Page 25 of Lady Farah Creates a Scandal (The Season of Secrets #2)

A fter five long and tiring days, they thankfully made it to the outskirts of London just as night fell.

Darkness would hide her arrival home. Farah’s heart raced with anxiety.

She stole glances out of the window as they trundled through the streets near her home, half-expecting to see curious faces peeking out from behind curtains.

Or worse, society gossips ready to spread rumors like wildfire.

Ava-Marie had cried most of the day. The little girl had had enough of being cooped up in the carriage for the five days it had taken to cross England from the coast. There were only so many games of spot the sheep to play. As they reached Richmond, the little girl finally slept.

But it wasn’t the child’s sleep that muted the carriage.

Those within the carriage grew quiet as the enormity of what was about to unfold grew ever closer.

Rockwell and Lucien had decided to tell only Wolf that Lucien was alive, mainly to protect Farah.

If everyone gathered to watch their arrival, she would find it hard to slip inside unnoticed.

That was also one of the reasons they’d pushed on in the darkness.

Plus, everyone wanted to sleep in a nice bed for a change—and perhaps a bath!

As the carriage rolled to a stop in the secluded stable yard of Wolf’s family home, Farah’s pulse quickened with a mixture of relief and trepidation.

Wolf and Tiffany had done this for her, and she was very grateful.

She ignored the stab of guilt that Lucian’s family would have to wait a few more hours to learn the good news.

This was her chance to escape unnoticed, to evade the prying eyes of society and safeguard her reputation.

She cast a quick glance at Rockwell, who met her gaze with a reassuring nod. With practiced ease, he helped her down from the carriage, his touch sending a jolt of warmth through her despite the chill of the night air.

Pulling her cape’s hood over her head, Farah’s heart pounded in her chest as she followed Rockwell towards the servants’ entrance, her steps light and cautious.

The creak of the carriage as it made its way without her to the front of the house, rung through the air.

Every rustle of the wind seemed magnified in the night’s stillness, heightening her anxiety.

As they reached the unassuming door, Rockwell turned to her with a whispered promise.

“I’m pretty sure your secret will be safe,” he murmured, his voice low and urgent.

He hesitated before brushing his lips across her cheek.

“I shall never forget our adventure. Send me word if you need anything or if anyone learns of your part in Lucian’s return. ”

Nor will I ever forget. Farah nodded, her fingers trembling as she reached for the door handle.

With a silent prayer, she pushed open the door and slipped inside, her heart pounding in her ears.

She closed the door on Rockwell’s handsome face and tried to keep the tears away.

They would never again interact as they had on this trip.

She would never again feel his soft touch, succumb to his sensuous kisses, or run her hands over his muscular body.

Her heart clenched in her chest, the feeling of loss almost brought her to her knees.

But this was her choice. Her choice not to trap Rockwell in a marriage he didn’t want. She straightened to her full height and drew in a breath.

He would be a gentleman out of her reach.

They must act as society dictated. No overt familiarity.

Their casual ease of address, look, and touch was gone.

She prayed she could remember how to behave with him.

She shuddered to think how she would behave when Rockwell took a wife, or if he flaunted a mistress in front of her.

She moved onwards, as she would with her life, whatever her future held.

It wasn’t marriage to a man who would rather explore on the high seas.

The dim light of the servants’ quarters greeted her, casting long shadows across the room.

Farah paused for a moment, allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness, before hurrying towards the staircase that led to the upper floors.

Each step felt like an eternity as she ascended the staircase, her senses on high alert for any sign of discovery.

But the house remained eerily silent, its occupants sleeping soundly as Farah made her way to the safety of the bedchamber that Rockwell said Wolf had readied.

It was the bedchamber she’d spent the last fifteen days in sick with woman’s issues. Wolf’s staff were souls of discretion.

Finally reaching her room, Farah let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her shoulders sagging with relief. She had made it back to London without incident, her secret still safely guarded. Then why do I feel so out of sorts?

As she sank onto the edge of her bed, exhaustion washed over her, mingling with the lingering traces of fear and excitement.

She hurriedly crossed to where Ashley had her maid leave out a nightgown and robe.

She gave thanks that she’d thought to send her clothes ahead to keep up the charade of her illness.

