Page 61 of The Mysterious Miss Lydia
Well, he felt as though perhaps she was disappointed in him.
Could that be true?
Before he could dwell on it any longer, dinner ended and he joined Richard, his father, and the other gentlemen in his father’s study for a brandy and a cigar.
Luke felt as though he was just biding his time. Before his brother passed, no one would have noticed or cared if he slipped out early, but these days his father expected him to play the part his brother had left behind.
Which meant he was stuck here. He glanced at the clock. Which was fine, just so long as he left in time to catch Wendell in the act.
“Somewhere you need to be?” his father asked as he caught Luke staring at the clock.
Before Luke could reply, his father continued. “What’s this talk of you choosing a wife? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Actually, I was hoping to talk to you about that,” he said. “You’ll recall Sir Cedric—”
Has a daughter, he’d meant to say, but his father leapt in, his face red with anger.
“You have no business with that man any longer,” he said.
“Father, I—”
“I thought I made myself clear on that matter,” he said. “You will have nothing further to do with that man or his occupation—”
“Father, please,” he said in a low warning tone, as Richard gave him a sympathetic wince and the other gentlemen turned their attention their way.
“Don’t ‘please’ me,” his father continued. “I won’t have you in harm’s way—”
“I have a duty,” he said.
“Duty be damned,” his father snapped. “I won’t lose another son.”
Luke froze, at the emotion in his father’s eyes as much as his words. “I...” Luke trailed off. All this time, all these lectures...
He’d thought it was solely about the heirdom and the obligations.
His heart clenched as he remembered what Lydia had said about regrets. He clapped a hand on his father’s shoulder. “I have no intention of dying, Father.” His mind went to Lydia. “I have too much to live for.”
His father nodded, some of his anger easing.
“But...” Luke exhaled sharply. “I cannot live another man’s life, Father. I cannot cease to live my life as I see fit just to ensure I survive. Do you understand?”
His father looked away, but Luke felt a sharp pang of awareness. A new understanding.
Lydia.All she wanted was a chance to live. To take risks. Her family had raised her to be so careful, she’d been afraidof her own shadow. And now for the first time she wanted an adventure, she wanted to take risks…
What is a life without risks?
He let out a huff of bemused laughter.
“What’s so funny?” his father grumbled.
Luke squeezed his father’s shoulder. “I think I understand now,” he said.
His father arched a brow.
“I’ve fallen in love, you see...”
His father’s wide-eyed shock made Luke laugh again.
