Page 68 of Saving a Scoundrel
Charlotte stared at him for a long moment. Then she held up one hand. “Ellie, my Ellie, seduced you in London this spring?”
“Quite.”
In fact, she had been all he could think about for weeks. Their night together had fueled his fantasies while they were apart. He hadn’t frigged himself so much since he had been a schoolboy at Eton.
“And why the brewery? I had no idea you knew anything about brewing beer.”
“Your husband just said the same thing to me.” He sighed. It was time to tell his sister the truth about the past year. “Last summer, after you and Daniel married, I got into a fight with Father about him withholding your dowry. And he cut me off.”
“No!” Charlotte placed a hand on her heart. “What have you been surviving on this whole time? Why didn’t you come and tell us? We could have helped.”
“I’ve taken a couple of jobs. I do the books at a gaming club, and they gave me free rooms to stay.” His sister opened her mouth to say something, but he stayed her with a hand. “And I began doing the accounting for Macdougal Brewing. Mr. Macdougal took me under his wing and showed me the business. I’ve enjoyed the process of learning something new. He entrusted me to create my own brew, and it became quite popular.”
“That’s wonderful, Lucius. But how do you have the money to start up your own brewery?”
“Well, that is an interesting story that involves Ellie and a bet that was made.” Lucius told her all about his friends and their stupid bet and how he joined in to protect Ellie but how, in the end, she had become irate about him not telling her from the start. And finally, about how the duke had convinced him to take the money from winning the bet and invest it in Ellie and his future.
“And you won the bet? You and Ellie…”
He nodded. “Ellie is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She is clever, and loving, and managing, which you know I need. And the most beautiful creature inside and out.”
Charlotte laid her hand on his with a smile. “Yes, I know all that already. I was just waiting for you to figure it out. Where is she now? She didn’t come back with you?”
He shook his head. “I needed to get things settled before I asked her to marry me. I sent her a note.”
She raised one eyebrow. “A note?”
At his sister’s skeptical look, a bubble of panic formed in his chest. “It was a good note. I told her that I loved her and that I would figure out how to support her. And I asked her to wait for me.”
Charlotte sat back and shook her head. “Lucius, what makes you think that she is going to be happy to sit and wait for you to make all the plans? You know how she likes to organize and plan out everything—”
“And make lists.”Shit.“I’ve done the wrong thing, haven’t I?”
Charlotte nodded her head.
He ran a hand through his hair. “What should I do?”
“You could start by writing her—a proper letter. No, I think you should write her a proper love letter like the ones we found. That will put her in the right mood to forgive you for abandoning her in London. And at the end, tell her you need her and ask her to come here to Marbury.”
A love letter? He grimaced. “I don’t know, Charlotte. I’ve read some of those letters you all found, and I don’t think I could do the same. I’m not very poetic.”
“All you have to do is put your feelings on the page. It doesn’t need to be as florid as those others. Just be honest. Oh, and you should go and speak with her father. I believe he still has plans for her and Mr. Evans. You better go state your case before she ends up married off to the curate.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
“Thank you forcoming along with me today, Mr. Evans. It is nice to have an extra pair of hands on shopping day,” Ellie said.
Mr. Evans nodded. He carried a stack of books, and a wicker basket filled with candles, fresh parchment and ink, a bag of apples, and two pieces of salted pork wrapped in brown paper. Ellie had a smaller basket which held a dozen eggs. It felt wonderful to be home. She had even been happy to see grumpy old Mr. Buxley. She glanced over at Mr. Evans. “I noticed that you and Mr. Buxley had quite a lot to say to each other. I’ve never seen him converse with anyone beyond a few short sentences.”
“He served in the navy with my grandfather. I don’t mind when he waxes on with stories about his sailing days. His crusty personality reminds me of my grandfather before he passed.”
What a productive morning. She had gotten her shopping done, found several new books to read, and even found out a little more about Mr. Evans and the taciturn bookshop owner. They walked along High Street. The sun shone in a cloudless sky, promising a warm day ahead. She’d always thought Marbury was a pretty little town. Shops and tidy homes lined the cobblestone walkway, and the street bustled with carts and horses. At the end of the street they walked down, just past the haberdashery, was a large green. Ellie looked forward to the annual summer fair that would be set up there this weekend.
“Ellie?”
She glanced up. In the doorway to the Blue Boar Tavern stood Lucius, his mouth agape.
“What are you doing here?” He stepped down the three stone steps to come stand in front of them. His blond hair was pulled back neatly in a queue, and he wore his usual black-on-black suit. His green eyes were wide with surprise. Lord, she had missed him so much. She wanted to fling herself into his arms. Bury her nose at his throat and feel his tight embrace.No, remember you are still mad at him.
