It was pancake day, and Lucas was excited. Very excited. But it was understndable. He didn't get to be around hi mother's family very often, and the only one he got to see with any frequency was Evelyn Dunstan, whom they were going to see now. And Evy had to be one of his favorite cousins as well. Older she might be, but she always treated Lucas well. It was sweet, and Miles had to admit that he was growing rather fond of her.
Having met at his wedding to Carmina, he hadn't realized his deceased wife had any family in England until then. He'd become entranced by her then. Interested in the slight, demure thing blinded by an idiotic prank. He'd felt protective of her then, and that protectiveness hadn't faded since then. He had, for a time, thought of her as a sister. After all, it was around that same time he had begun to draw close to his own sister. Now though, he wasn't so sure.
Especially upon entering the cafe and and spotting her. She was pretty, and he found himself attracted to her in a way that was not brotherly. Was it bad, perhaps, to set eyes on ones deceased wife's cousin? They hadn't been overly close, Carmina had died before really getting to know her English relations. And they really didn't look much alike. So it wasn't like he was imprinting on her. Not that now was the time to think of such things.
Lucas walked quickly over to Evy, having spotted her first. "Hello, Evy," he greeted, touching her shoulder slightly to show where he was before hugging her. Miles was pleased with how his son was growing up. Courteous and a perfect gentleman. "Where's Bella?"
"Indeed, where is Bella?" Miles was frowning as he took his turn to greet Evy. He knew how much the dog aided her, and he always felt worried when he saw her without the dog. Like Lucas, he touched her shoulder to show where he stood and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Thank you for allowing me to come along." He then sat across from her, leaving Lucas to the side of the four person table between them.