Page 63 of The Mysterious Miss Lydia
While she hurried off to the door, Lydia heard a scratching noise coming from the window. Lydia walked toward her window...and gasped.
Her heart leapt into her throat at the sight of someone outside her window. But when she blinked and her eyes adjusted, she let out an astonished laugh and rushed over to let him in. “Luke! What are you doing here?”
He clambered in just as she heard Miss Farthington’s voice in the entryway. No, her laughter.
Lydia arched her brows in surprise, but she let out another gasp as Luke rushed toward her and pulled her into his arms. His lips covered hers and she forgot about everything but his kiss.
Warmth flooded through her and her heart danced wildly as her hands clung to his shoulders and molded to his chest.
“I couldn’t stay away a moment longer,” he breathed when he pulled away.
She heard Miss Farthington’s voice in the hallway, along with a male voice she didn’t recognize. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to, Mr. Grant,” Miss Farthington was saying.
Even from where she stood, Lydia could hear the amusement in her friend’s voice.
It was official, she decided. Miss Farthington might be a horrid headmistress, but she was the very best sort of friend.
Luke backed up a step when the others entered, and Miss Farthington rolled her eyes. “You are shameless.”
“Perhaps,” Luke conceded. “But as I fully plan to make Lydia my wife just as soon as possible—”
“Pardon?” Lydia squeaked.
He turned to her with an eagerness so heartfelt, she nearly swooned. “I meant to ask you first, of course.”
A laugh bubbled up inside her. This couldn’t truly be happening. Could it?
“After I courted you properly,” he added. With a wince, he nodded toward Miss Farthington. “Considering the circumstances, I thought it best to ensure everyone knew my intentions.”
She grinned. “That seems wise.”
“Wise,” Miss Farthington said under her breath.
“The man who snuck in through a window speaks of wisdom,” the other man in the room added.
The two of them had a good laugh at that.
“Lydia, meet my friend, Mr. Richard Grant,” Luke said.
“How do you do?” she murmured. But Lydia was too busy gazing up at this man who seemed far too good to be true.
But also...not. Because the more she got to know him, the more she realized he was very real, very human...and very much hers.
Her heart knew it even if her mind had yet to catch up.
His gaze dipped, and for the first time since climbing through her window, he seemed to note what she was wearing. “Going somewhere?”
Fear threatened. She didn’t want to disappoint him. Not now when he’d just spoken of marriage like it was the most expected thing in the world.
She’d thought he might court her, but she hadn’t let her mind stray that far ahead. Hadn’t let herself hope...
He arched a brow, but there was amusement in his gaze, not disappointment.
She lifted her chin. She liked this man—and she was nearly certain this sensation every time she thought of him or spoke to him or saw him...
This was what she’d always read about.
Thiswas falling in love.
