Page 21 of To Break the Rules

Lucia made a face and covered her ears. “Don’t you dare,” she pleaded. “Or I’m leaving right now.”

“Come and sit down,” Dharani said, chuckling and waving at the armchair opposite hers. “Tell me everything.”

Lucia sighed and wondered where on earth to start. She decided to keep it simple; it seemed best not to mention Viscount Cavendish.

“I left him a message last night, as we discussed,” Lucia said, feeling again a little surge of satisfaction at having done so. “With luck he’ll not sleep easy again.”

The old woman glowered and shook her head, rearranging the heavily embroidered silk that draped over her shoulders. It was a shocking pink, a gift from Lucia some years back. Dharani had always been fond of bright colours.

“You say that as if I agreed with it. This is madness, bhanvaraa,” she said, using the nickname she’d had for Lucia since childhood. “You are dancing too close to the flames, you’ll get burned.”

Lucia rolled her eyes and Dharani smacked her palm flat on the books in her lap, the sound ringing out. “Do not give me that look. What becomes of me if this powerful man succeeds where he failed before? Phir kyahoga? Well?”

“But he did fail,” Lucia said, even as fear swirled in her stomach, a sickening cold sensation making her skin clammy.

“Because of me!” the old woman said, striking her chest with her fist. “Me and Anna-Marie,” she said with a sneer in her voice.

Lucia took a deep breath, knowing better than to argue. It was true enough. “Have you heard from her?” she asked, hoping the woman was well. Even after all the trouble she’d caused, Lucia hoped she was happy. “Is she all right?”

Dharani pursed her lips, aware Lucia was changing the subject. “Your mama is always all right. She’s like a cat with an overabundance of lives,” she said, though there was no real heat in the comment. She waved an arthritic hand with an impatient gesture. “Some Italian count is making use of her at present. She’s lucky her looks have lasted this long, but she needs to settle. Finally, I think she knows it.”

“They’re to marry?” Lucia asked, surprised that Anna-Marie should finally give in to the inevitable.

“She believes he will ask,” Dharani admitted, nodding. “For her sake, let us pray he does, though I hope he’s wealthy enough or she’ll ruin him.”

Lucia couldn’t help a smile as she remembered life with Anna-Marie. It had never been dull, that was for certain.

“Come here.”

Dharani’s command was imperious, one that expected obedience.

Glowering a little, Lucia shook her head. “I must go, nani,” she said, hoping to escape. “Miss Hunt will wonder where I’ve got to.”

Dharani’s mouth settled in a line of discontent and Lucia sighed. Getting to her feet, she moved closer to her and knelt beside the old woman’s chair. She grasped her chin, tilting her head up and searching her eyes.

“Who is he?” she demanded, her tone an accusation. “You’ve met someone, haven’t you? I told you there would be a man. I told you! Who is he?”

Lucia’s mouth went dry and she opened it to speak, but Dharani got there first.

“Don’t you dare lie.”

The words died on her tongue, and Lucia scowled. Damn her. The old woman was uncanny and Lucia had never been able to hide a thing from her.

“Viscount Cavendish,” she said, regretting the admission the moment the words left her.

Dharani nodded, a smile curving over her mouth. She studied Lucia, who squirmed under her scrutiny. “You’ll not escape him, bhanvaraa.”

The old woman grinned, a not altogether pleasant smile. “He means to have you, doesn’t he? I can see it in your eyes. You’re afraid you’ll let him.”

Lucia held her tongue, there was little point in trying to pretend she was wrong.

By the time she’d escaped further interrogation, it was late morning. The day was hot and sweltering beneath her heavy cloak was unappealing, but she slung it about her shoulders as she walked out the door all the same. She was about to pull up the hood when the strangest sensation hit her: an awareness of… of something, of someone.

She looked up, heart pounding, just as she saw Lord Cavendish across the street as he turned towards her with the same quizzical expression on his face.

Her breath caught and the desire to run was almost overwhelming, but she could not. They stared at each other, both equally shocked.

He was walking towards her now, with long, purposeful strides. Turning, she prayed that the door was shut, that Dharani had not come to wave her off, but her luck had run out after the excess of last night.