Page 64 of Give Him a Chance
Chapter Twelve
June 2, 1841
“And you willnot invite any more criminals to live with us, will you—will you, Lucy?”
Bernard stifled a snort as he watched the woman he cared far too much for roll her eyes.
“Mama!”
“I’m just saying, once a thing has happened once, the likelihood of it happening again are…well, definitely increased,” the countess said with a wink as she pulled on her gloves. Bernard watched as her expression softened. “Definitely increased. I’d say by about two percent on a rising curve. If I only had my notebook—”
“No, we have put this journey off enough as it is,” said the Earl of Lindow, who was ramming a hat upon his head and looking weary at the mere thought of travel. “And each passing hour will mean it’s hotter—Lucy!”
Bernard was standing beside the daughter of the house and almost felt her start. Why was it that he was so conscious of her movements, her placement in a room? When had that happened?
“Papa?” Lucy batted her eyelashes innocently.
Far too innocently. Bernard had been a spy long enough to know when someone was falsifying a grin, and this woman wasdefinitely too eager for her parents to go and leave them in peace.
His stomach lurched. Not because of any nefarious reason, of course. Not because of any romantic one, either—he was no fool.
What had happened at the Keystones’ ball, that was never to be repeated again. He’d pushed his luck enough with this family, and the last thing he needed was to be thrown out before Hovell decided to surface and bring him back into the spying fold.
Not that hewantedto be back in the spying fold. No, staying right here with the Chances…that was what he wanted.
Bernard swallowed. Not that he could allow it.
“Lucy, I am leaving Percy in charge—”
“Papa!” The word was chorused by both of his grown children, both sounding absolutely and equally outraged at the suggestion.
“I am not going to be her nanny,” Percy said with an air of finality that was truly impressive. “Absolutely not.”
“And I don’t need a nanny!” returned Lucy, crossing her arms as she always did when she was about to stand firm on a topic. “I—”
“You are a young unmarried lady with a—and I sorry to say this, Mr. Dixon—with a ruffian living in the house,” said the earl simply. “You think I could just gallivant off for the week and leave you without a chaperone? And don’t tell me Beachem will do. Half the time, you leave Beachem behind. You Chance girls and your sneaking… My brothers often complain of the same thing.”
Discomfort burned painfully in Bernard as his gaze flickered between the two siblings. Percy clearly had no wish to prance about the place keeping an eye on his sister, and Lucy evidently did not see the need for such a thing.
Which he knew he should have been encouraged by. Clearly, Lady Lucy Chance had slept on it, realized that a convict ofno family, fame, or fortune was not a suitable match for her, and so had mentally removed him from the category of ‘eligible gentlemen.’ She therefore saw him as no more than a friend, no danger to her at all.
Which he should have been delighted with.
So why did he want to punch a wall?
“Percy is in charge, and we will be back within a week,” the countess said smoothly, tucking her hand into the crook of her husband’s arm. “Stanphrey Lacey is wonderful this time of year, and yes, Lucy, I shall bring you back that treatise from the library, and yes, Percy, I shall ask your Uncle William if there are any fine ladies who have recently moved to Stanhampton.”
“I’m envious,” Percy said darkly. “I’ve been wanting a swim in the lake forever. The sea here is too briny.”
“The sea? Too salty?” Lucy giggled as red dots appeared in her brother’s cheeks. “You dolt, it’s supposed to be like that!”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t supposed to be like that; I said it was too briny for my taste,” shot back her brother, instantly riled. “Mama, tell her—”
“Perhaps we shouldn’t go,” murmured Lady Lindow into her husband’s ear, only loud enough for Bernard—who was closest—to hear.
He stepped forward. “Please. I am happy to adjudicate—”
“You beast, he pinched me!”
