Ewan held his tongue. Much progress had been made in this meeting. But damn it! He’d sooner build a new hall of science for Lily than ever see her crawl before any man.
He sighed inwardly.
The girl was going to bankrupt him. New gowns, new spectacles, new books, and now a new building. Yes, bless her proud heart and love of science, she was going to leave him flat broke by the end of these three months.
All worth it.
Lily was not going to beg for any man. Not even him... unless it was to beg him to take her to bed. That would happen only in his fantasies. That did happen in his fantasies. Every aching night.
CHAPTER 12
LILY ARRIVED at Lotheil Court the following morning, uncertain what to expect after receiving Meggie’s note the evening before promising something of major importance today. Dillie, who was bored and looking for something to do, decided to come along even though the day was unusually cold and wet.
Lotheil’s staid butler opened the door, saw the two, and stared, wide eyed. It took him a moment to realize he wasn’t seeing double. “Good morning, Harding,” Lily said. “Miss Cameron is expecting us.”
He waved them in, taking their damp cloaks and hats, and started toward the visitors’ salon. “This way, ladies. I’ll ask if Miss Cameron is at home.”
“Of course she’s at home,” Lily whispered to her twin. “Isn’t it the most ridiculous expression? Where would she be at this early hour if not here?” She supposed it was more polite to be “not at home” to visitors one didn’t wish to see. Nicer than saying “Go away, she has better things to do than see you.”
“Harding!” Meggie called in an excited whisper from the top of the stairs. “Let them come up here. Now. Quickly! But do be quiet.”
He led them to the stairs and motioned upward, the put-upon look on his face showing his displeasure at having a pair of look-alike strangers meandering through the Lotheil private quarters. Not that Lily blamed him. What was so important to Meggie that she’d had them come over before noon and was now squealing and hopping excitedly like a frog on one leg?
It couldn’t be anything sinister, for Meggie was all smiles. She looked delightful in a cream-colored day gown trimmed in dark green velvet to match her gleaming eyes. Her chestnut curls bobbed up and down as she grabbed their hands and led them down the hall. “Quickly. This way.”
Lily held her back. “Why so secretive?”
“Be patient. You’ll see.”
She wasn’t one for games at this early hour, but how bad could this adventure be? Meggie wasn’t the wild and reckless sort. She was a sweet girl and painfully unsure of herself when out in society. For that reason, Lily decided to follow along even though the little hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end. She didn’t wish to undermine Meggie’s confidence. Any slip in etiquette could be corrected later.
“This way, and remember to be quiet.”
“Why so mysterious?” Dillie asked.
“Ewan’s shaving. I wanted Lily to be the first to see him.”
Lily came to a dead halt. “That’s it? The important event we simply couldn’t miss?” Did Meggie intend for them to burst in and catch him in the act? Lily had believed the utter disregard of privacy was an irritating trait unique to the Farthingales. Apparently, the Camerons had no respect for privacy either.
However, the thought of entering Ewan’s masculine domain sent tingles coursing through her body. The host of butterflies lying dormant in her stomach instantly awoke and began to flutter their wings in a frenzied whirl. “Oh, no. We can’t go in there. It’s impossible. Highly inappropriate.”
Meggie laughed. “I’m not attics-to-let. We’re not going to break into his chamber. We’ll wait in my room. He’s promised to show me the result once he’s done shaving.”
“All well and good, but he won’t expect to find me and Dillie with you. He won’t be pleased.”
“Oh, Lily, my brother won’t mind seeing you. He likes you, though he’d never admit it even if his life depended on it. He’d rather die at the hands of Napoleon’s army. But we know he’s doing this for you.”
He couldn’t possibly, Lily decided at once. She didn’t affect him in a this-woman-is-important-to-me way. She didn’t rouse butterflies in his stomach. Or make his heart beat a little faster with yearning. “I know you mean well, Meggie. I’m going downstairs to the library. Call me when he’s decent.”
Dillie cast her an impertinent grin. “I’ll wait with Meggie.”
Lily tipped her nose into the air. “Do as you wish.”