When the butler disappeared inside a door along the corridor, Miss Lockhart glanced around at her surroundings, and Lucius had a chance to study her more closely. Despite the fact that her eyes were too close together to label her a beauty, her slender nose and sweet mouth lent her quite a pretty appearance, and when she tilted her chin inquisitively, it revealed a willowy neck and a neat chignon just visible when she turned her profile toward him.

Miss Lockhart had not complained about the cold, although the tips of her nose and ears were red. She didn’t spare him another glance, and with her attention off him, Lucius wondered just what she made of her new circumstances. Neither spoke, and when, minutes later, the door opened, it was Lucius’s sister, Maria—not the butler—who exited the room to fetch Miss Lockhart. Lucius bit back an oath.

"Lucius!" Maria Holbeck advanced into the room and held out both her hands. He kissed them dutifully, attempting to hide the scowl that threatened to form. Any last hopes of having a New Year untroubled by further family obligations were quashed by this unexpected encounter. Maria had told him she and her husband would be remaining with their family at St Albans.

Maria turned to Miss Lockhart with a calculating look. "Lady Harrowden told me she was expecting you, and we were both wondering what could have happened to the coach. What a charming…coincidence that you fell into the hands of my brother. I will bring you to Lady Harrowden.”

Maria had gestured Miss Lockhart forward, but she turned back and gave Lucius a penetrating glance. “I know you had hoped to be left quite alone, but I believe fate has aligned itself against you. Since you are here, you may save me the trip to your house and say that you are happy to attend the Twelfth Night ball for which I will be sending out invitations."

Lucius turned to follow Miss Lockhart, keeping his voice even. “I have no plans to attend any balls. It’s why I came to my hunting box.”

"Life is often not what we planned," Maria replied austerely.

How true that was for Miss Lockhart. Lucius was sure it was not by her own choice that she left her family to come serve as companion to a cantankerous old woman. However, Lucius should hope he had more control over his destiny than that. At least, that’s what he spent most of his energy trying to secure. To be left in peace and comfort—that was all he asked. And if that was true for him at age thirty, Lucius didn’t imagine it changing as he aged.

He should go now—he had no desire to see Lady Harrowden. But there was something that compelled him to remain for Miss Lockhart’s sake. He was curious to know what would become of her.

Miss Lockhart stopped in her tracks with his sister at her side and turned to look at Lucius, her head held high. She opened her mouth to speak.