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Authors: Sasha Cottman
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her toes. She tucked happily into the buttered sole.
She didn’t recall much of the rest of the evening. Lord Langham made a heartfelt speech in which he mentioned his late wife. Clarice cried, and when David touchingly kissed his wife’s forehead, Lucy felt an overwhelming rush of emotion.
Some toasts were made, welcoming Avery into the Langham family, and David gave a short speech thanking his father-in-law for being such a generous host.
It was only when she was tucked up warm in her bed at Strathmore House that Lucy recalled the brief words of appreciation that Avery made at the end of the evening’s formalities. His exact words escaped her memory, but it was the tension that she felt in him as he spoke that remained in her mind.
Humble words of gratitude were not the usual in her rarefied world. In Avery, she knew he truly meant it when he said he looked forward to being part of a family. That a man who had a roof over his head and people whom he could call friends was truly blessed.
She rolled over in her bed, surprised to find hot tears had sprung to her eyes. How lonely he must have been all those years. To know he had no one in England who awaited his return. No one who cared.
‘Well, you shall have friends, Mr Fox. Friends who do care for you, friends who . . . oh dear!’
She quickly sat up in bed, unable to stem the tears. With her hand clutched to her bosom she felt the loud thump of her heart pounding in her chest.
Her heart knew it was in deadly peril.
For now, she would do everything to make sure their relationship remained platonic. She would not make a fool of herself again. Wiping away the tears, she pondered the situation.
It was clear now that Avery did not intend to mourn his brother. As such Lord Langham would likely have him out in society within days. With his smart new clothes and well-kept appearance, he would make quite the impression at fashionable events.
Events at which other young unmarried misses, and their mothers, would also be in attendance. There were plenty of other young ladies still firmly on the shelf at this stage of the season. And plenty with the perceptiveness to see the newly elevated Mr Fox as manna from heaven. He wouldn’t stand a chance against them.
With her brother Alex, the future Duke of Strathmore, firmly off the market, the future Earl Langham was now the most eligible bachelor in London.
She threw back the bedclothes and leapt out of bed. She quickly moved across the floor to her writing desk, pulled out the chair, lit a candle, took a piece of paper and began to write. If she was going to help save Avery from the scheming, matchmaking mamas, she needed a plan.
Avery, as a former military man, would no doubt appreciate her tactics. He of all people would understand the need for a sound strategy.
When she was done with Mr Avery Fox, he would be the epitome of English gentlemen. He would know exactly which fork to use at dinner without a second thought. He would blend perfectly in with the crowd. He would be her crowning achievement. Only then would he be equipped to make the right choice as to whom he wished to marry.
‘Except for his accent. I shall not make him change it. It is perfect as it is,’ she vowed.
She hummed quietly as she wrote, oblivious to the chill of the room as the fire slowly died.
CHAPTER FIVE
‘Now remember what I told you.’
Eve looked at Lucy and gave her a conspiratorial grin.
‘Yes. But don’t forget what you promised me. You will take your time. No foolish tricks to make him like you,’ Eve replied.
Lucy brushed a kiss on her cousin’s cheek.
‘Sweet cousin, as I have told you, I do not have Mr Fox in my sights for anything in the least romantic. He is simply a private project of mine to help ward off the boredom of the remaining weeks of the season. When I am done with him, I shall walk away and not look back.’
Lucy pointedly ignored Eve’s less than subtle snort.
She had shared just enough of her
She didn’t recall much of the rest of the evening. Lord Langham made a heartfelt speech in which he mentioned his late wife. Clarice cried, and when David touchingly kissed his wife’s forehead, Lucy felt an overwhelming rush of emotion.
Some toasts were made, welcoming Avery into the Langham family, and David gave a short speech thanking his father-in-law for being such a generous host.
It was only when she was tucked up warm in her bed at Strathmore House that Lucy recalled the brief words of appreciation that Avery made at the end of the evening’s formalities. His exact words escaped her memory, but it was the tension that she felt in him as he spoke that remained in her mind.
Humble words of gratitude were not the usual in her rarefied world. In Avery, she knew he truly meant it when he said he looked forward to being part of a family. That a man who had a roof over his head and people whom he could call friends was truly blessed.
She rolled over in her bed, surprised to find hot tears had sprung to her eyes. How lonely he must have been all those years. To know he had no one in England who awaited his return. No one who cared.
‘Well, you shall have friends, Mr Fox. Friends who do care for you, friends who . . . oh dear!’
She quickly sat up in bed, unable to stem the tears. With her hand clutched to her bosom she felt the loud thump of her heart pounding in her chest.
Her heart knew it was in deadly peril.
For now, she would do everything to make sure their relationship remained platonic. She would not make a fool of herself again. Wiping away the tears, she pondered the situation.
It was clear now that Avery did not intend to mourn his brother. As such Lord Langham would likely have him out in society within days. With his smart new clothes and well-kept appearance, he would make quite the impression at fashionable events.
Events at which other young unmarried misses, and their mothers, would also be in attendance. There were plenty of other young ladies still firmly on the shelf at this stage of the season. And plenty with the perceptiveness to see the newly elevated Mr Fox as manna from heaven. He wouldn’t stand a chance against them.
With her brother Alex, the future Duke of Strathmore, firmly off the market, the future Earl Langham was now the most eligible bachelor in London.
She threw back the bedclothes and leapt out of bed. She quickly moved across the floor to her writing desk, pulled out the chair, lit a candle, took a piece of paper and began to write. If she was going to help save Avery from the scheming, matchmaking mamas, she needed a plan.
Avery, as a former military man, would no doubt appreciate her tactics. He of all people would understand the need for a sound strategy.
When she was done with Mr Avery Fox, he would be the epitome of English gentlemen. He would know exactly which fork to use at dinner without a second thought. He would blend perfectly in with the crowd. He would be her crowning achievement. Only then would he be equipped to make the right choice as to whom he wished to marry.
‘Except for his accent. I shall not make him change it. It is perfect as it is,’ she vowed.
She hummed quietly as she wrote, oblivious to the chill of the room as the fire slowly died.
CHAPTER FIVE
‘Now remember what I told you.’
Eve looked at Lucy and gave her a conspiratorial grin.
‘Yes. But don’t forget what you promised me. You will take your time. No foolish tricks to make him like you,’ Eve replied.
Lucy brushed a kiss on her cousin’s cheek.
‘Sweet cousin, as I have told you, I do not have Mr Fox in my sights for anything in the least romantic. He is simply a private project of mine to help ward off the boredom of the remaining weeks of the season. When I am done with him, I shall walk away and not look back.’
Lucy pointedly ignored Eve’s less than subtle snort.
She had shared just enough of her
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