Free Abandon by Jerusha Moors

off to chat with the insipid Miss Bennett and Lady Amelia North. The old Lucy would not have stood for him abandoning her like that. She would have marched right over and taken his arm, establishing her hold on him. It bothered him that she would rather flee the battle and forsake her rights. Did she really no longer care about him? He thought that he had made some progress during the ride and while helping her down from the tree limb.
    She had looked so beautiful with her flushed cheeks and her curls around her face as he lifted her down from that branch. It was all he could do not to kiss her right there and he thought that she might not be unwilling as well.
    “There she is. Thank goodness.” Harriet was nodding her head towards the doorway. He looked up and immediately stiffened, a pain stabbing at his gut.
    Lucy stood at the entrance to the room and she was beautiful. She outshone every other woman in the room.  Her dress was an icy blue, covered with little pearls that matched the pearls strung through her chestnut hair. Her skin was pale and she looked like the queen of winter, remote and disdainful of those who turned to look at her. Her slender arm rested on the sleeve of that black-hearted James Lennox who was supposed to be doing his ducal duties on his estates which in Aubrey's estimation should be far away.
    Aubrey clenched his fists as Harriet and George moved forward to greet the new arrivals. Lucy was smiling and looking up at Carlisle, that great buffoon, her eyes alight with triumph. She was making a point of ignoring him, but he knew that she was aware of his presence in the group.
    "Carlisle, I had no idea that you were back in town." Aversley was genial and welcoming. "I thought that you had left for the season."
    The tall man almost blushed and looked down at Lucy. "Yes, that had been my intent, but I received a request that I could not and would not refuse."
    Lucy lowered her eyelashes and put her hand over her mouth as she tittered, then batted her eyelashes at Carlisle. Aubrey couldn't believe his eyes. Lucilla Blount had never flirted a day in her life. She was appallingly bad at it, but the big lout straightened and patted her arm, seemingly oblivious to the falsity of her manner.
    Aversley looked sideways at his betrothed and Harriet responded with a shrug. “Your Grace, I don’t believe you have met our good friend, Viscount Lovell. Lovell, this is His Grace, the Duke of Carlisle.”
    Carlisle inclined his head, but Lucy pulled his attention away by tugging on his arm.
    “Carlisle, I am dreadfully thirsty. Can we get some ratafia? Please?” Lucy crooned at the Duke. At this point even Carlisle was looking askance at her.
    “Of course, my dear, in just a moment. I would like to speak to Lovell here for the nonce.”
    Lucy’s eyes widened and Harriet rushed forward and took her arm. “Aversley, would you please get us something to drink while Lady Lucilla and I take a moment in the repairing room? I need her help with something, a flounce.” Harriet was flustered, but she sailed off arm-in-arm with Lucy while George gave a short bow and went off to do her bidding.
    Carlisle was just a few inches taller than him and Aubrey hated that. He waited for Carlisle to say whatever it was that he wanted to say, but the man just stood there and looked him up and down. Aubrey risked a peek to see the back of Lucy’s head as Harriet dragged her up the stairs to the next floor where the retiring room was situated.
    “Have you known Lady Lucilla long?”
    Carlisle's voice startled Aubrey and brought his focus back to the man. Apparently, the big buffoon was not as dull as he appeared.
    “Her brother’s lands run along the boundary of my own estate. We have known each other since we were children,” Aubrey replied.
    “And you have just arrived back from the continent?”
    “Yes, I was in Italy for five years.” Aubrey was getting irritated at the Duke’s inquisition, but there was not much he