by Emma Brady
That calm assessment what not what Lucas expected to hear. Most women would be accusing him of taking advantage, but she didn’t even accept his apology. There was nothing emotional in her behavior. He waited to see if she would become more hysterical but she didn’t. She actually appeared more put together.
“There is no way we are going to be able to avoid each other, since our families are so close. That means we will need to be diligent in maintain a polite distance.” Sinclair spoke to him like they had just shared a cup of tea, not a passionate kiss.
“Polite distance?” Lucas was confused.
“There can be no more kissing. It would be risky to both of us.”
“Risky?”
There was a loud sigh from her. “I might not be in a hurry to get married, but I don’t want to ruin my reputation. I don’t want to be a complete pariah.”
It offended him that she thought he wouldn’t take responsibility for his actions if they led to that. “I would do the right thing.”
“No you wouldn’t, because I wouldn’t agree to it.”
“You wouldn’t have a choice.”
“A person always has a choice.”
“Not a woman.”
“This woman does.”
Once again they had come to the point where they were on opposite sides. Lucas loved the way she argued with such conviction, even when he didn’t agree with her opinion. It made her light up in a way nothing else did. It was that passion in her that kept her from conforming like the other ladies did. It would be a shame to see her lose that if she was married to the wrong man.
“Don’t bother following me to the door.” Sinclair said now that they had pulled up in front of her house. “I do better on my own.”
Then the woman had the nerve to leave him speechless in his seat.
Chapter 13
Sinclair’s grandparents told her they would be having a quiet dinner party a few days later. She realized that was a lie on their part. It would involve dinner but from the number of place settings, it was anything but small. No doubt it was their intention for her to meet some of the men they hoped would win her affection in a more private setting. It was a definite matchmaking ploy that she would have to avoid falling into.
After evening fell the guests came pouring in. Soon the hall and adjacent parlor were both full of people talking and laughing. The duke and his wife were pleased with the amount of people who showed up, but Sinclair was not able to join them in their enjoyment. Just as the guests had begun to arrive she snuck away unnoticed. When dinner was about to be served,she still had not come out of her bedroom.
“Your grandmother sent me up to find out what is taking you so long,” Frederick said, coming into her room, “I think she’s beginning to worry.”
“You didn’t let on that anything was wrong, did you?”
“Of course not, but I think she suspects you are up to something.”
“Then go down now and assure her that I won’t be much longer.”
Instead of following her orders, Frederick shut the door with himself still in side. Sinclair recognized the expression he had as the one that came with a lecture. She wasn’t in the mood for one of his long speeches on her behavior.
“I think you must be having problems with your hearing. Perhaps a trip to the doctor?” Sinclair said.
“Nothing is wrong with my hearing, but I don’t feel like I need to follow your orders now that we are partners.”
“Decided you enjoy the new role?”
“No and you know it, but if you are going to insist, I will embrace the part.”
Frederick had always been rigid and rule abiding, but after her parents died he had become more opinionated about her choices. He had saved her life and now he appeared to want some say in it. Part of her was frustrated that he felt he had a right to do so, but a bigger part loved him for his concern. They were like family now and she appreciated how much he cared about her, almost as if she were a sister and not his employer.
“What is it that you object to?” Sinclair asked, not wanting to argue right now. “Lying to my grandparents? Lying to the other business men? Lying to society?”
“All of the lying. Your parents would not approve.”
“Perhaps not, but they would want me to be happy.”
“The two aren’t mutually exclusive.”
“They are if what makes me happy is reserved for men and I’m a woman.”
“There must be another, more honest, way to do things.”
Sinclair looked at her friends and finally saw more than just the image he had perfected as the ideal servant. She had never noticed how honest and steadfast he was, but it had been there all along. He was always the first one to tell her parents if she did something they wouldn’t approve of, but only out of concern. He had been trying to help guide her since childhood and that hadn’t changed. She now understood that it was more than just his job, he felt it was hisduty.
“Once the contracts are signed and the fictional partner has left, I will tell my grandparents the truth. I can’t tell the rest, but I can tell them and hope they understand.” It would be difficult but she would do it to ease his conscience.
A smile broke out on his face and she felt some of the tension leave the room. It might still be possible for them to return to the relationship they had before the charade. Frederick agreed to take the massage to her grandmother and finally left.
Tonight’s gown was to be a midnight blue silk with an empire waist and simple long sleeves. When she left her room the dress she appeared in was the same dark material but now looked entirely different. It had been rumpled and torn beyond repair. One sleeve was ripped away and her glasses sat crooked on her nose. Sinclair could see Charlotte holding back the laughter and the shocked looks on the other guest’s faces when she entered the parlor.
“Sorry to be late.” Sinclair swept in gracefully and took a glass of Champagne from one of the open-mouthed footmen. “Seems I took a bit of a tumble down the stairs.”
“It’s a shame you are so clumsy,” Charlotte said, unable to hide her grin.
“It is my curse, I’m afraid.”
