Page 73 of The Legend of the Betrayed Duchess
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After Betsy’s visit, George could not get Lucy out of his mind. What a remarkable circumstance it had been for her brother to find her, and for Lucy to find that he was alive.
But most surprising was her announcement that Harold had bestowed a substantial living on her. There could be no mistake that she wanted him to know about that. Had she been trying to let him know how she felt about him? He had to find out. But then he remembered his own advice to Betsy—love takes time to reveal itself.
But before he could reveal his deepest feelings to her, he needed to find out how his parents would take to him asking Lucy to be his wife. He already knew his mother would disapprove of him marrying the daughter of a tenant farmer—even if she did have a considerable dowry.
He decided to take his own advice and first sound out his father on this matter. If he approved, then George felt he could eventually persuade his mother to his point of view.
George went to the house to find Stevens.
“There you are,” George said to the butler after finding him in the kitchen with Mrs. Mead.
“Sir, how may I assist?”
“Do you happen to know where my father is this morning?”
“I believe he and Mr. Harold have gone into town on errands.”
“Ah… Thank you. And Miss Lucy?”
“She has been spending the mornings in her rooms—writing, I believe.”
Dare he disturb her while she was writing? He longed to be near her and just visit, but he also respected the fact that she had been so deprived of the time to write these past few years that she must now be trying to catch up. Perhaps he would take time from his painting to visit with her at tea time, as he knew she usually took a break then.
He returned to his studio and thought he might also catch his father later that afternoon and talk with him about his intentions for Lucy.
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Tea time that afternoon started out to be nothing special. The usual group appeared, and each family member was settling in for a time of quiet refreshment. As always, tea was served at the sideboard where the tea snacks were put out for each person to select what they wanted, while Stevens served the tea.
Her Grace had collected a napkin filled with treats to surreptitiously feed Princess on the sly. Flossy sat nearby but was nearly ready to fall asleep and nodded off occasionally. But as soon as her head fell she snapped awake, blinking.
Ann was seated with her legs folded under her in a large chair studying some sheet music she wanted to play the next time Beaumont might visit.
Charlotte and Betsy were playing a hand of Bezique—Harold and the Duke had not returned from town yet, or Betsy would have been sitting as near her beloved as possible.
Lucy had just come down from writing. Stevens was pouring her some tea when she saw George come in. He looked around the room, and seeing her, grinned and came over to where she was selecting a few tea sandwiches and a small piece of cake at the sideboard.
“Did you have a good day of writing?” he asked her.
“Thank you, I did, but I have had quite enough work for one day and mean to slack off the rest of the afternoon.”
“Might you wish to come on a walk with me?” he asked. “There are a few things I should like to discuss with you. I was thinking we might stroll along the river. It seems to have warmed up enough this afternoon to not be too uncomfortable.”
Lucy was very pleased. She could only imagine what he might want to discuss with her. “I shall be happy to walk with you. That sounds delightful.”
Chapter 26
Stevens was just serving George his tea when the drawing-room door opened, and Beaumont and Miss Priscilla entered.
Beaumont quickly surveyed the room and greeted, “Good afternoon. My sister and I are happy to, once again, take you up on your standing invitation to stop by for tea any afternoon.”
There was but the briefest moment of hush before Ann and Charlotte stood. They appeared to be a little flustered by the brother and sister’s surprise arrival, but they quickly composed themselves and rushed over to greet Beaumont.
They fluttered around him like nesting birds, both talking at the same time, but he looked past them toward Lucy.
“Excuse me, ladies, I should like to have a word with Miss Lucy,” he said breaking from their attentions. Charlotte and Ann were shocked and stood back and watched as he headed to Lucy.
