Lucia swallowed. She’d just declared her love, and it meant nothing to him. He was so afraid of appearing the fool, he couldn’t even acknowledge that he cared for her.
“I told you before, I don’t want a wife.” His icy voice sleeted down on her.
“Good, because I don’t want a rake—a man who chases every woman he sees because he’s too much of a coward to admit he cares for one.”
His jaw tensed. “I want you to marry Dandridge.”
“You’re lying!” she spat. “Don’t do this, Alex.” The anger rose in her voice. “Don’t do this.”
He turned away from her, reaching for the door handle.
“Very well,” she said. The raw fury in her voice echoed in the room, but he didn’t turn to face her. “Go play the hero or the rake or go to hell. Just go away from me, you lying bastard!” She picked up the ceramic bowl from the table beside her and hurled it at him. It hit the wall next to the door and splintered into pieces.
Alex did not even flinch. He nodded almost imperceptibly, opened the door, and walked out.
Lucia stared at the closed door and the scattered pottery pieces beside it. Then she picked up the water pitcher and, with a frustrated scream, hurled it with all her strength.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Dewhurst knocked at Ethan and Francesca’s town house in Grosvenor Square. It was early morning, still dark, and they’d just come from the prime minister’s, where, presumably, John was still informing Lord Pitt of Napoleon’s latest battle strategy.
Pocklington, Ethan’s valet, answered the door. Lucia had expected to be greeted by Ethan’s butler. Steed would have pretended her sudden appearance was nothing out of the ordinary. But Pocklington tsked and looked remarkably put out. He did not argue about waking Ethan, though. He merely uttered a pained sigh, and asked if Lord Dewhurst and Miss Dashing would be so kind as to wait in the drawing room.
In the drawing room, Freddie whispered loudly, “Brace yourself, Lucia. Your brother-in-law is a force to be reckoned with when his sleep has been disturbed.” He tugged at his cravat.
“Now is your chance to escape.” Lucia quirked an eyebrow.
He looked appropriately shocked. “Miss Dashing, you wound me! I would never desert a lady in danger.”
“And what danger is Lucia in now? Aside from my intention to murder her, that is.”
Lucia jumped, her heart racing. The voice had Alex’s velvety softness, and she spun around, her heart in her throat. Ethan looked so much like Alex that she felt weak at first. She stared at him intently, recovering only after he came into the light, the differences between the brothers becoming more apparent.
She was exhausted. That was the reason for her mistake, her overactive imagination. Ethan gave her a puzzled look, and with a sob, she ran to him, hugging him fiercely.
Ethan held her as she cried. “Lucia, calm down,” he said. “You’re safe now, and I’m not really going to murder you.”
“I know.” She sniffled. She allowed him to seat her on the couch, but Dewhurst remained standing.
“Is Alex with you?” Ethan asked when Lucia finally stopped crying.
“No.” She wiped her eyes. “He’s—oh, Ethan, I don’t know where he is!” She began to cry again. From the corner of her eye, she saw Ethan throw Freddie a questioning look. Freddie shook his head.
“I’ll have to fill you in later,” Freddie said. “If Miss Dashing is settled here, then I really must be going. I left Mr. Dashing with Wentworth and Pitt, and I know they’ll be anxious to speak to me.”
“I owe you,” Ethan said, glancing at Lucia. “More than you know.”
Freddie shrugged. “It was nothing, old boy.”
“It meant a lot to me.” Lucia embraced him. “Thank you, Freddie, I mean, Lord Dewhurst.” She smiled. “I appreciate all you never did for me during this time we didn’t spend together.”
Dewhurst laughed. “I would be honored not to assist you again anytime, Miss Dashing.”
She squeezed his hand and returned to the couch while Ethan escorted him out.
When Ethan returned, there was silence between them. Lucia did not particularly want to break it, but finally Ethan said, “Francesca’s away.”
“Where?” Lucia asked, surprised. She’d been wondering where her sister was.