Glancing at her grandparents, Sinclair was surprised to see both of them on the verge of laughter. She had expected her grandfather, at least, to be furious with her. Instead they both raised their glasses to her with smiles.
“You should be a little more careful.”
Lucas offered her a glass of Champagne that she hastily declined. She needed to keep her wits about her that evening. A twinkle of humor was in his green eyes, but not a trace of smile was on his lips. He looked at her as though he knew what she thought and it unnerved her. The man had no right to understand her so well, since he certainly didn’t agree with her. From the looks on the other men’s faces, it appeared that her plan had worked quite well.
“I will certainly try,” she replied with a stiff smile.
It was only a matter of minutes before the bell rang to signal for dinner. The large group of people quickly filed into the lavish dining room. Both a young baron and Lucas attempted to take seats next to Sinclair, only to find Abigail and Andrea occupying the spaces. Locking eyes, the two men took the seats on either side of the twins.
“I hope you don’t mind my friends,” Sinclair purred, batting her eyes at the young men surrounding the table, “They feel timid at social gatherings.”
They seemed taken back by her flirtatious smile and one knocked over his glass of water. While he struggled to clean it up, Sinclair giggled into her napkin. The men really were ridiculous.
“Your friends are charming.” the young man said.
He glanced at where Charlotte and Maria sat directly across from Sinclair. The four women had formed a kind of blockade around her, forcing all the men to sit at least an arm’s length away. As he tried to smile politely sitting across the table, it looked more like a grimace. In reply Maria stuck her tongue out before sipping a glass of Champagne. Sinclair stifled an
other laugh as she saw the poor man’s eyes widen.
“I’m glad you have such close acquaintances.” he said.
“My lord, you are too kind.”
To her left, she could hear Lucas grumbling into his glass of wine. She shot him a warning glance that she hoped would silence him. Instead, he had the nerve to wink at her, sending a blush across her cheeks.
“Miss Brown, has anyone told you how lovely you look?” asked the baron, taking her attention away from Lucas.
“Of course not. I look absolutely dreadful.”
“You always appear beautiful.”
The scheming smile on his face turned her stomach. She knew it was only her wealth and family he found truly attractive. He would be difficult to repel, since she could hardly change those things. This would take a bit more work than she realized.
“I find Miss Brown’s dress quite comical,” Lucas said, staring at the young pup over the rim of his glass.
“I’m so glad I can be of some amusement to you.” she replied.
“One must always have a sense of humor.”
By now the crowds of people had taken their seats and the food was served. Everybody seemed to start talking at once, causing the level of noise in the room to soar.
“This food looks scrumptious,” said Sinclair.
“I wish my mother weren’t watching me so closely,” Abigail said. “Then I could eat more than a few bites.”
“Why can’t you eat as much as you like?”
“She worries it will put too many pounds on me.”
Sinclair’s mouth dropped open. In her entire life she’d never heard something so insane. Her parents had always encouraged her healthy appetite.
“Smart woman,” one of the young men added in, “A man doesn’t like too much flesh on a woman.”
Just as she started correct his opinion, Lucas cut in.
“I believe a woman is lovelier with curves,” said Lucas, reaching for another piece of roast.
“They are not meant to be too wide until after the children are born.” Another man said. “Then it doesn’t matter what they look like.”
“That’s because they already have you trapped by then.” A third snickered.
Sinclair couldn’t stand the men bickering in front of her and decided to end the argument. Reaching across the table, Sinclair helped herself to a large portion of meat. Licking her lips like some kind of wild animal, she began to devour it quickly. The people sitting close to her stopped their own eating to watch with awe. It gave her a distinct sense of satisfaction to watch their mixture of fascination and discomfort. The men appeared disgusted by it, but that was oddly satisfying.
“Miss Brown, perhaps you should slow down a bit,” the baron stuttered, aghast at her manners.
“I simply can’t help myself. This roasted beef is divine.” Sinclair bit off another large piece from her fork.
“You don’t want to bust your corset.”
This comment was hissed to her by one of the gentlemen who turned a bright red. His eyes seemed to be bugging out of his head at the sight of her second helping. This shocking behavior had pushed them past the point of polite manners.
“I will eat as much as I like, thank you” Sinclair said, her voice firm. “This is part of who I am. Does anyone have a problem with it?”
He didn’t seem pleased with her reply and many looks were exchanged around the table. She confidently met every look with one of her own until none of the men in the room could stand to look at her.
“My granddaughter has some very American ideas,” said James.
Sinclair watched as everyone nodded, as if that were something to pity. Glaring at her grandfather, she decided to use this new topic to her advantage.
“There are a lot of things changing for women in America,” she started. “We are no longer restricted to just being a pretty piece of property.”
“They give their women too much freedom,” said a guest.
“On the contrary, they allow us barely enough.” Sinclair said. “It is a start, but not as much as we deserve.”
Lucas looked at her with raised eyebrows.
