And of nothing.
She swallowed hard to quell another laugh.
“Now, now,” her mother was saying. “If he prefers your sister...”
“PrefersLydia?” Imogene’s tone suggested her mother had just claimed that this handsome viscount planned to murder Lydia, it was that aghast.
Her mother’s smile was rueful. “I only want my girls to be happy...”
“Mother,” Imogene snapped. “He is mine, andshecan’t have him.”
She stabbed a finger in Lydia’s direction and finally Lydia opened her mouth to defend herself.
“I didn’t,” she started.
Her mother and Imogene ignored her as her mother chastened Imogene to lower her voice which led to them both hissing under their breath to one another.
Lydia cleared her throat and tried again. “He...it was not...Captain.”
Oh yes, that clears everything up. Well done.
But at least her mother was turning toward her with some interest.
“Hogan,” she added.
Yes. Much better.
She nearly rolled her eyes, she was so exasperated with herself.
But her mother at least seemed to understand. Her expression cleared and she smiled as she nodded, like she was agreeing with a simpleton. “Yes, dear. Captain Hogan. That was what your father called him before he became the heir to the earldom, of course.”
Lydia’s heart tumbled and her stomach churned. “But...”
“He now has the honorary title of Viscount Galena,” her mother added. With a gentle look of chastisement she added, “But we did agree that your sister would be the one to make that match.” She seemed to think that over. “If he chooses her.”
“Mother!” Imogene shrieked.
Everyone around them turned to stare and her mother shushed Imogene again, while Lydia flushed with a mix of embarrassment and confusion.
What had he been playing at? Why introduce himself as Captain Luke Hogan if he was now Viscount Galena?
Was he trying to trick her?
Her belly tossed and turned, and thinking became difficult as blood rushed to her skull.
Had he been making a fool of her somehow?
Had he known who she was all along...?
Oh, of course he had. Why else would he mention working at the Home Office with her father.
He’d known and he’d been teasing her.
Her breathing grew ragged.
He’d been toying with her like a cad.
Her hand went to her heart which fluttered like a sail in the wind and for half a moment she feared her childhood illness was back. The weak heart and the dizziness that made simply standing a difficult feat...
