Loving Lucy Read Free Page B

then held it for a moment, looking at her before he released it. “Good afternoon, sir,” she said crisply. “Would you like some tea?”
    “No thank you.” He looked at her again, his dark, expressive eyes seeming to caress her with a glance. Lucy shivered, and turned to sit down again, but this time, on the sofa. At her inviting smile, he ventured to sit next to her. They looked at each other for a moment in silence. Lucy, brought back to a sense of propriety, glanced away first. This wasn’t the first time this had happened, but it was the first time she would seriously consider it.
    “Lady Lucinda,” he began. Lucy looked back at him, her head tilted slightly to the side, a faint smile on her face. She had practised the gesture before her mirror, and knew it suited her. He looked at her in silence for a moment, caught by her expression. A slow smile spread across his face. Then he began his speech.
    “I’ve known you a little while now, long enough for me to make a decision, one which I hope will affect you too.” Lucy waited. He’d got into his stride now. No sense interrupting him. “Your beauty, your engaging manners and your liveliness of spirit are more enchanting to me than anyone else I have ever encountered. Indeed, I have come to the conclusion that your presence is necessary to my happiness. Would you do me the honour, dearest Lucy, of accepting my hand in marriage?”
    Lucy smiled a little wider. She let him wait for a moment before replying, savouring the anxious expression on his face. She had her speech, too. “I’m deeply flattered by your offer, sir. And believe me, I’m not insensible to your attractions, but I cannot - yet - accept your offer.” She watched his look of expectancy change to something that looked like disappointment. “My Mama has not yet completed the enquiries she considers necessary, but she begs to inform you that they never take long.”
    His voice took on an edge she hadn’t heard there before. “Enquiries?”
    She smiled. “Yes, I’m sorry, but you see, with my prospects I’ve had rather a lot of fortune hunters trying to take me in. Of course, we know you’re not of that stamp, sir, but my Mama will feel safer when she has all the documents in her hands.”
    He looked at her gravely for a long moment. “I see.” He reached over and took both her hands in his. “I can only commend her thoroughness, and since I, too, wish for your future happiness, I can hardly complain.” A note of passion entered his voice. “But Lucy, I love you so, it’s hard to think of any impediment.”
    Lucy blushed prettily, and cast her look down at her green striped gown. His heated admiration was making her blush. “Lucy, look at me.” Shyly she looked up at him, and slowly, he put his arms around her and drew her to him. “You’re all I want. No other woman will do.” He tilted her chin up, looked at her closely for a rich moment and kissed her.
    Lucy enjoyed the kiss, thorough without being too rough. She disliked being kissed roughly, but could count the number of adult kisses she had allowed on the fingers of one hand. She let him kiss her again before she drew away. Looking up at his face, into those dark brown eyes Lucy smiled, deliberately giving him her most coquettish expression. She rather thought she would have him, after all. “And you would wait for some stuffy papers?” he asked softly.
    Lucy let her hand rest in his. “Mama insists. It is always so - the moment a gentleman takes more than an ordinary interest in me she sets her agent to work.”
    “Who does she use?”
    “Oh a Mr. Chumleigh, in the City - he does quite a lot of this kind of work. And he’s one of my trustees – in a minor capacity of course. He must have any number of papers about people.”
    He eyed her thoughtfully. “Indeed - a blackmailer’s dream, in fact.” He smiled again. “But I have nothing to fear from him. So Lucy   - if these enquiries turn out right, as I’m sure