Page 59 of The Mysterious Miss Lydia
His parents’ dining room was large by anyone’s standards, and the dinner party was not crowded. But he still felt like he was suffocating.
“Isn’t that right, Son?” his father said.
Luke’s chin jerked up, but he managed to murmur an agreement, which seemed to suffice. Fortunately, his mother on his left didn’t seem to expect him to take part in her conversation with her and her friend, and Richard sat on his other side.
Richard had always been welcome in their home, and tonight Luke was grateful that he at least had one friend in attendance.
Not that he was being much of a friend at the moment. He’d been utterly distracted all evening, his thoughts torn in every different direction. Though mostly between his delightful, lovely Lydia...and the encounter to come.
“Oh yes, he’ll be getting married soon enough,” he heard his mother say, apparently contributing to the conversation.
The one where he’d just murmured his agreement. Blast, had he done it again?
He really ought to pay more attention before agreeing to anything his mother said.
“Has someone caught your eye?” his mother’s friend Lady Eliza asked. She was an older woman and between her age and her good humor, society forgave her the straightforward questions she was prone to ask.
His mother opened her mouth, and by her expression he knew precisely what lie she was about to tell on his behalf.
But he beat her to it. “Yes, someone has.” He donned his most cryptic smile before turning to his mother, whose eyes widened with shock.
But she knew as well as anyone that this was not the place to discuss the specifics of his matrimonial options, and so she turned her attention to her husband to see if he’d heard.
He had.
He didn’t share his wife’s eager excitement, however. If anything he looked suspicious as he glared at his son.
Luke reached for his wine just as Richard murmured beside him. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with that lovely young lady you accused of being a spy, now would it?”
Luke didn’t have to fake a grin. The very thought of his Lydia made it impossible not to smile. Joy spread through his veins like honey, warm and sweet.
But it was the certainty within him that made his smile border on foolish.
“I suppose that’s my answer,” Richard muttered wryly.
“I’m going to ask for her hand,” Luke announced, mostly because he’d been thinking of little else since he’d left her side two days before, and he had to tell someone.
He’d been desperate to go back, to see her again. But he’d been too busy trying to keep her safe. He’d made the rounds to see his informants, and Wendell’s movements were suspicious indeed.
But until he had proof, Sir Cedric would continue to be blinded by his allegiance to his fallen friend.
Luke could understand that, to some extent. But the thought of Wendell in the same room as Lydia, let alone marrying the girl...
He gave his head a shake to rid himself of this surge of anger. It wouldn’t do to lose his head now, not when he still had a traitor to ferret out.
And he would.
He’d have to go about it carefully, though. And as the meeting was tonight, he had to keep his head clear.
“Care to let me in on recent developments?” Richard asked. “Really anything you can do to distract me from the conversation taking place about the merits of merengue versus pudding would be appreciated.”
Luke laughed and then leaned in close, filling him in on the latest developments as well as his plan to catch Wendell in the act in the gardens that very night.
Richard frowned. “I’m coming with you.”
Luke blinked. “What?”
Richard shrugged. “Espionage and intrigue might not be my profession, but I think I can handle one night of danger.”
