Chapter 6
“You came,” Lady Ridlington said, gazing up at Francis. In the moonlight, he was astonished by how the light emphasized her pretty features, making them even more noticeable than they had been at the assembly. Her full lips were parted in amazement and her green eyes were almost silver in this light.
“Of course, we did!” Diana said quickly before Francis could gather himself to say any words at all. “Did you have any problems?”
“None,” Lady Ridlington said as Francis jumped down from the carriage.
“Let me take that,” he said, taking the portmanteau out of her hands. As they touched, he felt that same jolt he’d succumbed to earlier that evening. He rather thought she also felt it, from the way she retracted her hand and turned her head away from him.
“We have my maid to thank for the lack of problems,” Lady Ridlington said, taking her maid’s arm as Francis moved round the carriage to hand the portmanteau and the maid’s bag to the footman who duly attached them to the back of the coach. “Louisa helped sneak us out of the kitchen.”
“I’ve said it before, Louisa, you are a prized maid. If only I had found you myself first,” Diana said with a laugh.
“Sorry to interrupt, but we do not have time to chat now,” Francis said, moving back to the carriage and offering Lady Ridlington his hand. “Time to get you away from here, my Lady.”
He did not miss the way her lips quirked into a smile as she took his hand. He tried to ignore the jolt it made in his chest as he helped her up into the carriage. He next went to help up the maid, Louisa, who appeared very startled indeed, her brown eyes going wide.
“Do not many men offer to help you into a carriage?” he asked.
“No Dukes, that’s for certain,” Louisa said but took his hand anyway to climb in. He smiled and followed her in, eagerly sitting down beside Josiah and striking the door to show the driver they were ready.
As the carriage set off, Francis turned his eyes to Lady Ridlington, finding her sat between Diana and Louisa, with each of her hands tightly clasped in one of theirs. The tight grasp showed the deep friendship Lady Ridlington had in both of the women either side of her. It was rather touching to see.
“We have it all planned out, Lady Ridlington,” Diana said, turning excitedly to her. “We shall take you now straight to my brother’s house. He has a rather large townhouse on the edge of London with its estate attached.”
“An estate?” Lady Ridlington repeated, her eyebrows lifting.
“It is not as large as the country seat, but it will do nicely,” Francis said in jest, pulling a smile from her. He rather liked the idea of causing more and more of those smiles.
“The house is quite secluded compared to other houses in London,” Diana went on. “You will be quite safe there.” Francis watched Lady Ridlington closely, seeing the way she took a deep breath, as though daring herself to breathe fully again.
“He will not find me there?” she asked.
“We have thought of a way to cover up the identity of my guest,” Francis said, gesturing toward her. “Diana and I have a cousin, someone who we haven’t seen for many years. She lives up in Northumberland now and shares your hair color.”
“The last time anyone saw her in London, she was just a child,” Diana rushed to explain. “By pretending you are her, none of the staff will quibble a house guest, they will think Francis’s cousin has come to see him. I highly doubt any servants will see fit to gossip about a mere cousin coming to visit either.”
“Gossip?” Francis said, finding it impossible not to try and cause another smile to appear on Lady Ridlington’s face. “Such things are banned on my estate.”
“Banned?” Lady Ridlington said, looking back to him.
“Punishable,” he jested, waiting as not only Lady Ridlington laughed but others too. He only watched her laugh though, no one else. “Your new name will be Lady Isabella Minnett.”
“Pretty name,” Lady Ridlington said as she turned to Louisa. “This is really happening,” she said to her friend who squeezed her hand tighter.
“Soon, my Lady, all will be well,” the maid said kindly. Francis rather wondered what it would be like to hold Lady Ridlington’s hand in such a way and offer the same comfort. The moment he thought it he realized what he was doing and sat straight in his seat, looking away.
Forming any kind of liking to Lady Ridlington is a foolish idea indeed!
“In the meantime, I will procure a lawyer for you,” Josiah spoke up, addressing Lady Ridlington. “I know many in town and some have great reputations of success in such matters. I have no doubt I can secure you one within a week who can start proceedings.”
“A week?” Lady Ridlington looked so excited that she moved forward to the edge of her seat, held on the chair merely by her grasp on her friends.
“Correspondence will have to be done by letters to begin with,” Francis said aloud. “If anyone sees the lawyer attending Lady Ridlington at my estate, that is certain to set tongues wagging.”
“Agreed,” Josiah nodded.
“I…have a problem,” Lady Ridlington said, looking down to her lap momentarily.
