Page 22 of Lady Farah Creates a Scandal (The Season of Secrets #2)

Farah watched him go. He did indeed look upset. He’d known this was her situation once he’d found her on his ship. She looked back at Caitria and saw Lucien leaning in the doorway, his daughter in his arms. He stared at her with an intensity that unsettled her.

Caitria slipped her arm through hers and said, “Let us take a walk, just the two of us.”

She looked back at Rockwell, but he was still striding to the bow. As the ladies walked, Caitria sighed. “Lucien is interested in you and I think that has unsettled Lord Ware.”

Embarrassment singed Farah’s cheeks. “I’m not interested in Lord Furoe like that. And Rockwell won’t care. He’ll see it as a solution to my scandal.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. Perhaps you could take advantage of the situation?”

“I’m not sure what you’re inferring.”

Caitria laughed. “Yes, you do. Make Lord Ware jealous. Make him fall in love with you and then you have the answer to your situation. If there is a scandal, you can marry the man who loves you.”

“Oh, you make that sound so easy. Rockwell’s mistress is the sea. How am I to compete with that?” she said sardonically.

“Easy. Make him love you more.”

It was so easy for Caitria to say, but she did not know how to do that. “If it’s that easy, why haven’t you made Lucien fall in love with you?”

Caitria’s teasing manner fled. “Because I have more to lose. I love Ava-Marie like my own child. I’ve raised her since she was not quite one year old.

If I fail, he would likely send me home to Cork and I’d lose her too.

And now…well, he’s a viscount with an earl for a father, and I’m not a lady.

” She stared Farah in the eye. “You and I are in different places and you have nothing to lose but plenty to gain.”

Her heart went out to her new friend. Caitria was right. Lucien needed to marry for money. “Are you calling me a coward?”

“Perhaps. But I’m not in a position to judge. Only you can decide if you’re running away.”

They walked in silence, the gulls crying overhead the only sound.

If she were to win Rockwell’s heart, she’d have to draw from something deep inside.

She looked toward the bow and saw Rockwell helping a sailor with some ropes.

Her pulse quickened solely from looking at his tousled hair and tanned muscled arms. When she thought about his naked body…

she was aware of him with every nerve of her body.

As if sensing her gaze, he looked her way.

The very air seemed to vibrate between them.

He straightened, watching her intently, silently reminding her of all the wanton things they had done during this adventure, the incredible passion they had shared.

His glance was so spellbinding, she found it impossible to tear her gaze away.

“See,” Caitria whispered. “He’s drawn to you, too. I don’t think it would take much to make him realize he needs you more than the sea.”

She continued to watch him as they walked on. She chewed on her bottom lip and thought long and hard. What did she have to lose?

Only her heart!

“And how on earth would I go about making a man like Rockwell, who likely has a woman in every port, fall in love with me?”

“Well, perhaps let him think you are interested in Lucien.”

She shook her head. “That would not be fair to Lucien. And it might give him the wrong idea.”

“Not if you told him your plan and asked him to help.”

“Oh, I couldn’t do that.” Could she? “I suppose it would stop this silly infatuation of his if I told him I wanted to win Rockwell’s heart.” She rounded on Caitria. “Is that why you suggested it?”

The Irish woman shrugged. “Not solely, but it would give Lucien a chance to fit into his new life without complications. It might make him look at someone under his very nose.”

Farah stopped walking and faced Caitria. “You know he needs to marry for money. Plus, he has a fiancée. Lady Courtney, my friend. She’s mourned his death and has never married. She loves him.”

“Perhaps she loves a ghost? Do you think he’s the same man?”

“I didn’t know him very well, but no. He has definitely changed. But I still think he’s a good man.”

“Does Lucien know about Courtney?”

“Yes.”

“Yet he’s still interested in you. That says a lot about where his mind is. Perhaps he wants to start anew. He’s a different man and he might want to let go of his past, as he’ll never remember it.”

Farah sank down to sit on a barrel. That had a ring of truth about it, but he was more likely afraid of what he was about to face and she was convenient.

“If that’s true, Courtney will be devastated all over again.

” She rubbed her forehead. “Everything is getting so complicated. So many people could end up getting hurt.” And now she was trapped between two friends, both wanting the same man.

A part of her thought Caitria suited this new Lucien better, but she wouldn’t help the family’s financial position.

Then there was Courtney… Courtney loved him so and could help him with her large dowry.

“I’ll think about your suggestion. But I won’t let him force me into a marriage if he doesn’t.”

“Don’t think for too long. You only have a few days, a week at the most, before we reach London.”