Hugh snorted.
“The day I need tips from you on what to do with a woman, is the day hell freezes over.”
Lucas didn’t respond with a witty rejoinder the way Hugh expected him to. Hugh watched Lucas closely.
Something was… off.
And he suspected it had a lot to do with the icy Lady Bright.
“Luc,” Hugh began hesitantly, not entirely sure how to broach the subject. “You’re starting to seem… taken … with the lady. Like your interest lies in something other than seduction and battle.”
Hugh watched the panic momentarily flare in his brother’s eyes, before Lucas schooled his features into impassivity once more.
“You’re wrong,” he said softly, and his tone told Hugh more than anything else that he was most definitely not wrong.
Oh, God. This was a bloody disaster.
Hugh groaned aloud and shook his head.
“’Tis painful to watch you fall, brother,” he said, “but I will not follow you on your descent to Hades.”
“Oh, calm down Hugh. You are becoming hysterical.” Lucas was enjoying this far, far more than he should.
Hugh snatched the tumbler of brandy that Lucas held out to him and downed the contents in one gulp.
“You’re asking me to spend an evening in a darkened maze with the little viper just so you can seduce her sister, am I right?”
Lucas’ smile widened.
“Come now, you’re not going to try and make me believe it will be a hardship? Moonlight, darkened corners, nobody around to witness your actions?” Lucas asked cajolingly. “We’ve all seen your interest in her, Hugh. You may as well have a sign painted.”
Hugh suppressed a shudder.
“Usually I wouldn’t hesitate to agree with you wholeheartedly, brother. But the lady we’re talking about is Louisa Bright. Moonlight, darkened corners and no witnesses is not only a perfect setting for seductions…” Hugh swallowed noisily, “…it’s also perfect for a murder.”
Scowling at Lucas’ raucous laughter following his statement, Hugh turned his back to look out of the window that overlooked the formal gardens, and stopped dead.
Was that Louisa?
He squinted and stepped closer to the window.
Sure enough, there was her golden head bobbing up from the bushes.
What on earth was she doing?
He watched in amused captivation as she spied him standing by the window and raised a hand to beckon him outside.
“What has caught your attention?” Lucas asked, stepping over to stand at Hugh’s shoulder.
Hugh watched as Louisa’s eyes widened a split second before her head disappeared once more. He could assume, then, that she didn’t want his brother knowing she was out there.
Biting back a grin, he turned to Lucas to make his excuses.
“Nothing, I just fancy a walk.”
Lucas’ eyebrow rose in disbelief.
“You? Walk?”
“Yes, me walk,” Hugh huffed. “It’s not that bloody unusual.”
Lucas frowned but thankfully didn’t question him any further, and Hugh swept from the room and dashed toward the garden.
Just what was the little hoyden up to now?
“WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?” Louisa snapped more sharply than she intended. She’d been trying to get Hugh’s attention for an age, watching furtively from the bushes like a thief in the night, not to mention getting tangled in twigs and branches.
“A thousand apologies, my lady,” he responded sarcastically, “but I couldn’t very well announce to Lucas that there was a young woman, desperately awaiting me in the bushes, could I?”
Louisa’s temper flared at his tone.
“How nice for you, to finally have a woman actually want your attention,” she said sweetly.
His answering grin could have melted the frost surrounding them and Louisa suddenly felt unaccountably warm.
“Believe me, sweetheart,” he said softly, “I’ve never had a problem with women not wanting me.”
The arrogant swine.
This ridiculous conversation had gone on long enough.
“Much as I enjoy tales of your exploits whilst stuck in your mother’s shrubberies, I would rather speak plainly, farther away from the house,” she bit out snippily, refusing to acknowledge his inappropriate and wildly flirtatious comment. “And I’m not your sweetheart.”
He seemed to know he’d affected her however, as he chuckled softly before offering Louisa his arm.
Louisa placed her hand lightly on his navy blue superfine and fought valiantly to suppress the shiver of awareness that coursed through her body.
Gracious. This wouldn’t do. The last thing the man by her side and his ego needed was to be made aware of her reaction to him.
They walked in silence until they reached the walled garden beyond the shrubs and flowers.
This would afford them privacy to talk. Just talk.
“So.” Hugh was the first to break the silence. ”Why were you peeking at me from the bushes?” he asked casually.
Immediately, Louisa’s teeth were set on edge.