Relieved at her insistence, he placed his arms on her shoulders.
“Then what is it? Rowena, please. What has happened? What could have happened that is so grave our plans had to be changed?”
She sighed heavily, her shoulders sloping forward.
“It is Betsy. I received a note from her via messenger this morning. She said that Lord Portsmouth has been making advances toward her. She has stalled and denied his desires while they were at Crawford Castle. Under the Duke of Thornmouth’s eye, he held back. However, with the trials concluded they have returned to the Portsmouth’s country home in Bedfordshire.”
Christopher grunted. He hadn’t known that the trials were concluded. If he had attended the House of Lords in recent days, he would have. Alas, due to his feeling ever so melancholy, ever so Friday-faced, he had remained at home and missed this news.
This must be why Thornmouth is to return to London this upcoming Sunday. Due to the end of the trials.
“Betsy says in recent days Portsmouth has forced his way into her bedchamber twice and she has had to fend him off. He did not take kindly to her refusal to give in to him and she is fearful. She must leave there at once. I do not believe it is safe for her to stay there.” As much as he despised Thornmouth, at least Rowena’s dearest friend had been saved under his protection.
“That is grave news indeed. I agree. She must leave and be returned here to London.”
“I know, I have replied with a message telling her to take one of Portsmouth’s horses and return to Crawford Castle. She is to seek out Thornmouth and request that he return her to London when he sets out. Once she is here, this coming Sunday, I will take her to speak to my Mother. To tell her everything. Surely, with my support, and the Duke of Thornmouth there, they will allow her to return to our home.”
Christopher scratched his chin.
“Why can we not go to Scotland anyhow? Now that you have set her on her way, and she is sure to be returned her safe and sound?”
A flash of anger crossed her face and he knew at once he’d said the wrong thing.
“If it were your brother who was in danger, would you arrange a safe passage and then depart before he arrives? Before you could provide him with the comfort he would certainly be in need of after such an ordeal?”
She crossed her arms and glared at him. He raised his hands from her shoulders in a placating motion.
“I apologize. I was thoughtless. I have simply been so frazzled, so vexed by the events of the past weeks.” He shook his head. “I wish there was another way, I prayed that your Father would just accept me and allow us to be together without having to deceive and hide. I let my own sorrows cloud my better wisdom.”
Of course, she wanted to be there when her friend arrived. Of course, she wanted to support her. Betsy was to Rowena like a sister. How could he have been so thoughtless as to think it another way? Her face softened.
“As do I, Christopher. I wish there was another way too. I fear what will happen once we return from Gretna Green. I think of it day and night. Will Father cast me out? And if so, what will happen to you and your business? This will be a scandal that could ruin us both.”
“Are you uncertain?” he asked the question as he braced himself for her answer.
She shook her head. “Never for a moment. I want to marry you and be by your side. I am simply fearful. I thought my life would be a certain way, and now it is quite the opposite. It scares me, but I know what my heart desires. You. And only you.”
He gave her a wane smile and stroked her cheek.
“It soothes me greatly to hear you say so.”
She placed her hand over his. “Sunday night we will go. Once Betsy is safely back here in London and under Mama and Papa’s protection. I will sneak away, and we will go. And when we return, we will start our life as the Duke and Duchess of Westmond. No matter what.”
“No matter what,” he said and leaned forward to kiss her gently on the lips.
Chapter 24
The days until Sunday appeared to last forever. Rowena felt herself in a whirlwind of feelings.
On Thursday, she received a message from Betsy, letting her know she was on her way to Crawford Castle, having borrowed one of the Viscount’s horses from his stable.
While this had soothed her, she could not calm her racing mind. There were so many questions, so many concerns.
What would her condition be when she returned? Would her parents allow her to live with them once more? And what of the scandal she was about to bestow on the family? No matter what, if they escaped to Gretna Green and wed, even if her father forgave them, the scandal would be crushing.
Thornmouth was certain to exact revenge against her father, her brother and most of all, Christopher. Certainly, this would make it all the harder for poor Betsy to find another position.
Rowena bit her nail, an unladylike habit she had forced herself out of years ago, but which had returned with a vengeance these past few days.
