Page 49 of Snapdragons
What did he want? He liked Miss Seymour. He would very much like her to continue being his friend. And based on the way that final word stuck uncomfortably in his mind, at least some part of him would like something more than friendship.
“Have you enjoyed spending time with Miss Seymour?” Niles asked, looking at the others. “She’s really rather delightful, and no matter that she concocted an uncomfortable scheme, I think she’s been a good addition to the group.”
“Oh, certainly,” from Kes.
“Très agréable,” from Henri.
“She is,” from Aldric.
“How ‘delightful’ doyoufind her?” Digby wiggled an eyebrow.
Lucas kept at his letter, but he grinned as broadly as the others. Even Aldric wasn’t hiding his amusement.
“I can’t imagine why all of you are inferring something far more... amorous in my words,” Niles said.
“I don’t believe any of us mentionedl’amour,” Henri was quick to say.
“But how very telling thatNileswas so quick to mention it.” Kes was wearing his “I have made a startlingly intriguing discovery” expression.
“And so quick to insist there is no romantic element to any of this,” Aldric added, looking every bit as intrigued.
“I was simply trying to get ahead of your imaginations.”
With an air of palpable dignity, Digby said, “Methinks he doth protest too much, Gents.”
“Speak more slowly, everyone,” Lucas said. “I can’t write as fastas you talk.”
“You are writing all of this down?” Niles wouldn’t put it past him.
“Julia would never forgive me if I didn’t relay every word of this to her.”
Blasted blazes.And yet, Niles couldn’t even be truly upset. The Gents were forever pestering each other, and it was always good-natured.
“That’s how you know you’re one of us now,” Stanley had once explained to Niles. “Just make certain you give it back as well and as often as we toss it at you.”
To Lucas, Niles said, “Make certain you include in your report of this moment how ridiculous Digby looks. She’ll want to know that.”
Just as Niles knew it would, that comment sent Digby into a veritable tidal wave of dramatic declarations of offense. The rest of the Gents joined in the teasing, some taking Digby’s part and others insisting Niles’s pretended disapproval was accurate. Their propensity for laughing together had seen all of them through incredibly difficult times.
Wilson slipped silently into the midst of this entertaining bit of chaos and crossed directly to Lucas. “This has come for you, m’lord.” He held out a letter.
Lucas took it and flipped it over to the wax seal. “It’s from Lampton Park.”
“Julia again?” Henri guessed.
“Based on the handwriting”—Lucas studied the address on the front—“it appears to be from my father.”
Niles hoped that meant Lord Lampton was feeling better. His health had been poor, and that weighed on Lucas’s mind.
Wilson turned to leave but seemed to change his mind. He spun around once more and whispered something to Lucas.
“Of course you can talk,” Lucas said. “In more formal settings,you’d be expected to scrape and bow and such, but when it’s only us, you need simply ask Mr. Greenberry if you can drop a word in his ear.”
Niles couldn’t help but be intrigued. Why did Wilson want to speak with him?
The young man approached, his posture a mixture of the expected deference and an undeniable confidence. Wilson would, no doubt, prove to be a very interesting sort of valet. Perfect for Lucas, truly. “Mr. Greenberry, might I drop a word in your ear?”
“Of course.”
