The Bareknuckle Groom - Holly Bush Page 0,21

there was a social event I could not refuse. I tried to plan an outing with them a few times a month, to a concert or museum. Geoffrey is away at school much of the time now. I’d kept him home with tutors long after his friends were off at preparatory school, but it was time for him to begin to prepare for university. Susannah is still at home year-round and has a tutor and a governess for her education. We are all very close and hear weekly from Millicent by letter.”

Lucinda smiled at Mr. Delgado. He was obviously very proud of his children and had great affection for them. She glanced at her aunt, who had tears welling in her eyes.

“I would have loved to have had your children, Renaldo. I dreamt of it,” Aunt Louisa whispered, her lips trembling.

Lucinda rose and went to the door. Their conversation would become too intimate, too private for her to remain. She glanced back at them as she closed the door. Mr. Delgado was on the floor before Aunt Louisa, his head in her lap, quietly weeping. Aunt Louisa stroked his hair and gazed at him.

Lucinda climbed the stairs slowly. Finally in her suite, she pulled a worn, soft shawl around her shoulders and sat down in the tufted chair by the fireplace. Was it possible that Aunt Louisa could let go of the past and find a future with this man who clearly loved her? Their relationship could not be an idolized version of each other from their youth, but must be real, with all the hurts of their past put aside. Was twenty years too long apart?

Lucinda did not want to waste her life if she knew there was a soul that matched hers, even if it made her father unhappy, though she loved him dearly. What if James Thompson was that match? The memory of their kiss was enough to make her breasts tingle and the area below her waist throb. She blushed, remembering she’d told him he was never to dance with Edith again after he’d looked at her and winked over their intimacies. She could not understand her fit of jealousy, as there was really no other word to describe how she felt at the idea of him touching any other woman. What must he think of her? Perhaps she should get to know him a little better and ask him.

“Let’s call it a day,” MacAvoy shouted from outside the makeshift ring. “That’s enough, Nicholson. I’ve got your cash here, and we’ll need you back next week.”

James lifted his head from the filthy wooden boards he was sprawled on, the wood shavings at his nose reeking of sweat and other smells he didn’t care to think about. It took him a moment to realize he was on the floor or even where he was: a training session for his next bout. MacAvoy caught him under his arms and picked him up.

“Get your feet under you, James,” he said.

He rolled his neck and shook his head, sweat flying from the ends of his hair. “Where’s Nicholson? Let’s go again.”

“You’re not going anywhere except home, boyo,” MacAvoy said and led him to the small changing room.

James plopped down on the bench in the room and let MacAvoy look at the cut on his cheek. He handed James a wet rag, wrung out.

“Here. Wipe the sweat off of yourself and then get home,” MacAvoy said again.

James ran the rag over his face and hair. He looked up at MacAvoy standing by the door, his hand on the latch. “What happened?”

“What happened?” MacAvoy repeated as he turned. “You got clobbered by a slow, fat bumbler. That’s what happened.”

“What are you mad about? I’ve caught a lucky punch before.”

“You think that was a lucky punch? It wasn’t. You were getting handled,” MacAvoy’s voice rose. “By Nicholson!”

“I’ll get straightened out. I’ve got a few weeks to go.”

“I’m not so sure of that.”

James looked up. “You don’t think I can beat Jackson? He’s just a young pup!”

“Your head’s not in it, James. You’re distracted. What’s going on?”

He looked up after several long minutes, wherein he’d hoped MacAvoy would get bored or discouraged and leave him alone. But it looked like his friend would wait him out.

“Alexander asked me to visit with him last week. I hadn’t any idea why. But he proceeded to tell me some shit that his papa and uncle had cooked up about opening a real boxing arena with stands and