, sir?”
If Edward was still at a loss, he definitely wasn’t the only one… although it appeared that Louisa wasn’t surprised at all. When both Edward and Charles looked over at him and Lucas could only quirk an eyebrow as he wasn’t able to decipher exactly what Lucy was attempting to convey.
A soft sigh drew the men’s glances back to Lucy. “I know I’m making a mess of this, but when Louisa told me that you… that Pastor Reed asked you…” she stopped and this time it seemed Edward’s confusion cleared as he looked over at his wife.
“It just slipped out, Papa,” she confessed. “When he said all those awful things and Lucy started to argue and then when we heard him paddling Camilla, and Lucy looked so scared, I was just so grateful that you turned him down that I couldn’t stop myself from telling her how you’d refused his request to… to court her. I… I can’t imagine…” She didn’t continue, but shuddered as if to demonstrate the level of her disgust.
“Girls,” Edward said looking between the two. “Did I not assure you both that I would never allow a man to court Lucille whom I did not respect enough to be able to both tend to her discipline as well as her heart? Did I not say I would not choose a man I felt Lucy could not feel she could learn to truly love?”
Only Lucas seemed aware that Charles had taken a step forward, his chest puffed out like some absurdly proud peacock. Not about to give the man any advantage, no matter if it was only in his mind, Lucas said, “So you weren’t about to faint in fear, but in relief, little one?”
“I’ve never fainted,” Lucy said. “I was just a bit… um surprised.”
Edward continued, his voice a bit firmer, “One day I pray you both learn to trust my every word and learn that all I desire is that you both are happy and loved, even when you are trying to squirm out of a deserved spanking.”
Lucas saw the twins give each other a look and then nod as they looked back up at Edward, both looking a bit chagrined. Edward sighed and motioned for his wife. Lucas released her, noticing that she showed no hesitancy in going to her husband. Edward soon had both girls held in his arms and pulled them close. Lucas wasn’t happy that it wasn’t he who was offering Lucy comfort, but he was glad that it wasn’t the professor’s arms around her.
“I’m sorry,” they chorused and Edward smiled.
“You are both forgiven,” Edward said, everyone in the alcove well aware of how different the outcome of the conversation could have been. “This is a party, ladies,” he reminded before releasing them as smiles appeared on their faces. “While other little ones might decide to be naughty tonight and have their bottoms reddened, my girls have done nothing but make me proud. No doubt tomorrow’s sermon will be a lesson on obedience and submission. However, that is tomorrow and the night is still young. Come, the buffet has been prepared and there are many more dances to enjoy!”
He looked over at Lucas and Charles and shook his head as they both took a step forward as if to relieve him of one of his girls. “No, gentlemen, I fear you shall both have to wait a bit. I find I wish to enjoy the delicious repast with both my girls,” Edward said, his smile tender. Louisa and Lucy both shot the rejected men smiles as they placed their hands in the crook of Edward’s elbows as he guided them to another room where tables were laden with dozens of tempting choices.
Camilla’s plight forgotten, all Lucas could do was follow Charles as they all went to eat. Lucas couldn’t believe his best friend truly intended to hog all of Lucy’s attention when he was the very one who had written to state he wished to introduce his ward to him. Instead of serving her himself, he had to watch as Edward helped the twins pile their plates with shrimp, cheeses, fruits, offerings of succulent meats and crusty bread. After he seated them at a nearby table, fate helped in keeping Lucas and Charles away as the Lord of Wintercrest didn’t even have to move more than a step away from the twins. As if by magic, a servant appeared to offer him a tray of beverages and he had glasses of champagne sitting before the women before Lucas could blink.
Lucy sampled the delicious fare, her nose crinkling as the bubbles burst on her tongue. Her delight was evident as she giggled, no longer appearing nervous or frightened, despite what she had witnessed upstairs. “I do love champagne,” Lucy announced as a smile lit her face. “We should have it far more often.”
Edward laughed. “I’m sure Mrs. Bremmer would disagree.”
Lucy’s giggle served to enhance her beauty and caused Lucas’ heart to skip a beat. She truly was the most incredible creature he’d ever had the privilege of knowing. As he sipped from his own flute listening to the conversation of the twins with Edward, he wondered if Lucy was even aware of the immensity of what Edward had done. Not only in refusing Reed’s request, but in allowing Charles and, he had to admit, even himself, the opportunity to vie for her affection. Did the beauty before him realize the enormity of the gift she’d been given? One that very few women in the world were ever offered? Cinderella may have been given a glass slipper but Lucy had been given something far more precious, far more magical. She had been given the gift of choice.
Chapter 15
Only Lucas’ upbringing and respect for Edward allowed him to behave like a gentleman. After picking at the food on his plate, he’d finally allowed it to be taken away the moment Lucy announced that she couldn’t swallow another bite. He managed to beat Charles to her side by the barest margin only to find the man practically performing a solo dance around the perimeter of the dancefloor following their every step to assure he was right there the moment the last notes of the violin faded away.
Every time he saw Lucy being led onto the dance floor by another man, his instinct was to pull her away. Every time he caught Edward’s amused glance, he wanted to throttle his best friend for deciding to be soft-hearted at a time when Lucas wanted him to flat out declare that Lucas was his one and only choice for his ward. Each time the professor turned headmaster approached Lucy to claim yet another turn, he wanted to tell him to bugger off. He wanted her back in the carriage seated next to him. He wanted her trembling hand on his arm so that he might hold it under his and offer her comfort. He wanted her to look up at him as she had earlier, to see the fear disappear from her eyes and then to be filled with wonder. Hell, he wanted her teetering on a ladder so he had reason to pluck her from its rungs and spank her bottom for being so careless and to show her that he was the one she should choose. What he did not want, what he could not stand for another moment, was to see Charles Lloyds bend to kiss her.
As the evening progressed, it seemed to become apparent that all besides Lucas understood that Lloyds was to be declared the victor in claiming the sweetest prize at the ball. Lucas gritted his teeth as he watched Charles escorting her onto the dance floor yet again.
“It seems Charles is taking every opportunity to press his advantage,” Lucas heard Edward speaking behind him, turning to see him and Louisa watching the couple waltz away.
Despondent, all Lucas could do was concede. “I swear it wasn’t for my lack of desire, Edward,” he said. “I wanted to be the one to teach her to purr. I wished it with all of my heart and soul.” They stood watching as the young couple seemed lost in each other while the music moved them about the floor. Eleanor joined them and smiled, as she too saw the couple dancing.
“Don’t fret so, my dear Lucas,” she said, placing her hand on his arm, “remember that there are many special little ones awaiting their own papas.”
“I hope they’ll find them, Eleanor, but I’m afraid it won’t be me,” Lucas said, wanting to look away from the only woman he’d ever wanted, but unable to do so.
“Perhaps not tonight,” Eleanor said softly, patting his arm. “Give yourself some time and then perhaps you might come visit me as you promised.”
Lucas finally glanced over at her but knew he didn’t appear as a man anxious to make such a visit. At that moment his only desire was to claim the kitten with whom he had fallen in love. “I believe it is time I return to Hunter’s Ridge.”
Edward took a long moment looking at Lucas, yet not speaking. “What is it? Are you questioning the fact that if I can’t have her, I still wish her to find happiness?” Lucas asked calmly though it took a lot of effort not to rant and rave like the disappointed boy in the schoolyard who discovers he’s the only one not chosen to play. “Even if it is with Charles?”
