Page 26 of Lady Farah Creates a Scandal (The Season of Secrets #2)

With suppressed excitement, the three ladies made their way downstairs. They met Tiffany and Wolf on the second-floor landing. “You ladies will wait in the drawing room, please. I’ve organized refreshments but everyone will be tired, so we mustn’t keep them up long.”

She felt herself blush under Wolf’s gaze, but Tiffany merely hooked an arm through hers and drew her into the warmth of the fire crackling room. “Thank you for helping Rockwell. It must be hard on him. To find Lucien, but not find him, so to speak.”

“You’re not cross?” Farah asked.

“A woman has to do what she thinks is right for her and I understand it was an accident the way you ended up on his ship. But I was hoping there would be no sneaking home and there would be a marriage instead.”

Farah searched her friend’s eyes, but they held no judgment, merely disappointment.

“Rockwell is not the marrying kind.”

Just then, he appeared in the doorway and his eyes sought her out immediately. Tiffany drew in a sharp breath. “I wouldn’t be too sure of that.” Then Tiffany stiffened as Lucien appeared. His eyes sought Farah out, too. “Oh, dear. Courtney will not like that.”

Farah blushed, not even trying to deny Tiffany’s implication. “He’s latched on to me because I was kind to him. I’m the only lady he knows and I’ve accepted Ava-Marie. He’s anxious about his daughter, given her start in life.”

“Rockwell doesn’t like it, either. So maybe that’s a good thing. Might make him wake up to the fact he is going to make a mistake if he lets you…” Tiffany stopped talking and merely squeezed Farah’s arm.

Farah stood back as Ivy and Ashley rushed to embrace Lucien.

Farah’s gut tightened as she watched the man try to cope with meeting so many people who knew him but he didn’t recognize.

Ivy and Ashley drew him towards the settee and were soon hounding him with questions that he obviously didn’t wish to answer.

And the ladies hadn’t even met Ava-Marie or Caitria yet.

Rockwell gave Lucien an encouraging smile, almost as if wordlessly letting him know it would be worse tomorrow, when he met his family. Had Lucien decided what he’d tell everyone about where he’d been and how he’d been living his life?

Finally, Wolf said, “It’s very late and we are all tired and emotional from such a discovery. Lord Furoe, Taylor has organized a bedchamber and my valet is ready to serve you. He’s drawn you a bath.”

Lucien cleared his throat and put down the glass of brandy he’d been given. “I’d like to check on Ava-Marie and Caitria first.”

“Of course.” Wolf nodded. He indicated the butler waiting at the door. “Taylor, show Lord Furoe to his daughter’s nursery.”

As soon as the door had closed and Lucien could be heard walking upstairs, Ivy and Ashley rounded on Farah and both said together, “Daughter?”

Rockwell scolded his sisters before she could reply. “This is Lucien’s story to reveal. We do not involve ourselves in gossip. You’ll meet Ava-Marie in the morning, but we will give our friend time to adjust. And we will support him when he meets his family.”

“When will you alert Lord Danvers?” Tiffany asked.

“I sent a message that Wolf and I will call on the family tomorrow. We are going to take Lucien to his family home in the morning without Ava-Marie.” Rockwell walked to the fireplace and leaned on the mantle.

“He’s worried about the reception his daughter may receive,” Farah explained.

“Even though we’ve told him that his sisters will love his little girl, he can’t remember them and obviously wants to protect her.

Besides, it’s probably best that he goes alone so he can talk to his family about what occurred without worrying about his child.

Then he and his family can decide the story they wish the ton to learn. ”

“And what about Courtney? She’ll never forgive us if we don’t tell her. I’d hate for her to learn the news from someone else,” Ivy exclaimed.

Farah silently agreed, but it wasn’t really her place to dictate who and when Lucien wanted his return to become public knowledge.

Tiffany spoke up. “I think we should visit with Courtney while Rockwell, Wolf, and Lucien visit Lord Danvers and family. What do you think, dear?”