“In America, a woman is allowed a certain amount of freedom with her money and property that England doesn’t have. Yet we are still not considered capable of doing things outside the home. ”
“That’s because we know that a women is superior at running a home and caring for those in it, but that’s not the same providing for one. ” said one of the men, lifting his glass to the other men at the table.
Sinclair cringed as their glasses clinked together.
“A woman can be just as intelligent and dependable as a man. There is no reason we couldn’t handle the same tasks.”
“Explain that to my wife when she needs a new wardrobe.” Maria’s father laughed.
“Next thing you know, Miss Brown will be talking of the women’s right not to marry.”
“I think being a spinster might suit me. I prefer my own company.”
“Won’t be much of a family, unless you find a way to do that without a man.”
The young man’s joke elicited laughter from everyone but Sinclair. She was shocked by his rude attitude toward a women’s place. This was exactly the reason she would do what she had to in order to remain unwed.
“I think I’ve had about enough company for one night,” she said, fuming.
There was quite a commotion made when she stood to leave the table. It was unheard of for someone to leave dinner early, especially the hostess. Abigail and Ann almost knocked over their plates trying to move out of her way.
“Sinclair, are you feeling alright?”
She turned at the door to glance at her worried grandmother. Sinclair knew how ill-mannered she had behaved, but she just didn’t care.
“I’m afraid something at dinner didn’t agree with me.” said Sinclair.
Her eyes locked with Lucas’s for a moment until he was forced to glance away. He didn’t say anything and the silence made her uncomfortable. Someone needed to say something to end the moment.
“I’m simply not feeling well. I think I’ll just retire for the evening and be better by morning.” Throwing her hair, which had fallen from its pins over her shoulder, Sinclair exited the room with a flourish.
LUCAS HAD WATCHED SINCLAIR’S performance with much amusement. It hadn’t been subtle, but he didn’t think anything about her could be. She was the boldest woman he’d ever seen. Watching her eat with such excitement was most entertaining.
“I hope she’s all right,” he heard one of the twins whisper down the table. “She seemed positively livid when she left.”
That she was. He could tell by the cold flames that had danced in her eyes. Knowing what he did of her liberal views, he didn’t have any doubt as to what had touched her anger. The young woman was probably ready to tear out the hearts every man in this room.
“I think I should be retiring as well,” Lucas said, nodding to where the duke sat.
“You’ll miss out on our game of cards.”
“My loss, I’m afraid.”
Charlotte gave him a suspicious look as he left. He knew he’d have to make excuses to her in the morning, but right now he had more pressing things on his mind. Lucas desperately wanted to see Sinclair once more before the spark left her eye.
He followed the staircase up to the upper floor which held all the bedrooms. The hall was dimly lit, shadows draping along the walls. Walking softly, Lucas could hear someone talking around a corner.
“I could barely refrain from taking a shot at him,” Sinclair’s voice came.
Lucas could see her through a thin crack in the door of her room.
“I doubt your grandparents would appreciate a fist-fight in their dining room, Miss.”
The second voice Lucas recognized belonging to Frederick, her ever present manservant. He had been so focused on Sinclair, Lucas hadn’t even noticed the butler slip away. A deep feeling settled in his stomach like a
rock. He couldn’t quite recognize what it was, but he sensed it was close to anger. The familiarity between those two didn’t sit well with him.
“It was only for them I was able to control myself.” said Sinclair. “I wouldn’t have been able to continue in there much longer.”
“I doubt they were happy to watch you leave like a spoiled child, Miss.”
He heard her snort, surprisingly close to the door. For an instant he tried to picture how they were positioned in her room, but it only made his pulse quicken. Shaking the idea out of his head, Lucas tried to inch closer to the opening for a better look. He still couldn’t see either of them.
“Is that why you followed me up here, to chastise me for my poor manners?”
“No, I wanted to make sure you were all right, but now that I know why you left, I do feel it’s my duty to say something.”
“You’ve said something, so now you can go.”
Scuffling was heard and Lucas managed to duck into the shadows just as Frederick was being ushered out the door. He was hidden, but the butler stared at him for a moment before continuing back toward the front hall. He was so intent on watching Frederick leave that he didn’t notice Sinclair standing in the doorway.
“It seems beneath you to be sneaking around the hallway,” she said, catching his attention.
When he looked at her, the sight seemed to knock the breath out of him. Her figure was outlined by the light of her room soaking through the thin silk of her gown. His mouth went dry as she leaned against the door frame and crossed her arms under her ample bosom. The pale skin peeked out of the modest neckline to taunt him.
“I lost my way,” he croaked.
“Upstairs? I believe the guests are all on the first floor.” Sinclair pointed back the way he came.
Lucas could feel his blood pumping through his body and swelling in his manhood. It grew more uncomfortable as he stood staring at her, yet he couldn’t force himself to leave. A lock of dark hair fell down one of her shoulders and curled along the soft skin of her cleavage. The way her gown was rumpled made it far too easy to imagine her being tossed back onto the bed in her room. Not the kind of thoughts he should be having.