Her Lord's Desire (The Forbidden Saga #3) - Maggie Ryan Page 0,54

role he desired, she thrived in it. Edward could not have chosen a more perfect mate. He saw Lucas’ gaze move to Lucille and smiled. If he had to guess, he’d wager the man was picturing how Lucille would look wearing a more childish dress, her hair loose and held back with a ribbon. How she would feel nestled in his arms, how she’d smile lifting her lips to his for yet another kiss. Perhaps he’d been a bit lax in helping direct his ward’s attention to a man he knew was so well suited for her. Yet, he had no intention of going back on his word. Childhood bonds were strong indeed, but the ties between a man and his wife were unbreakable. If Lucas wanted to ever discover the answers to the questions clearly written in his expression every time he looked at Lucille, he would need to up his game and quickly.

With that in mind, Edward began to speak. “Girls, I have an announcement to make,” he said and watched as both girls turned their full attention to him. “We will be attending the opening ball of the season on Saturday.”

Louisa squealed and clapped. “Oh, Papa,” Louisa said, “How wonderful! Who’s hosting? Where will it be held? What will we…”

Edward laughed and stilled her questions with a kiss. He noticed that his ward had still not said a word. “Lucille? Does my news not please you?” he asked. Instead of answering, he watched as his ward flushed and looked away.

“Lucy?”

“It sounds wonderful, sir,” Lucy said though she didn’t sound like she believed her own statement.

Louisa looked across the distance and evidently had the same thoughts. “Lucy, it will be fun,” Louisa said. “There will be lots of pretty dresses…” her voice trailed off and she turned her face to her husband’s. “Papa, will we… may we… I mean, I don’t mind, but since this is Lucy’s first real ball, perhaps she could—” she attempted but Edward interrupted her.

“I believe both my girls deserve to have new dresses for their first ball,” he said, gently correcting her. “I’ve already arranged for a seamstress to come to discuss making new dresses for both of you.”

“Oh, thank you, Papa,” Louisa said practically bouncing with glee. “See, Lucy, we will have new dresses! There will be music and dancing and food,” Louisa said, and then giggled. “I bet there will be lots and lots of men there who might want to meet you!”

Edward watched as Lucy looked at her sister as if she were speaking a foreign language. About to ask her for the truth in what was keeping the joy of a party from her face, he realized he wasn’t the only one to sense her discomfort. Lucas went to sit beside her on the settee. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t seem to even realize he’d done so until he spoke.

“Lucille,” Lucas said softly, “tell us what is frightening you about this invitation.”

Lucy turned to him, her eyes wide, hesitating a moment before giving a shake of her head. Edward saw the indecision about what she should confess or perhaps choose to attempt to keep hidden from both him and Lucas in the crinkling of her nose and the biting of her lip. Evidently Lucas read her just as well as he stood and moved to the fireplace to scoop Cleo from the fancy basket he’d gifted to Lucy a few days earlier. Returning to the settee, he gently set the sleepy feline on Lucy’s lap before settling down beside her again. Edward noted that without speaking a single word, his friend had comforted her, her posture relaxing, her face softening as she began to stroke the small ball of fluff.

It was a far more satisfactory response than the one she’d given by screaming profanity before running out of the house when learning the secret behind the walls of Wintercrest Manor. Satisfactory, but definitely not pleasing as it did nothing to clear the confusion that had descended upon her the moment he’d made the announcement about the ball.

“Little one,” Edward said softly, “I thought you’d be excited. This will be your first party of the season. There is no reason to be nervous. Do you remember the night of your celebratory dinner upon your graduation? You were introduced to Lord and Lady Eddinberg? Did they frighten you in any way?”

She looked a bit surprised at the question but shook her head. “No, sir. They were…