Even though she nodded, he could see the disappointment in her eyes. “Of course,” she said. “Will you meet me here tomorrow?”
“I…yes, I will. Tomorrow.” His voice sounded melancholy, hoarse. He would do at least that much for her, promise to see her one last time. Say good-bye.
“Lucas, are you all right?” She bent her head to look at him. He was staring unseeing at the tabletop.
He lifted his gaze to hers. “Will you promise me you won’t go looking for Lord Kendall again?”
Her sharp intake of breath made him look up. “No, Lucas. I cannot promise you that. Please don’t ask me to.”
He nodded. “You have to do what you must.” He stood, pushed his chair beneath the table, and turned toward the door. Guilt gripped his heart. He began to walk away slowly.
“Lucas, wait,” she called.
He turned on his heel to face her. She’d already caught up to him and was standing directly behind him when he turned. “You cannot leave without a kiss.”
She lifted herself up on her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and touched her lips to his.
Chapter Twenty
This kiss was unlike the others she’d shared with Lucas. At first, he seemed frozen, unwilling to participate. Frances was just about to release him and beg his pardon for mistaking the matter when she felt his resistance give way. His arms snaked around her back and he pulled her tightly against him, his mouth slanted over hers, his tongue sliding hot, wet, and warm, deep into the recesses of her mouth.
Relief swept through her. Thank heavens. She hadn’t been mistaken. He wanted this as much as she did. Desire coursed through her body. His large frame was trembling when his hand reached up to cup her breast and—
The library door creaked open.
They jumped apart immediately, each taking a large step back. But they were breathing heavily and no doubt looking exceedingly guilty when Albina, of all people, stepped into the room.
The moment Albina saw the two of them together, her eyes narrowed to slits for the barest hint of a moment before returning to their vacant stare.
“There ye are, Mr. Lucas. I’ve been looking for ye,” Albina called.
Frances watched as the maid came waltzing up to Lucas as if it was perfectly normal for her to have just found her employer and the man she fancied standing conspicuously alone in the library together, panting.
Frances scrambled to think of something relevant to say. “What are you doing here, Albina?” It wasn’t a particularly remarkable question, but it was the first thing that sprang to mind.
Albina turned innocent blue eyes to Frances and blinked at her. “I’ve a message for Mr. Lucas from Lord Clayton.”
Frances watched in disbelief as Albina made a show of pulling a slip of paper from between her breasts. She clearly intended for Lucas to watch. Appalled at the maid’s shocking lack of decorum, Frances stood with her mouth open, staring at Albina. For his part, Lucas shifted from foot to foot, scratching at the back of his neck, and looking nothing if not entirely uncomfortable.
“Here it is,” Albina announced, handing the slip of paper to Lucas. “Lord Clayton gave me this ta give ta ye.” She laughed and placed her hand atop her décolletage again. “O’ course, I don’t mind coming ta look fer ye, Mr. Lucas.” She eyed him up and down and licked her lips.
Frances smoothed her hand over her hair and cleared her throat, still trying to make sense of the situation. “Albina, why did Lord Clayton give you the note for Mr. Lucas instead of one of his own servants?”
Albina snort-laughed. “I don’t think he realized I weren’t one of his maids, milady. And I’m supposin’ there weren’t no footmen available at the time.”
Frances pressed her lips together. The entire situation was odd, but Lucas was already reading the note from Lord Clayton and it appeared to be legitimate. “Is everything all right?” she asked, searching his face for some clue as to the note’s contents.
“Everything is fine, but I must go,” Lucas replied. “Lord Clayton needs me.”
“Of course.” Frances nodded.
Lucas bowed to Frances and thanked Albina for bringing him the note before striding quickly from the room.
Frances stood next to Albina and watched him go, her lips still burning from his kiss. She wanted to know if the maid had seen their embrace, but it would hardly be appropriate to ask. Besides, Frances had already got the distinct impression that if Albina hadn’t seen anything, she certainly had suspected that she’d interrupted something.
Another tug of guilt pulled at Frances’s conscience at the memory of Albina telling her that she fancied Lucas. It was madness, but Frances actually felt jealousy, too. She was jealous that Albina was more entitled to him than she was. Frances certainly had no business kissing him. Oh, when had she got involved in such a complicated mess?
“I told ye he were a fine specimen o’ a man, didn’t I, milady?” Albina finally asked, rocking back and forth on both heels, her hands clasped together in front of her.
“Indeed, you did,” Frances replied feeling both awkward and guilty at the same time. How else could she possibly respond to that statement?
“But he is a footman, milady,” Albina continued, and this time Frances did not mistake the sly, warning look on the maid’s face.
Frances dropped her head to her palm and sighed. “I know, Albina.” Oh, how well she knew.
Chapter Twenty-One
Lucas hurried up the stairs to Bell’s fourth floor bedchamber. The note from Clayton had been a request to seek him out there as soon as possible. By the time he arrived, all three of his friends were already in the room. Bell sat on the cot. Clayton sat in the chair in front of the small desk, and Worth sat atop the deep window ledge.
“Ah, if it isn’t the elusive Earl of Kendall,” Clayton said the moment Lucas entered the room and shut the door behind
