Lucian remembered the way he and Simon had played, and occasionally Darius too, if he happened to be home from school, running off into these woods in order to escape from Francis’s complaints that they never allowed him to join in their games. Justifiable complaints, obviously, but Francis really had been a whining little brat of a boy.
Lucian found him no less irritating as an adult, and his interruption just now was no more welcome than his company had been all those years ago!
Timely, but still unwelcome.
Grace looked less than composed, Lucian noted frowningly, her cheeks flushed and a slightly hunted look in her eyes as she shot him a censorious glance.
‘I remember throwing you in the lake a few times,’ he answered the younger man tersely.
Francis frowned his consternation for several seconds before his brow cleared. ‘I am sure it was just boyish high-jinks,’ he confided indulgently.
‘And I thought it was our way of getting rid of you,’ Lucian drawled hardly, not particularly liking or approving of the way Francis was now standing within touching distance of Grace.
‘I probably was a bit of a pest.’ Francis nodded, his expression inscrutable as his gaze met Lucian’s. ‘Perhaps we might enjoy the rest of our walk together…?’ he prompted lightly, and he reached out to lift Grace’s hand and tuck it into the crook of his arm.
Lucian’s eyes became glittering slits as he observed the familiarity. Admittedly, the other man had apologised to them both for anything he might have said to his friends in London, which might unfortunately have become public knowledge, and as such caused them embarrassment, but that did not mean Lucian had forgotten the incident. Or that he now welcomed Francis’s attentions to Grace.
‘Grace and I were about to return to the house.’ Lucian looked coldly at the younger man. ‘You are welcome to join us there if you so wish…?’
It was the first Grace had heard of their intention to return to Winton Hall. But perhaps in the circumstances it might be better if they did so. She certainly had no interest in continuing their walk with Francis present, and continuing in the way they had been was also out of the question…
Goodness knew what would have happened if Francis had not come along and interrupted them!
‘I am more than willing to act as Grace’s escort if you wish to return tothe house, St Claire.’ Francis looked at her enquiringly.
‘I really should go back, too.’ Grace freed her hand from the crook of Francis’s arm and stepped away from him. ‘Aunt Margaret intends packing some of her things today, and she may have need of me.’
‘Of course.’ Francis gave an understanding nod of his head. ‘It really is shabby of Darius to move her into the Dower House with such unseemly haste,’ he added disapprovingly.
Grace looked stricken. ‘Oh, I do not think that Lord Darius—the Duke—’ she corrected herself flusteredly ‘—I do not think he has encouraged my aunt in the move.’
‘Your loyalty does you credit, Grace,’ Francis approved with a return of his usual pomposity. ‘Nevertheless, I fear Darius alone is responsible for making Margaret feel something of an intruder in the house she has called home for thirty years or more.’
‘And your disloyalty on the subject does you no credit whatsoever, Francis,’ Lucian rasped harshly, his expression one of contempt as he looked at the younger man. ‘I have heard with my own ears Darius’s efforts to persuade the Duchess into delaying her move to the Dower House for several more weeks at least.’
‘Well, of course you have,’ Francis acknowledged condescendingly. ‘There has already been enough gossip concerning Darius in recent months, without his adding to it by behaving unchivalrously to our sister-in-law in the presence of the brother of the powerful Duke of Stourbridge. What takes place in private is a different matter, however…’ he added sadly.
Lucian’s hands clenched into fists at his sides as he resisted the impulse to punch the younger man on the nose! Darius was his friend, damn it, gossip or not— had not Arabella made the same musings to Lucian only a week ago concerning Darius’s recent good fortune? Lucian could not stand silently by and listen to Francis as he maligned his own brother!