Lucas Read Online Free PDF

heard
over the years that their grandfather was too stubborn to allow them to visit?
How many times had they needlessly felt rejected by people they loved?
    Too many.
    He’d lied. What other
explanation could there be?
     

     
    The only empty bedroom
in the house that still had a bed was the one right across from Lucy’s.
    “What are you doing to
me, Liam?” she asked aloud, though under her breath.
    The idea of such a
beautiful man’s quarters so close to hers both thrilled and alarmed her. What
of propriety? She’d already been distracted from her duties all day just
thinking about Liam’s grandson and was worried that nothing would ever get done
with him around. And with all the festivities later in the week, there was
still plenty to do, despite the imposing weather.
    The back door opened
and closed. Instinctively, Lucy checked her reflection in the dark window’s
glass and immediately chastised herself for her vanity. Heavy footfalls against
the wooden floor set the pit of her stomach into chaos. Her plans for the day
had been disrupted by the storm and she wasn’t sure what to do with herself, so
she quickly escaped into the kitchen to help with supper, only to find Liam
seated at the head of the table.
    He looked up. “Ah,
Lucas, my boy. Sit. Sit.”
    Lucy’s brows furrowed
and she turned back to look over her shoulder.
    “Excuse me,” a deep,
resonant voice cooed in low tones from behind her. He cradled her elbow as he
guided her out of his path, making his way into the kitchen and to the Deardon-sized
dinner table. A tingling sensation rippled up her arms and over the whole of
her at his brazen touch.
    That will be enough of
that. You don’t know anything about this man.
    Of course she hadn’t
known anything about Gilroy Hearn either and she had committed to marry him
through a mere exchange of several letters over a relatively short period of
time. Look where that had gotten her. She stopped herself before mustering any
ill will. After all, something good had come of the situation. She should thank
Mr. Hearn for running off with the shop-keep’s daughter. She would have never
met Liam Deardon or his family had it not been for the cheat.
    Her thoughts were
interrupted when Liam coughed. His breathing had a slight wheeze to it and the
overall tone to his skin was pallid, even though his cheeks were flushed. She
didn’t know why she hadn’t seen it before. She guessed she had just been too
excited to see him after weeks of being away. But the robust man she’d come to
know and love, looked overly tired and she made a mental note to have a nice,
hot bath drawn and a fire stoked in his hearth. The man obviously needed some
rest after his journey.
    Cough.
    “Liam,” she asked as
she approached the table, “how long have you had that cough?”
    “Ah, don’t concern
yourself with me, Lucy Mae. It’s nothing.” He waved to her. “Come. Sit with us.
I was just going to talk to Lucas about my letters.”
    Lucy’s feet would not
move toward them. Couldn’t. She smiled apologetically. “I think we’ll just wire
the doctor first. I know he’s in Thistleberry today, but he has a new
apprentice,” she hoped that’s what he was called, “who I am sure can finish his
rounds in town. I’ll be right back.” She took a step toward Liam’s office.
    “If you’re already
headed all the way into town, why would you need to wire him?” Lucas asked, his
confusion understandable.
    Lucy wasn’t quite sure
how to respond.
    “I’m just heading into your
grandfather’s study.”
    “Are you telling me
that you have a telegraph here? In the house?” Lucas asked, awe and incredulity
apparent in his voice.
    She ignored him and
took another step.
    “Look outside, Lucy.”
Liam motioned toward the window. “I’m not going to risk him coming out in this
weather for a simple little cough. There is nothing he can do right now that a
cup of hot tea won’t cure.”
    “I’ll just put a pot on
the stove,