Chapter 47

When Lucien came down to breakfast late the next morning, he noticed both Horatia and Charles were missing.

"Where is Charles?" he asked, stopping himself short from asking about Horatia as well.

Cedric glanced up from his plate. "He's taken Horatia riding in Hyde Park to exercise my Arabians."

"Oh?" A stab of jealousy lanced through him like a hot poker. The idea of Horatia with someone elseespecially Charlesmade his vision turn crimson.

Audrey was quieter than usual. Her youthful gaiety, which so often amused him when he was over, seemed to be absent.

Cedric seemed to have noticed it as well. "I say, what's gotten into you, my dear? First Horatia is in a fit of the blue-devils, and now you are quite Friday-faced."

It was no secret that Cedric didn't like to see his sisters unhappy. It was something Lucien understood all too well. He had a sister of his own, and seeing her upset always set his teeth on edge.

"I wished to go shopping today, but Horatia went riding and you've bus