Page 49 of A Lady in Name

“Lucy, I don’t know what you want of me.”

She fairly glared at him. “I want you to sit on the other side of the coach!”

He was so surprised, he did move back to the other side. For several moments he did not speak, instead watching her in hopes of some sign her extraordinary mood might be subsiding. Presently her tremors lessened, the hands clutched tightly together in her lap lost some of their tension, and she sagged slightly in her seat, leaning back against the squabs with a little sigh.

“Better?”

She kept her gaze averted, but Stefan did not really think she was looking at the passing scenery beyond the window.

“Yes, I thank you.”

Stefan knew not how to proceed. Whatever he said might cause a resurgence of this oddity of temper. At length, Lucy turned her head to look at him, her expression faintly apologetic.

“I seem to have taken a leaf out of your book, Stefan.”

He was taken aback. “How so?”

A tight little smile came his way. “I was thoroughly undone by your fury yesterday. Now it is your turn.”

He was so astonished, he let out a bark of laughter. “Yes, you have me there, I admit. Was it revenge? No, I will not believe you so petty.”

She shook her head, and the flush at her cheeks died down. “I owe you an apology.”

“No, you don’t.”

“You did as much last night. I can do no less.”

“Not even when you remember what that apology almost led to?” Then he wished he had held his tongue, for the colour flooded her face and she cast her eyes away from him again. “Consider that unsaid.”

She nodded, but constraint had returned. Stefan was moved to regret having determined on this interview. He had said almost nothing of what he intended. The matters he meant to broach had flown out of his head. It was hardly politic now to begin upon a discussion of how he meant to provide for Lucy’s future.