Wolf had written that it would build her cover if she appeared with the rest of the family, surprised at Rockwell and Lucien’s return. Their big concern was Ava-Marie. Would she let anything slip? They decided Caitria would carry Ava-Marie straight to the nursery and bed.

She was just struggling with the hooks of her gown when there was a soft rap on the bedchamber door. She froze before she heard Ivy say, “Can we come in?”

“Of course. I need some help to disrobe.” Farah’s heart raced as she prepared to face Ashley and Ivy, Rockwell’s sisters, knowing she would have to navigate their questions with care and diplomacy. She straightened her posture, summoning all the poise and grace she could muster.

“Farah, my dear, you’re back!” Ashley exclaimed, her eyes alight with curiosity as she all but tumbled into the room swathed in a lilac robe of heavy satin. Ivy followed suit, her expression more reserved but no less inquisitive.

“Indeed, I am,” Farah replied with a warm smile, hoping to deflect questions until the men arrived. She could hear the carriage below. “It’s good to see you both again.”

Ashley’s brow furrowed with concern. “We’ve been worried sick about you, Farah. And Rockwell. How on earth did this happen?”

Farah’s heart skipped a beat at the directness of Ashley’s question, but she forced herself to remain composed.

“It’s a long story. I’ll explain later,” she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging within her.

“Can you help me get changed? We will need to go downstairs soon to meet the carriage.”

Ivy regarded her with a skeptical gaze, her intuition picking up on Farah’s evasiveness.

“I hope you weren’t trying to trap Rockwell,” she remarked pointedly.

“While I love you like a sister, I also love my brother and do not wish to see either of you hurt.” Then, having said her piece, she joined in with Ashley and the two friends helped her disrobe.

Ashley held out the nightgown for her to pull on.

“It’s true, I wanted Rockwell to help me with Lord Franklin, but I swear I did not deliberately set out to trap him,” Farah admitted, her voice tinged with regret. “Besides, if this plan goes smoothly, no one will be the wiser.”

Ashley and Ivy exchanged a knowing glance, their expressions unreadable as they seemed to silently communicate with each other. Farah held her breath, waiting for their response with bated anticipation.

Finally, Ashley spoke. Her tone softened with understanding. “Well, regardless of how it happened, we’re just glad to have you are both back safe and sound, Farah,” she said, her smile genuine. “But we can’t wait to hear your story. Wolf says he has a surprise for us.”

With a grateful smile, she returned Ashley’s embrace, her heart lighter, knowing she had the support of Rockwell’s family by her side. Then it struck her. She pulled back to stare at the two women. “Wolf didn’t explain who is in the carriage below?”

Ivy looked confused. “No. He explained about you and Rockwell and how we had to cover for you with Lord Franklin. Odious man. He called for the first two days until I had to tell him of your condition. It was so embarrassing. Then he’s simply sending flowers every day.”

She wrapped her robe tightly around her, then took both women’s hands. Her eyes filled with tears as she told them. “We found him.”

Ashley’s mouth was the first to fall open. “No.”

“Who?” Ivy asked.

“You found Lord Furoe. And he’s alive?”

She nodded as she watched Ashley’s eyes fill with tears. “We found him. He’s in the carriage and is about to be your visitor for the night.”

“What about Courtney? We have to send her a note immediately.”

At Ivy’s words, Farah gripped her arm as she tried to move round her to the writing desk. “No. His family first. He has no memory of anything before five years ago. He didn’t remember Rockwell, or his family, and—he doesn’t remember Courtney.”

That made Ivy burst into tears. “Poor Courtney. To have the man you love come back from the dead, only to not know you.”

“You can understand why we have told no one other than Wolf. Lucien is not the man you knew. He will need time to come to grips with this situation. Rockwell thought it best to wait until morning to meet with his family. And keep it small. Society will be aghast as soon as they learn he has returned. I suspect everyone will try to call upon him. It could be overwhelming for him.”

She wanted to explain more about Ava-Marie and Caitria but thought it best not to talk longer. “Let’s go downstairs and meet everyone.”

“Everyone? That sounds ominous,” Ashley said.

As she reached the door, she turned to them. “Remember to act surprised. You’re not supposed to know all of this.”