Page 3 of Lady Farah Creates a Scandal (The Season of Secrets #2)

A young lady in need of a survivable scandal had to choose her unwilling, or was it unknowing, partner, with the utmost care.

Farah was confident in her choice. She’d known Rockwell since childhood, and he’d always made her feel like more than simply the Duke of Blackstone’s sister. He listened to her, and he was a safe choice. Her only choice, really.

But she hadn’t accounted for Lord Rockwell Ware’s extended absence in Ireland, which was now jeopardizing her plan.

He was supposed to have been away for a fortnight, but it was almost six weeks.

As of last night, he was home, and scandals waited for no man—least of all, a woman on the verge of being pressured into a marriage she didn’t want.

Really did not want. Really, really did not want.

She would outwit her brother, the Duke of Blackstone, if it was the last thing she did.

Her brother was only seven years older than her, but it might as well be a hundred.

He was such a fastidious stick in the mud who continued to see her as a baby even though she was a young woman of one and twenty.

Since their parents’ death when she was ten, he’d become incredibly overprotective.

She could hardly blame him. She had also been scared that something would happen to him and she’d be all alone.

But looking back, she was honest enough to admit that she’d let Blackstone make her into a quiet, timid mouse. Still, it was harder than she’d thought to escape the trap she’d allowed herself to walk into.

Hence her plan. This time, she would not let him win. Her life and future happiness depended on it.

Tonight, her courage could not desert her. Rockwell would be here at Lady Skye’s ball. He would help her—knowingly or unknowingly.

How could the thought of Lord Rockwell Ware attending tonight’s ball have her quaking in equal parts trepidation and hope? Had he found her note? Did he know she’d sent it? What would he do?

She’d been quite surprised he had not mentioned it, but thankfully, he’d not told her brother. Rockwell understood how overbearing Stone could be. Did that mean he’d help her?

Farah stood quietly next to the rest of the sisterhood discussing their favorite topic—investments—but Farah couldn’t think of shares when every nerve in her body was stretched so tight, she felt like she might snap in two.

“Lord Franklin is in attendance. Is there anything I and the sisterhood can do to help? Perhaps if we talked with Stone together…”

Farah sighed. “Really? You think that will work?” Hope.

She clung to it like a magic crystal, only to see the light dim in Ashley’s eyes.

Even Ashley understood the strength and determination of Farah’s brother after the debacle with Conte Philippe Lambert.

Farah’s first try at exerting her independence from her brother’s ironclad control had been a disaster.

“I know my own scandal made your brother even more concerned about protecting you,” Ashley said. “But we could find you someone else to marry. A man Stone would approve of; one you could build a wonderful life with.”

Farah knew that Ashley meant well. “I wonder if he’d ever approve of any man I chose. Look what he did to my Philippe.”

She remembered Philippe’s smile, his teasing presence, and his sweet kisses.

The French Conte had been patient with her shyness and had taken the time to draw her out.

He was so handsome and his family, though having lost much in the revolution, escaped to England with some wealth.

They had built up their small estate in Norfolk.

Yes, her dowry was advantageous to Philippe, but he could have had his pick of heiresses and he’d picked her. Wanted her.

Then her brother found out. “Blackstone knew how much I loved Philippe. But he chased him away and virtually kept me prisoner at our estate until Philippe gave up and married another. I don’t think I’ll ever get my brother’s approval,” Farah said.

Her brother had told her that the fact that Philippe gave up so easily was a sign that he was simply after her money. She hated to admit it, but she wondered if he was right. But still. She would have had a happy life with Philippe because she liked him and he liked her. It could have become more.

She’d never love Lord Franklin. She loathed the humorless, mean-spirited little man.

Her life would be filled with misery. Unfortunately, Stone was so worried she would be taken in by some unscrupulous suitor, that he was determined to see her married by season’s end.

Ashley’s scandal had scared her brother into becoming an overprotective jailer.

“Then let’s try to ascertain a man Blackstone would approve of,” Ashley added, refusing to give up, bless her.

Rockwell’s face flashed in Farah’s mind.

While she understood he was a rake, a wanderer, always off exploring the world, he was kind, handsome, and life would never be dull.

There was only one problem with her idea.

Rockwell had no intention of marrying anytime soon.

In fact, he would be off on another of his expeditions in a month.

That was why he was the perfect foil to help her create a small scandal.

Franklin would cry off with just a scent of the improper. He was such a snob.

Rockwell would leave the country, anyway. By the time he returned, he’d be forgiven, while she would be living in her cottage in Cornwall. The money she’d saved from the sisterhood investment club would help her purchase such a hideaway.

“I have another option,” Farah told her friend.

“Now that Rockwell has rescued my funds from the bank in Ireland, I have the money Tiffany earned for me through her investing. I could simply slip away and buy myself a little cottage somewhere no one knows me. I have enough to live off if I’m careful, and Tiffany keeps investing for me. ”

Ashley looked at her in amusement. “And that’s going to stop Stone from finding you and dragging you home and marrying you off to anyone who will have you? If you can’t say no to a marriage proposal now, how are you going to stop him from saying where and how you’ll live?”

And that was where the scandal came in. If she gave in to impropriety, she knew Stone would likely banish her, given how he treated Ashley.

And while she’d lose her brother, she hoped in time she could make him forgive her.

Besides, she’d lose him if she married Franklin.

They’d move to Cumbria, and she’d likely hardly ever see him.

But she couldn’t bring herself to tell Ashley that she would rather create a scandal than deal with her own brother. Ashley had been party to her own disgrace and had said nothing about it to any of them. Farah didn’t want to tell anyone, either.

So, instead, she replied, “The chance of finding another man interested in marriage within the next few days is unlikely.”

