had risen inside her and Lucas wished he had thought of licking her finger. He felt himself becoming aroused and quickly brought himself under control. He was saved from speaking when Louisa joined them and immediately squealed her delight. The girls were soon seated on the settee, the small bundle between them as they stroked the kitten.
“Oh, Lucy, it is so cute,” Louisa said, and looked at Lucas. He again knew why Edward had picked the young woman. Her face was shining with joy, all over the presence of a tiny cat and her sister’s obvious happiness.
“I thought Lucy might enjoy a kitten and be willing to call a truce,” Lucas admitted. Louisa smiled.
“It is such a sweet offering, sir,” Louisa said, as if totally unaware that his words had caused her sister to stiffen. “Have you picked a name, Lucy?” she asked. Lucy shook her head, glancing over at him as if still trying to decide if she was happy with his gift or angry at him for using an innocent little creature to further his cause.
Not about to concede the first battle, Lucas walked to the settee and crouched down, reaching out to stroke the kitten’s white fur with his finger. “Yes, Lucy, what name have you chosen, little one?” He was rather pleased to note that her eyes widened a fraction and a pretty blush rose to color her cheeks at his nearness.
“How about Charles?” Lucy said, looking at Lucas with a fake smile on her face.
Lucas could practically feel the cavities forming at the sweetness dripping from her, but he didn’t bite. “Well, I suppose that’s as good a name as any, Lucy,” he said, as he kept his eyes glued to hers. “However, little one, she might prefer a girl’s name as she is soft and tiny and beautiful.” He watched her eyes soften and her breasts heave a bit as he ran his fingertip over hers as if by accident. “This little kitten is definitely not a mangy tomcat.” He realized she’d been holding her breath but now saw her eyes beginning to flash as he teased her. That was not the sign of victory he was hoping for.
“Breathe, Lucy,” he said, and when she did, taking in a rather large gulp of air, he smiled and dropped his eyes back to the kitten. It really was a very appealing little thing. He found himself hoping that no matter where the kitten had come from, it had already stolen Lucy’s heart even if he was having a far harder time of doing so. “I was teasing,” he said. “Though Charles won’t work, how about a variation? Perhaps Charlotte?”
“No, she seems more… I don’t know… regal than a Charlotte does. What do you think about Cleopatra?” she asked, lifting the most amazing pair of eyes to him.
What Lucas thought was that perhaps she was finally tiring from the effort required to ignore him. Giving her a smile, he nodded. “I think that’s a beautiful choice,” he said. “Regal like the strong, fierce Persian line she comes from and yet innocent of the ways of the world, just like her new owner.” Hearing Louisa’s soft gasp and seeing the look of pleasure in Lucy’s eyes, he smiled. Not wanting to push his luck, Lucas stroked Cleo’s fur once more and then said, “Welcome to Wintercrest, Cleo,” before standing.
“Thank you, Lord Huntington,” Lucy said softly, looking up at him. “I… I hope Ed… I mean, my guardian… allows me to keep her.”
Lucas found himself extremely glad he was able to reassure her. “I’ve already spoken to Edward, Lucy. Cleopatra is yours if you want. Consider her a new beginning for us.” It might be questionable if she’d given a shiver of delight or a shudder of disgust at his suggestion, but Lucas knew for certain that the smile she gave lit her entire being as she scooped Cleopatra from her lap to bury her nose into her snowy fur once again. Lucas saw Louisa smile broadly at him and he winked at her. She clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggle and he grinned just as broadly. “She is your responsibility as well, Lucy,” Lucas warned her. “I don’t want Mrs. Bremmer angry with us because Cleo causes her additional work.”
“Yes, sir,” Lucy said quickly. “I’ll do everything for Cleo, I promise.”
Lucas knew she would be as good as her word. He was more than pleased. Not only was it clear she adored his