Page 2 of Forget Me Not

His parents had lost all but one of their children. Were they ready for him to move away? He knew he needed to, knew it was time, but he didn’t want to add to their pain.

“It isn’t terribly far away,” he said. “And we will all be in London for the Season.”

Mother patted his hand. “We do not begrudge you this change, Lucas. We knew you would undertake it when you were ready. If you are feeling that pull now, I would wager it is time.”

“I had thought, with losing James, I would wish, rather, to remain here, with you both.”

Father shook his head. “Coming face-to-face with the extreme frailty of life is far more likely to convince a young gentleman such as yourself to begin truly living his own life.”

“Even if doing so means abandoning you?” He was beginning to have second thoughts.

“I would be lying if I said we will not miss you,” Mother answered. “But we want you to begin this new journey. It is best and right and good that you should. And, my dear Lucas, Brier Hill is a perfect place for a new beginning.”

He looked at Father and received a nod of agreement. “Care for the estate, make it your home, but don’t tie yourself unceasingly to it. You are building a new life; don’t forget to live it.”

That became his motto as he prepared to permanently relocate to Brier Hill. “Don’t forget to live.” It encapsulated so well what James’s death had convinced him to do. Live. And live well.

***

Julia Cummings did her utmost to avoid Robert Finley whenever possible. All her life he had taken delight in tormenting her. She might be only twelve years old, but even she knew a gentleman of eighteen ought to have better things to do. Watching him approach after services on a sunny Sunday morning, she knew nothing good was likely to come of it. There was, however, no escape.

“Did you hear?” His nose scrunched as he spoke to her. He did that when feigning displeasure.

“Did I hearwhat?” she asked.

He sighed as if he pitied her, but the glint in his eyes spoke far more of a feeling of superiority. “No one ever speaks to you children.”

“That is obviously not as true as it should be,” she said dryly.

He straightened the lace at his cuffs. “Lucas Jonquil is leaving Lampton Park.”

This was hardly the foundation-shattering revelation he seemed to think it was. Lucas often traveled to Town or to visit friends scattered throughout the kingdom. He had been away from home as often as not for years.

Julia rolled her eyes and turned to resume her walk down the path through the churchyard.

“Permanently,” Robert called after her.

That stopped her on the spot. She looked back over her shoulder at him. “He won’t be living here any longer?”

Robert’s look of smug satisfaction would have bothered her more if she hadn’t been inwardly panicking. He rushed into a self-important explanation of how he’d heard about the change in residence and something about a northern estate. Julia noted it only vaguely, her thoughts entirely on Lucas.

Why was he moving away? Why hadn’t he told her? He and Stanley both filled the role of brother in her life. She was important to him; she knew she was. He wouldn’t go away for good when she needed him so much. Stanley had abandoned her. Lucas wouldn’t do the same.

Julia moved swiftly from the churchyard, not bothering to take her leave of Robert. He knew she considered Lucas family and had, without a doubt, told her of his supposed departure in order to torture her with it. She hadn’t time to shoot the messenger just then, more was the pity.

She marched directly past her father’s carriage. “Where are you—?”

“Lampton Park,” she said, not slowing her steps.

By the time she reached the turn onto the drive at the Park, she was running. Lucas wouldn’t leave, not now while Stanley was so far away. He wouldn’t. She couldn’t bear for him to. Her knock was answered quickly.

She knew the butler well and wasn’t the least intimidated by his glower. “I wish to speak with Lord Jonquil.”

A bit of humor touched his stoic expression. “He is in the library, Miss Cummings.”

She rushed past, knowing perfectly well where the library was. On her way there, she passed Lucas’s father. “Good morning, Lord Lampton.” She waved as she went by without pausing even for the obligatory curtsy. Her business was of utmost importance; there was no time for niceties.

“Are you searching out Lucas?” he asked.

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