“I don’t know. Rockwell might come to the rescue if you ask him nicely.”

Farah’s gaze flew to the stairs where Rockwell was descending into the ballroom with Lady Joanne on his arm. Joanne was a lovely widow, a few years older than Rockwell. Was she his new mistress? Her nerves pulled tighter.

“He doesn’t appear to need a wife,” Farah replied before turning away from the sight of them both.

How could she use Rockwell in her plan if he were embarking on a new liaison?

Her night was getting worse by the minute, because coming across the floor in her direction was Lord Franklin himself. “Oh, no.”

Ashley looked up and, spying the man approaching, grabbed Farah by the arm and hurried them in the opposite direction.

Farah kept looking over her shoulder and saw Lord Franklin lengthen his stride.

“He’s still coming, ooh…” Suddenly, Farah hit a solid chest. She looked up into Rockwell’s handsome face and her heart stuttered in her chest. Why couldn’t it be you?

Before she could catch her breath, she heard Ashley say, “Save her, Rockwell. Dance with her.”

Rockwell’s smile died as he too spied Franklin. He turned into her real-life hero as, without a word, he led her to the floor for the next dance, which just happened to be the waltz.

“Why are you still encouraging the odious little man? You deserve better.”

“Someone like you perhaps?” Goodness, did she say that out loud? Thankfully, he didn’t look at her in horror but just laughed.

“Is that what the note you left in my bedchamber was all about? I’m sorry to disappoint, but marriage, even to you, is not in my immediate future.”

Should she deny the note? This was the moment that would seal her fate.

Courage favors the bold. You can do it… She pushed closer and his arms automatically tightened around her.

“I missed you.” She looked up at him through half-closed lashes and saw a moment of fear flash in his eyes. But then the rake took over.

“And did you dream of me?”

Her mouth dried. He remembered the words of her note. “Of course.”

She couldn’t think of anything else to say as he twirled her about the floor.

“Am I to be your plan to thwart Franklin?”

She almost gasped. She hadn’t expected it to be this easy. “Would you help me?”

“Well, I know talking with Stone is useless. I’ve already tried that.

Your brother is determined to see you married.

He thinks that something similar to my sister’s situation might happen to you, and it will ruin your life.

He’s worried you’ll be taken advantage of after the Conte.

But personally, I think your life would be unbearable married to Franklin.

Besides, I think Ashley would vehemently disagree that her life is ruined. ”

“I could kiss you for saying that.” And Farah meant it.

She’d wanted to be held in his arms and kissed for a long time.

She wanted her next kiss to be with him.

Maybe she wanted only kisses from him, and that was a scary thought, for she doubted he’d want to kiss only her once she set her plan in motion.

“And I’d let you, if we were somewhere more private.”

“I thought Lady Joanne might be the woman stealing your kisses at the moment.”

This made his grin widen. “No. She is taken by another.” At her confused look, he added, “Lord Burberry was running late, so he asked me to escort her to the ball on his behalf.”

Her heart wanted to sing.

His next words made her cringe. “If you stay in the ballroom, you’ll not be able to avoid Franklin all night.”

“He’s pressing for an answer and as soon as I politely decline his offer, he’ll go running to Stone and my brother will make me change my mind.” The heat of the ballroom pressed in on her.

“I would guess that the young lady who was bold enough to leave a note on my bed is most assuredly strong enough to stand up to her brother.”

“You really don’t know me, do you? I’ve never been able to stand up to Blackstone. Most people can’t.” But I have a plan that will work if you help , she wanted to add.

He almost stopped moving. “Surely, he won’t force this marriage if it’s not what you want?” When she said nothing, he cursed under his breath.

She shook her head. No one would understand.

Despite her mother’s wishes for her to take over the household, she’d never had the chance, even after her mother’s death.

Stone had hired a new housekeeper who reported directly to him, instead of allowing her to take charge.

When she’d protested in her grief, Stone told her she was too young and fragile to be responsible for the house.

She hadn’t even been allowed to clear her mother’s belongings, and she never forgave Stone for that.

“Your note got my attention. What is it you want me to do?”

She took a deep breath. “I have a plan of sorts. I know you set sail in a month for Africa. Could you pretend to court me so I can gain time to attract someone else, or convince my brother to let me have a say in my future?” She added, “My brother is only pushing me to marry Franklin because he’s worried after what happened to Ashley.

And I’m sure you know that he thought Philippe a fortune hunter. ”

“He most likely was.”

She answered, “But he was a fortune hunter that liked me and I liked him. I loathe Lord Franklin.”

“So, I pretend to be the alternative. But what happens when I sail away?”

“Do you not think I can attract another suitor by then? With you by my side, other men will take notice. No one will notice me with Franklin by my side.”

“Very true, but I won’t lie to your brother.”

Hope shriveled in her chest. “How do you feel about bending the truth a little, then? What if you told Stone that you wished to see if there could be something between us? Then, when you take your leave, you can be honest in saying we’re not suited.”

“I’m afraid I cannot be so gallant. I have an urgent matter that needs my attention. I’m leaving London again tomorrow. I wish you luck, though.”

With that, her hope really died. Her plan revolved around him being in London for the next few weeks.

If only Lord Dayton Deveraux was back from India.

Claire’s brother would be perfect. And there was always Lord Axton Fancot but he seemed to be interested in Courtney and the feelings might be reciprocated.

And about time, too. Courtney deserved some happiness after her fiancé died in the Irish Rebellion five years ago.

She squared her shoulders. This was merely a setback. She wouldn’t give up.

As the dance ended and he released her from his arms, she immediately missed the feeling of security, safety. And her body froze as a voice at her shoulder said, “The next dance is mine, I believe.”

Franklin had come to claim her and her night was totally ruined.