Page 29 of Saving a Scoundrel
“Why her? I’ve never seen you seriously court anyone,” Ellie challenged him. She had to know if he really had feelings for Miss Macdougal or if he was just after her money, as Hawksridge had intimated. Ellie held her breath.
Lucius looked down at the fire cracking cheerfully in the grate. “Her father offered to bring me into the business if she and I suit. He said he’d like to keep it in the family. Macdougal has been a mentor to me these past months. I’ve never had someone believe in me the way he does.”
“That’s not true. I’ve always believed in you.”
His gaze snapped up to meet hers. His green eyes startled. “Believed I was a reprobate you mean.”
She shook her head. “I’ve never thought that. I think you are witty and smart, and a good person. I think you have a lot of potential. I’ve just been waiting for you to believe that you do.”
She didn’t look away as Lucius stared at her in disbelief. She didn’t lower her eyelashes to hide how she felt as she had done so many times before. Lucius deserved to know that he had friends that believed in him. She believed in him.
The rattle of the tea tray broke the silence as Mrs. Huntley came into the room. Ellie smiled. “Thank you, Mrs. Huntley. Tea is just what I needed.”
The housekeeper set out a plate of small sandwiches and biscuits on the low table between them. Next to it, the service was laid out. “Anything else, miss?”
“No, this is perfect,” Ellie replied. Once the lady had left, she picked up a biscuit and popped it into her mouth. The buttery taste melted in her mouth, and Ellie closed her eyes to savor its sweetness.
Lucius leaned over and carefully selected a small triangle of ham and buttered bread. He bit into his sandwich with gusto. “So, what else is on this list?” he said around a mouthful of ham.
Ellie sighed. He would never let it rest unless she gave him some details. “Well, finding the author of the letters is number four. Number five is, go to the opera. Number seven is, dance a waltz with a handsome stranger.”
“You’ve done that one. We danced the waltz the other night.”
“Lucius, you are not a handsome stranger.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “But I am handsome.”
She scrunched her nose. “I knew I shouldn’t have given you any compliments.”
“Well, these all seem easy enough. Wait, are these in order of importance? Is number one your most desired?”
Ellie thought about her list. “No, I wrote the items down as I thought of them. I’ve added a few since coming to London.”
“If I am to help you to safely accomplish your goals this season, I’ll need to see this list. Hand it over.”
Not a chance.Ellie shook her head. “I can just tell you what’s on it. It’s not as though I don’t remember what I wrote.”
Lucius’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve got items on the list you don’t want to share, you minx. What naughty things do you wish to get up to?”
“What nonsense! There is nothing naughty on my list. What a thing to say.” Ellie felt her cheeks heat, and she lowered her gaze to her lap.
“You can’t fool me, kitten. I could write a treatise about the meaning behind the various shades of your blushes. Let’s see, you must keep it around here somewhere. The writing desk?”
Still reeling from his comment about her blushes, Ellie gave a small humph. “Perhaps it’s upstairs tucked under my pillow,” she countered.
But Lucius was already striding over to the writing desk. “No, too easily found by a maid. I dare say you spend most of your free time here in the library with your nose buried in a book.” He began rifling through the drawers of the desk.
“And what’s wrong with that?” Ellie crossed her arms across her chest, he would never figure out where she kept her list hidden. She certainly wouldn’t leave it in a drawer where Susanna could come upon it when retrieving writing supplies.
Lucius glanced over his shoulder with a grin. “Nothing at all, darling. I’m simply saying that if this is your preferred sanctuary, it would make sense you would keep your list tucked away…hmmm, tucked away.” His eyes grew wide, and he turned to survey the room.
Ellie began to get nervous. Lucius crossed to the library table. “What are you reading these days?” He picked up a book off its gleaming mahogany surface and flipped through the pages with his thumb before setting it down.
Ellie jumped to her feet. “What are you doing, Lucius?”
“Just that the love letters were all hidden away in the lady’s books, correct? What a romantic notion for someone, such as yourself, who loves her books.” He pivoted and headed for the long window seat on the far wall. “Yes, this is your spot. Curled up in the sun.”
Panicked, Ellie rushed across the carpet. “Lucius, I will tell you everything on the list. I promise. Just stop this silly hunt. The list is not here.”
