Someone was here!
Panicking, she shoved Hugh away from her, or at least tried to, and spun round to face whoever it was.
“Louisa, is that any way to treat a suitor?” Meredith was grinning, seeming highly amused.
Louisa felt a wave of relief. If it was only Meredith and Lucas then they were safe. Neither of those two were in any position to judge.
“You!” She breathed in relief. ”I thought it was someone important.”
“Just me,” Meredith responded, looking meaningfully at Lucas who looked far too amused for Louisa’s liking.
“Need help brother? With the way she shoved you I can’t exactly tell if you were doing something wrong, or very right.” Lucas laughed now.
“Something very right.” Hugh smiled in return, sounding as smug as she’d ever heard him. She rolled her eyes at him.
“I’m afraid that they have never outgrown their overconfidence.” Meredith said. She seemed far too comfortable with this whole situation. Louisa would rather the ground opened up so she could slip away.
“Indeed,” she responded, glaring at Hugh who still looked entirely too pleased with himself.
Didn’t he understand what had just happened? They’d been caught!
“Well, would you two like to be the first to know?”
As Lucas spoke, he moved and wrapped his arms around Meredith.
Louisa’s breath caught in her throat.
“First?” she managed, her eyes darting between her sister and Lucas.
“The first,” he repeated, “aside from all of our parents, of course. I have to do a few things according to decorum, you understand. Can’t be a rebel all the time.”
Were they going to announce a betrothal?
She was horrified at the spike of jealousy she suddenly felt.
She turned to glance at Hugh in confusion and was touched when he lifted his hand and gave her shoulder a squeeze of support.
“You can tell us now,” Hugh said to Lucas.
“I’ve decided that the best way to make peace, was to simply make love.”
“What?” Louisa demanded at the same time as Hugh.
It had actually happened? They were to marry?
“Lucas!”
Meredith scolded but her face was flushed, and the picture of pure happiness.
Lucas laughed unrepentantly.
“I’m simply stating that Meredith has agreed to bless me with the honor of being my countess,” he confirmed.
Louisa felt her heart stop.
Here it was; the thing she’d wanted to prevent.
“Meredith!” she exclaimed.
Looking over her shoulder once more, she saw that Hugh was watching her, his expression intense. She knew he was waiting to see if she would object or stick to her word and give her blessing.
She also knew that he would be disappointed should she cause a scene, and, suddenly, the thought of displeasing him was unbearable.
So, without another second’s hesitation, she moved the pompous earl out of the way and threw her arms around her sister.”I am both shocked and yet not,” she smiled through sudden tears.
Meredith looked ecstatic.
How could this be a bad thing?
“Sara is going to be in a fit,” Meredith replied and Louisa could see that she was genuinely concerned.
Time to be the dutiful sister.
“Perhaps,” she confirmed, because there was little point in denying it. ”But it will be entertaining to watch at least.”
“Well, I must say I’m impressed with how quickly you work, old man.” Hugh looked genuinely happy for his brother, and as he shook Lucas’s hand, he turned and gave her a wink. He looked proud and it warmed her heart in ways she couldn’t describe.
“YOU’LL BE EVEN MORE impressed when you discover that she agreed to marry me at the Frost Ball.” Lucas was speaking, and Hugh was surprised at the envy that suddenly shot through him. He wished that it was him making the announcement about he and Louisa, and he felt a cad for it.
“Don’t tell me you’ve already secured a special license as well!” he asked, feeling concerned for Louisa.
She’d been a real sport but he knew that this must be difficult.
“Not yet, but I’ll make quick work of that as well.” Lucas simply shrugged in his typical fashion.
Hugh couldn’t blame him. Generally speaking, when the Mayford men wanted something, they made it happen.
Louisa was smiling and looked genuinely happy for her sister, but there was a hint of something in her eyes, a slight tightening around her mouth, and he suddenly wanted to get her out of there so she could react whatever way she needed to, away from the happy couple.
“Then we will leave you to your celebrating.” Hugh grasped Louisa’s hand and made to move away.
“No, no, why doesn’t Louisa come with me? It’s time we retired.” Meredith reached out and grasped Louisa’s other hand.
Hugh had only just started kissing her, for God’s sake. And he hadn’t even gotten to propose. Or confess his feelings.
He wasn’t giving her up that easily.