perhaps his so called attraction had to do with seeing parts of her that should never have been revealed to any suitor.
“Lucille?” Charles said, his tone telling her she had failed in concealing her increasing distress. “Are you feeling well? Do you feel ill?” he asked, his concern apparent.
She wished she could lie, but she simply shook her head and tried to fight the threatening tears. It was only when she felt something cold on her hand that she remembered the ice cream that was no longer a treat.
Seeing it drip onto her fingers, Charles reached out to take it from her. “Please, Miss Furniss, have I said something to offend you? I assure you I have no desire to frighten you. Please tell me what can I do?”
Lucy knew her actions were causing him distress and hated herself for it. He had never ever been anything but incredibly kind to her. The only thing she could think to do was to be perfectly honest as secrets had lost their appeal when learning of the one her sister had tried to keep when she’d wed a man such as Edward Wintercrest.
“I don’t know why you’d want to court me, Professor,” she said, so quietly Charles had to bend closer to listen to her. “I… there are so many beautiful young women who don’t dress like this,” she said her fingers plucking at her skirt. “I’m not like them. You know that Ed… I mean, my guardian, disciplines me. You don’t want to waste time courting me. Not when there are so many others who would suit a man such as you far better.”
“Miss Furniss, I assure you that there is no one I could possibly imagine better suited to me than you. Heavens, I’ve thought of little else but you since I saw you last. I don’t care how you dress; you are a beautiful young woman. You are the very reason why I am trying to procure the position of Cressington’s headmaster,” he said.
Lucy’s eyes widened and flew to his. “Headmaster?” she said, her heart beating hard against her chest. “You… you are going to be headmaster of the academy?”
Charles heard the disbelief in her voice. “Well, I hope to be,” he said honestly. “I know it will take some additional training, but you, for one, should understand how studying can reap great benefits…”
Lucy immediately moved away from him. The only experiences she had ever had with any headmaster included having her bottom caned and her morals questioned. Obviously having seen her strapped, her professor now wished to cane her! She stood without thinking and turned to run away. Charles rose, dropping both their cones to the ground and grasping her arm before she managed to move more than a few feet.
“Lucy, stop, please,” he said.
“Let me go!” she cried vehemently, pulling against his hold. When he instantly released her arm, she began to run back the way they’d come. She knew her flight was drawing attention to her but didn’t care. All she wished to do was reach the manor and run to hide in the safety of her room. She gave a strangled laugh when she realized she was able to pick up speed only because her legs weren’t hindered by the long heavy skirts the other young ladies in the park were wearing. Her lungs could draw in great gulps of air because they weren’t restricted by a tightly laced corset. The reality of her new wardrobe was both a relief and a taunt as it reminded her of how horribly inadequate she felt. If this is what courting entailed, this shame at knowing how very different she was, she wanted nothing of it and would refuse any supposed suitors who came to call.
She could hear the sound of Charles’ footsteps pounding behind her as he attempted to catch up to her. Turning the corner that would lead to Wintercrest, she heard him calling out for her to stop. Looking behind her to see him gaining on her, she shook her head and she raced into the street.
“Lucille, stop this instant!” Charles bellowed, reaching out to grab her arm and pulling her back onto the sidewalk as the carriage that had almost run her over passed in a flurry of horses’ hooves and turning wheels. She stood, her chest heaving from her run, and felt him shaking her arm.
“What in the bloody hell are you thinking? You didn’t even look before running into the street!” Charles