Page 38 of To Break the Rules

“Well, we are about to find out,” Matilda said with a grin, as they approached their destination.

The six-storey house was an imposing building, and suggested Mr Manning had left his wife very comfortable when he’d departed the world. The impressive interior boasted a wealth of oak panelling, decorative carvings and mouldings, and the hand-carved staircase was on a grand scale.

Mrs Manning herself came to greet them, wreathed in smiles. A voluptuous woman with mahogany curls tumbling about her shoulders, she exuded the confidence and ease of a woman at home in her own skin, and well aware of her own worth.

Lucia batted down an unwelcome stab of envy and did her best to look relaxed.

“My, but don’t you make an exquisite picture,” Mrs Manning said, shaking her head as she stood back a little to regard them both. “Ah, I remember what it was to have the world at my feet in such a manner.”

Matilda and Lucia exchanged glances, as Lucia knew neither of them thought they had anything of the sort. Mrs Manning caught the look and gave a soft laugh.

“Darlings, you can overcome any difficulty if you have beauty and brains. Make a man want you enough and he’ll move heaven and earth to give you what you want… even a ring.” She winked at them, gaining a laugh from Matilda.

“I shall bear that in mind, Mrs Manning, thank you,” she said, as the lady in question led them through to meet the other guests.

To Lucia’s relief it appeared to be a small and intimate dinner, though her ease was short lived.

“I believe you know Lord Cavendish,” Mrs Manning said, a look in her eyes that suggested to Lucia she knew damn well she was putting the cat among the pigeons.

“Indeed,” Matilda said, greeting him with a warm smile. “How good it is to see you again, my lord.”

Lucia inclined her head in greeting and tried to still her heart, which thudded uncomfortably in her chest. Oh, good heavens. Now she had to endure an entire evening in his company. Somehow, she just knew he’d be sitting beside her.

“This handsome young fellow is dying to make your acquaintance, too,” Mrs Manning said, bringing forward a smiling gentleman with light brown hair and hazel eyes. He was indeed handsome, with an easy-going air about him. “This is Mr David Burton. Such an interesting man! He owns half the mills in the country, you know,” Mrs Manning said, giving him a look that made the fellow blush a little. “Oh, do excuse me, I believe more guests have arrived.”

“Burton,” Lord Cavendish said, to Lucia’s intense relief turning the weight of his gaze elsewhere. “How are you? It must be a year, at least?”

“Indeed, my lord,” Mr Burton replied, smiling. “Though I am happy that our business interests together seem to go on apace.”

“As am I,” the viscount replied dryly. “However, we must not talk business, or our company will desert us for more convivial surroundings.”

“You think us uninterested in business?” Lucia remarked, with an edge to the question she knew neither of the men missed. Of course, she ought not to be interested in such subjects. Any woman knew the first rule of catching a man was to feign stupidity.

“No, Miss de Feria,” Lord Cavendish replied, smiling at her in such a way that she felt herself heat all over. “I think you uninterested in my business.”

“Mr Burton,” Matilda said in a rush, as the atmosphere between them was becoming increasingly charged. “Do tell me about your mills….”

Lucia could not help but smile; the man was looking at Matilda as though he was in the presence of a divine being.

“I… I should be delighted to tell you anything you wish to know,” he said, sounding a little breathless.

He offered Matilda his arm and Lucia watched as he escorted her about the grand room.

“A conquest has been made, I think,” Lord Cavendish said, smiling.

“What’s he like?” Lucia asked him, in part to keep the conversation from drifting into dangerous waters, and in part because the man looked like a devoted puppy and she hoped Matilda might have just found the good man she’d been looking for.

“Decent,” he said, giving her a reassuring nod. “Intelligent and with a good heart. Wealthy. Your friend could do a great deal worse, though he’s a self-made man which would make most of the women I know run screaming in the opposite direction.

“Then they’re fools,” Lucia said, meaning it, not realising she was being provoking until she saw the flash of jealousy in Lord Cavendish’s eyes.

“You have an interest there?” he asked, and though his tone was nonchalant enough she wasn’t fooled.

For a moment she toyed with the idea of taunting him, but she couldn’t do it.

“No,” she said softly. “I only want to see Matilda happy.”

There was a taut silence before he spoke again. “And what about you, Lucia?” he asked, the words pitched low. “Have you thought any more about what I asked you?”