Page 67 of The Duke of Daring (The Untouchables)
From each other too. He never would’ve told her what had happened to his family and how it had affected him, she realized. She still didn’t really understand the latter.
She didn’t want a man she couldn’t trust—not after her father. “I don’t want a man managing my life. I’ll find something you can sell. That’s the only offer I’ll accept.” She tried to think of what she might give him. All she had was a pearl necklace and matching pair of earrings that had belonged to her mother. She wouldn’t ask Grandmama for anything of hers.
She kept up a brisk pace, and they turned onto Bolton Street.
“You’re angry with me again,” he said.
“No, just thinking,” she lied. Shewasangry, but at herself as much as at him. “If you wait outside, I’ll send my maid down with the items you can sell.”
“What about investing the funds?” he asked. “Will you let me do that?”
That would only tie them together, and she wanted him out of her life. “No, thank you. I expect you to obtain a decent sum. Please deliver it at your earliest convenience.” They arrived in front of the town house. “I thank you for your acquaintance and wish you all the best in the future. Good day, my lord.” She turned quickly and motioned for Judith to come with her.
At the door, Lucy threw him a brief glance. His lips were pursed, and his forehead had formed deep grooves. Good. Let him be confused or upset or whatever he was. She was sure it would fade. Unlike her, he would be able to disentangle himself from their connection with barely any bother. She suspected Andrew would remain with her for a long time, and of course the memories she had of him would last forever.
She ran upstairs to her room to fetch the jewelry. She didn’t want to become sentimental or change her mind. Quickly, she wrapped them in a handkerchief and gave them to Judith. “Give these to his lordship.”
Judith’s hand closed around the pearls. “What am I to say?”
Chapter Fourteen
Andrew walked into Boodle’s and made his way to the parlor where he typically met his friends. He hadn’t thought overmuch about how they might react to seeing him, but now that he was here, he wondered if any of them harbored anger toward him at the way he’d behaved following the balloon descent.
“Dart!” Beaumont grinned widely at him as he entered. “Come and join us.”
The table was quite populated—Charles, Thursby, and Greene were there, as well as two other gentlemen.
“It’s about time you showed up,” Thursby said. “We’ve been wondering about your recuperation.”
Andrew couldn’t recall everyone who’d been at Darent Hall beyond Greene, Beaumont, and Charles—he remembered them. He assumed Thursby had been one of them. “I’m quite recovered, thank you. It was a hell of a fall.”
Charles shuddered. “Indeed. You won’t catch me trying that. I daresay you won’t be doing it again either.”
“Actually, I’ll be going up again soon. This time I plan to parachute.”
Charles gaped at him. “Did the fall injure your head?”
Andrew laughed. “Well, yes, but not permanently.”
“Then you’ve gone mad.”
“He’s always been a little mad,” Beaumont said. “Who else would jump nude into the Thames in the middle of the night?”
“Or scale the dome of St. Paul’s?” Charles added.
“You actually did those things?” Greene asked before sipping from his whiskey.
That had been, what, three years ago? Before Greene had come onto their scene. “At least once.” Andrew was glad that there was no awkwardness and that no one seemed to care to ask him about his behavior at Darent Hall. The disintegration of his relationship with Lucy had been bothersome enough, especially since he hated that they’d even grown close enough for him to care.
But their association was finished. He’d taken her jewelry to a pawnbroker that afternoon and would send over what they were worth tomorrow. He’d also include a little extra because he didn’t think she’d notice. His chest tightened at the thought of never spending time alone with her again.
A footman brought Andrew a glass of his favorite gin, and Beaumont indicated the empty chair next to him. Andrew dropped into it and sipped his liquor before setting the glass on the table.
Greene, who was seated across from him, glanced around. “No Smitty? We realized he must not be a member since you don’t meet him here.”
Next to Greene, Charles nodded in agreement. “It makes further sense because he’s a physician. How did we not know that before?”
“I’m sure I must’ve told you,” Andrew lied. He’d thought about how best to conceal or at least minimize the fact that hehadn’ttold them. “Anyway, he’s taken a post in Edinburgh, so I’m afraid you’ve seen the last of him.”
