Page 19 of Saving a Scoundrel
“What! Did you say Charlotte is expecting?” a shocked feminine voice rang out.
Lucius turned. Susanna Dearborn and Eleanor Spencer rose from a nearby settee. His sister’s best friends crossed to join their group. They wore identical stunned expressions. Eleanor’s brow furrowed right between her eyebrows as she frowned at him.
“Yes, that’s what she wrote.”
Susanna turned to face Eleanor. “I can’t believe she hasn’t told us.”
“Why would she tell him first?” Eleanor replied.
“Hey! I am her brother,” he protested.
“That’s hardly the same as a bosom friend, Lucius,” Eleanor replied tartly. “What else did the letter say?”
“Wait.” He held up his hand and closed his eyes in mock rapture. “I just want to enjoy this moment of knowing something you don’t.”
“Lucius Grisham, loose your tongue.” Eleanor snaked out a hand and pinched his arm.
Next to him, Katy gasped and sent Ellie a glare, but he laughed out loud. “Only that they had changed their mind about coming to town. Daniel wants to keep her in the country. You know how he feels about the fresh air. Oh, and that I should make sure you are not being a wallflower.” He winked at Eleanor.
Eleanor let out a small huff of indignation. “I told you already that I don’t—”
“I just received my letter this morning,” Hawksridge interjected. “I’m sure your letter is en route.”
Susanna patted Eleanor’s arm. “He’s right. She would have written to all of us at the same time. Now I’m sorry we didn’t see her before we left for town. Things were so busy packing and such. I thought they would be coming to London in another week.”
Eleanor nodded. “Exciting news all the same.”
“Very exciting news.” Miss Macdougal looked up at him. “Please tell your sister congratulations from me.”
Susanna glanced at Miss Macdougal. “Lucius, who is your friend?”
Where were his manners? “Um, sorry. Lady Ashby, Miss Spencer, may introduce you to Miss Macdougal.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” Miss Macdougal smiled, but her fingers gripped his arm tightly. “Terrible weather tonight, isn’t it?”
“Truly! I hope the whole spring won’t be as wet as this week,” Lady Wells replied.
“I see you both managed to stay dry coming in. Lucius, did you remember to bring an umbrella this time?” Eleanor said drily.
“This time?” Lucius watched pale pink color flush Eleanor’s cheeks.
“I saw…I mean, we saw you pass by the bookshop in Piccadilly earlier this week trying to keep the rain off your head with a newspaper.” She smiled at Katy. “He is always woefully unprepared.”
Katy turned to him. “That was the day you showed up at the brewery soaked to the bone.”
“The brewery?” Eleanor asked.
That’s enough about that.“Miss Macdougal, I am parched. Shall we get a drink?” He steered her away before any more questions could be asked about the brewery. He lowered his voice. “Miss Macdougal, maybe we could not mention that I work for your father.”
She glanced up at him with a cheeky grin. “Ah yes, the quality aren’t supposed to actually work for a living.”
Lucius grimaced. She wasn’t wrong. “Strictly speaking, as a second son, I need to have a profession of some sort, but I haven’t explained to my friends what I have been doing.” He grabbed two wineglasses off the table, automatically handing one to Miss Macdougal. “Wait, are you allowed to have wine?” He didn’t usually socialize with young unmarried women.
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m allowed to have wine.” She took a rather large gulp. “So you know those ladies well? They called you Lucius.”
“Yes, they are friends of my sister. I’ve known them forever.” He took a sip of wine and glanced across the room where Susanna and Eleanor still stood chatting with Hawksridge and his aunt. He had no idea they would be here tonight, but he probably should have guessed. Hawksridge was the consummate politician, he would of course welcome them to town with a dinner party.
Eleanor looked lovely tonight. Her bronze dress set off the shoulder and his gaze traveled across the expanse of alabaster skin it showcased. A single golden curl hung down and brushed against her shoulder.
