She shrugged. “No need to be sorry. It’s harsh but true. Our lands are mortgaged and we’ve dismissed most of our servants.” Frances knew she shouldn’t be telling anyone these things, but somehow, she felt safe with Mr. Lucas. Somehow, she felt as if she could tell him anything and he wouldn’t judge it.
“If that’s the case, then the bill would help to put more money back in your father’s pocket,” Mr. Lucas continued.
“My father’s pocket is empty because he’s gambled everything away. I’d rather put money in the pocket of the hardworking servants he’s forced out onto the streets.”
Mr. Lucas’s voice lowered, and a note of regret sneaked in. “Is it that bad?”
She lifted her chin and looked away. She refused to cry but she had to blink back tears. “We have only Albina and Mrs. Wimberly left.”
He leaned forward and touched her hand. Fire shot up her arm. “I’m sorry, Frances.”
It was the first time he’d called her by her Christian name. She wanted to do the same. She blinked away the tears once more. “It’s fine. We’ll be fine.” She tried to paste a fake smile on her face. “It occurs to me, I don’t know your Christian name.”
He glanced away, not meeting her gaze and waited a few moments before he said, “Lucas is my Christian name.”
She frowned. “What? Why didn’t you tell me? Here I’ve been calling you Mr. Lucas all this time.”
“I thought it would be too forward of me to correct you. Not to mention I shouldn’t have given you my Christian name to begin with.”
“What’s your surname then?” she asked.
He glanced away. His gaze scanned the room. “Uh, it’s…Wood. Lucas Wood.”
She nodded. “Well, that’s easy to remember. Now, Lucas, you must tell me, you cannot possibly be in favor of the law.”
He scratched the back of his neck. “There are many aspects to it that perhaps you, I mean, we don’t know about.”
Still sitting, she pressed her fists to her hips. “Oh, please don’t tell me that. I’ve heard it all before. Mention an aspect of the bill and I’ll tell you precisely how much I know about it.”
They spent the next half hour poring over every single point of the law. Frances had to admit that for a footman, Lucas was quite well versed on the details of the legislation. For every one of her arguments, he brought up a counter point that a nobleman ‘might’ argue.
“You’re far too influenced by your employer, I fear,” she finally announced.
“Why do you say that?” His brow furrowed once more.
She tossed up a hand in frustration. “Lucas, you’re in service. Don’t you see how this bill does nothing but keep you and your future children in service?” She blushed. “My apologies. I am making assumptions about you. Such as that you intend to have children.”
“I would very much like to,” he replied quietly, searching her face.
She felt her blush deepen. Good heavens, why had she mentioned his nonexistent children? “Well, then, can’t you see how such a bill does nothing for your good?”
Lucas looked out the window, slowly drawing one finger in a circle along the desktop. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. The House of Lords has the power to defeat this law, but they only vote in favor of themselves and their own purses.”
His gaze met hers again. “You’re not in service, my lady, can you tell me why you’re so interested in seeing it defeated?”
“Because,” she said quietly, turning to stare out across the garden and meadow beyond the windows. “I care about fairness and what is right. I care about other people more than myself and my own interests.”
Lucas’s voice lowered. “You think anyone espousing the bill only cares about their own interests?”
Her nostrils flared. “I don’t see how they cannot. It certainly isn’t helpful to the hardworking people who’ve been in their employ for years, sometimes generations.”
“I’m certain some members of the House of Lords do oppose the law,” he pointed out.
“Not nearly enough,” Frances replied. She still wasn’t entirely certain if Lucas was for the bill or if he was just arguing the point in order to rile her, but either way there were few things she liked better than discussing the laws.
He clasped his hands in front of himself and steepled his fingers. “Do you know the members of Parliament who are for and against the law?”
“No,” she replied. “But I can guess at some of them and I understand there are still a handful who are as yet undecided. Those are the men I intend to look for the next time I’m in Society.”
Lucas looked as if he were about to say something but shut his mouth before finally saying, “You truly think you can sway them?”
“I’ve no idea but I know I must try,” she replied with a resolute nod.
“You’re certain you’re right, aren’t you?” he asked, narrowing his eyes on her.
“I’m beyond certain.”
He appeared to contemplate that for a moment.
She wanted to grab him and shake him. Instead, she leaned toward him. “Lucas, do you hear me? Am I making you think?”
He looked lazily into her eyes and his gaze focused on her mouth. Oh, God. He was going to kiss her again…and she wanted him to. “You’re making me think about all sorts of things.” He leaned closer, closer and his eyes began to close. Frances leaned closer too and when their lips touched, he immediately came out of his chair, pulling her atop him onto the thick carpet on the floor next to the table.
He rolled atop her and pressed himself against her while showering her face and neck with kisses.
This was madness. Someone might come in at any moment and find them, but Frances couldn’t make herself care enough to stop. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held him to her, her legs parting as far as they could beneath her skirts.
His mouth slid down to her
