Love Engineered by Jenna Dawlish Page B

her? It had been a long time since he had truly admired a woman.
    A short time later, he was pleased when she approached him again.
    “Mr Lucas, you and I are much the same, I feel.”
    He looked down at her with a smile. “How so?”
    “Well, we both have many livelihoods under our care and yet, we do not have the inclination to deal with those things that our dependents need us most for,” she replied.
    “You do not care to sort out the details of these people's lives?”
    “If I had a choice, no. But, alas, it's my duty to do these things. I was born to it, whether I like it or not, and very often I would prefer to not have the worry of it all.”
    “I can't say I've ever wished to be one of my workers,” he acknowledged.
    “You are stern with them?”
    “Not that I'm aware of. A good principal engineer must gain his men's respect and prepare to get his hands dirty helping them. It's something I do whenever I can.”
    “You like getting your hands dirty?” She raised her eyebrows and there was a sparkle in her eye.
    “Yes I suppose I do.”
    His mind ran to the image of this immaculately dressed lady in front of him helping move cows, or reaping wheat. He was sure she would never help her farmers in such a way. He suppressed his amusement at the thought of her knee deep in mud and turned the conversation to something she had previously said. “But I'm surprised to hear that you lack such an inclination to care for your tenants, it's something that you have never betrayed in anything you have said before.”
    “What I wish for and what I have to do differ.”
    The brothers left shortly afterwards, leaving Jane and Louise to themselves. She was sorry he was gone, even though their conversation had been vexing at times. He seemed to blow hot and cold. Perhaps the pressure of work had left him irritable.

Chapter 5
    A few weeks later, Charles hurried through the drizzling rain to his offices. He took the shortest route – behind a small parade of shops to a part of town where the rent was as modest as the building itself. Most days there were a constant flow of visitors, contractors, workers, and other tradesmen, all party to the projects the partners undertook. Today, the rain seemed to be keeping them away and he entered the offices without hindrance.
    The junior clerks and engineers were already at their desks, neatly organised but cramped. They acknowledged the senior partner, then went back to their work.
    Charles had his own office, and some time later he was seated behind his desk writing when the door flew open. Ashton hurried in and waved a card. “Today is a day to celebrate!” he grinned.
    “Why?” Charles said, not looking up until he had finished his sentence.
    “Because our invitation to Miss Thomas's Engineers’ Dinner has just arrived.”
    He handed the printed card to Charles, who studied it briefly before he handed it back.
    “That is the date we were supposed to be meeting Mr Tyler about the steel order,” Charles said in a nonchalant tone.
    “Hang Mr Tyler. I will write to him straight away and change the date. We cannot refuse. If word got out we vetoed Miss Thomas we would never live it down. Indeed, there are several people who will be green with envy when they know we have been invited. I shall try and happen upon them accidentally as soon as I can.”
    Charles frowned. “Can you not go on your own?”
    “Certainly not! The invitation is specific, it's you and I who are invited.” He wagged his finger at his partner. “You're not getting out of this one, however much you would like to!”
    “What if I were ill?”
    “I'd still drag you there.”
    “Dead?”
    “Stop it. You are going and that is final.”
    “But I have seen so much of Miss Thomas lately that I'm growing uncomfortable seeing her,” Charles said with a sigh and sank down into his chair. “She will start to believe the only reason I speak to her is to further my reputation and work.” The truth was, he