Victorian Holiday Hearts: A Boxed Set by Dee Bonnie & Devon Summer

Author:Dee, Bonnie & Devon, Summer [Dee, Bonnie & Devon, Summer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 31813200
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

5

Lucas decided to wait three days before sending a note to the theater. He was far too eager, of course, but he sensed that any aggressive pursuit would drive Mike off and ruin the possibility of ever seeing him again. He still didn’t know where Mike lived, and the only way to reach him was to leave word at the theater. The Andrews would not allow Lucas to bother their friend, so he had to step carefully around them, as well.

His plan to avoid Elizabeth Cordett worked for two days. He attended a musical party given by one of his late parents’ friends, and she was there. She found a seat next to him, slid into it, and began without any sort of greeting. “Have you found anything at all about my brother?”

“Miss Cordett, you look well this evening.”

She made a face behind her fan. “Yes, yes, this gown is lovely, I am lovely. Thank you. My brother?”

“One wonders why you are so popular with the gentlemen,” he said, hiding a smile.

“Mr. Spring. You do know something.”

“Yes. But do not squeak or bounce in your seat like that. I would rather not draw attention.”

“Oh, bah, you’re right of course. Just tell me. Is he well?”

“Yes.” Physically he had seemed well enough.

She gave a small nod, a flutter of her fan, and seemed to at last grow relaxed, a little. “Then we’ll talk after.”

A few pieces later, as a harpist adjusted her instrument, the audience grew restless and a small buzz of conversation began. Miss Cordett whispered, “When this is done, you shall fetch me a cup of tea, one sugar, that’s all, and pretend to flirt with me. My aunt won’t mind. She knows you and I have been introduced. She’s my chaperone this evening, but she’s engaged in a flirtation herself.”

He glanced around the room.

She slapped him with her fan. “Pay attention, please. I need you to understand that I won’t respond with anything other than hauteur when you bring my tea. I want to quell a stupid rumor that I’m too friendly to people who admire me, and I believe you’re just the gentleman to aid my cause. Would you mind pretending to have your heart broken? Oh dear, wait—you’re not truly interested in me, are you? No? Good. I would like Miss Wagner to stop calling me overenthusiastic.”

She reminded him of the Mike he’d admired at school: energetic, decisive, lighthearted, full of pleasant nonsense—though perhaps he hadn’t been quite as silly as Miss Cordett—and able to mock himself. He’d been nothing like the frightened shadow that Lucas met the other day.

When the last piano piece had been played with only four or five errors, Lucas rose to his feet clapping and went off in search of the tea for Miss Cordett.

He brought the tea and a plate of biscuits to her. She sat on a sofa, but he chose the chair across from her. Several people watched, but none approached.

“Your brother is alive and well,” he said.

She opened and closed her fan a few times.

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