Wolf nodded. “I feel that is only fair, given she was his fiancée. But you must stress the importance of keeping the details secret until we understand how Lucien wishes to present himself to the world.”

Farah couldn’t hide a yawn. The past few days had been stressful, and she hadn’t slept well.

Tiffany rose and gathered the other ladies. “It’s been a long day. I think bed is the answer for us all. Tomorrow will be a stressful, yet such a happy day. Goodnight, gentlemen,” and before Farah had time to even say a goodbye to Rockwell, Tiffany had swept her out the door and up the stairs.

*

Rockwell Ware paced the richly appointed rug of his brother’s drawing room, his boots barely making a sound because of the thick yarn. The flickering light of the fireplace created shadows that danced along the walls. His mind was a tempest of thoughts, each one leading back to Farah.

He paused, listening to the muffled sounds of the household settling down for the night.

Farah was just upstairs, perhaps even lying awake, their recent escapade in Ireland undoubtedly occupying her thoughts as much as his.

He could see her in his mind’s eye—her delicate features framed by fair curls, her eyes alight with mischief and something more, something that called to him with an irresistible force.

He took a step toward the door, his resolve hardening. He had to see her, to speak with her, to reassure her that everything would be all right despite the scandal they had narrowly avoided.

Just as his hand reached for the doorknob, a hand landed heavily on his shoulder. Wolf. The Marquess of Wolfarth was a formidable presence, tall and broad shouldered, his expression as stern as ever. Rockwell’s hand fell back to his side.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Wolf’s voice was low, but it carried an unmistakable authority.

“Upstairs,” Rockwell replied, trying to keep his tone casual. “I need to talk to Farah.”

Wolf’s eyes narrowed. “No, you don’t. You have both clarified that a marriage is not your preference.

Continuing behavior that is as familiar as it is scandalous will cause just that—scandal.

Isn’t that what you are trying to avoid?

Tiffany and I didn’t partake in your lies to fool society, only to be undone at the last hurdle. Blackstone would never forgive me.”

Rockwell bristled at his brother’s words. “We avoided the scandal, didn’t we? No one knows we were together in Ireland.”

Wolf stepped closer, his expression hardening. “And you want to risk it all now by sneaking into her room in the dead of night? You need to keep your distance, Rockwell. For her sake and yours. Unless you wish to marry the chit.”

Rockwell clenched his fists, frustration bubbling up inside him.

Deep inside, he understood he had a wonderful brother, but the pressure of being the spare and making a life of his own, proving he was just as good as his older brother, meant Wolf’s judgment over something that wasn’t his fault was a kick in the guts.

“I can’t just leave her alone, Wolf. She needs to know she’s not alone in this. ”

Wolf’s gaze softened slightly, but his tone remained firm. “She’s not alone. She’s under our roof, and we’re going to do everything in our power to protect her reputation. But you need to stay away from her, at least for now.”

Wolf was taking charge once again, as was his right.

This was his house. He was the head of the family.

Rockwell’s shoulders sagged, the fight draining out of him.

He knew his brother was right, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept.

He looked toward the staircase, the urge to run up those steps and see Farah nearly overwhelming.

“Just for the next few weeks,” Wolf said, his voice gentler now. “Stay away. We’ll handle this, but we need to be smart about it. I think it best you return to your bachelor quarters and you’re not seen to be staying under this roof while Farah is here. She’ll likely go home tomorrow.”

Rockwell nodded reluctantly, stepping back from the door. “Please let her know that I’m here if she needs me.”

Wolf gave him a brief, approving nod before turning and leaving the room, his footsteps echoing down the hall.

Rockwell stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door, his heart heavy with longing and frustration.

He would respect his brother’s wishes. What irked him was why it was so important for him to see her, talk to her.

He didn’t want her as his wife. But he couldn’t ignore the part of him that couldn’t stay away from Farah.

She had become a part of him, and he wondered if he could let her go.