“Oh, tush, no one is interested. They’re all much more interested in their own business,” she waved a hand at him in dismissal and turned her focus to Lady Ridlington, looping her arm with hers. Francis could see Lady Ridlington’s expression all too clearly. She was blushing even more than before and hanging her head a little, the timidity was evident.
“Forgive me for this, but Lady Ridlington,” he turned his focus to her, trying to sort out the sudden whirring of his mind, “if you wish to leave your husband, that is a matter you must discuss with him. You should not be involving my sister.” He almost regretted the words as soon as they said them, for her gentle features looked shocked as she hung her head even further.
“Calm down, you fool,” Diana said quickly, prodding him in the arm. “I offered to help her. Lady Ridlington is far too kind to ever have the presumption to ask anyone to help her out of this situation, which is why I am asking you on her behalf, before she can stop me.”
“I’d still like to stop you,” Lady Ridlington said, looking up. “Perhaps this is not a good idea at all.”
“Can you honestly say you wish to go home to your husband tonight?” Diana’s words must have hit home for Francis watched as Lady Ridlington lifted a hand to her throat and began to rearrange the ribbon around her neck, upon which was a pendant.
Why is she fiddling so?He wondered, though he did not have long to ponder an answer before his sister was speaking again.
“Francis, I ask you for your help out of necessity,” Diana said pleadingly. “It is imperative we move Lady Ridlington away from her husband. I have already arranged with my husband to send our carriage for her tonight.”
“And Josiah has no objection to this?” Francis asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.
“None,” Diana said pointedly. Something about this didn’t sit right with Francis. He glanced around them and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, worried any minute they could be overheard. If Josiah was preparing to take the risk on this woman by helping her escape her husband, who was a Viscount, then things had to be wrong. Josiah didn’t get involved very easily; he was too clever for that.
“This makes little sense,” Francis lowered his hand. “Why do you need my help if you already have things arranged?” He could see Diana and Lady Ridlington exchange glances before he received an answer.
“We need somewhere for Lady Ridlington to hide,” Diana explained. “Her husband would no doubt search my house.”
Francis’ eyebrows shot up as he realized just what his sister was insinuating. After all, he was back in London, with a large estate on the edge of the city, mostly empty.
“You wish me to hide her?” he asked, his whisper was harried and mad as he stepped toward the two of them. To his amazement, Lady Ridlington backed away, as though going to hide behind her friend.
What was that for?He watched her closely, wondering why she had done such a thing.
“For a short while, yes please,” Diana nodded eagerly with her words. “Just until we can apply to a solicitor to obtain a separation for her.”
“No, I will not do it,” Francis’ response was instinctive.
“Why not?” Diana asked, her smile leaving her face in an instant.
“Because it is not my responsibility to get involved in the business of others. Neither should it be yours,” he said, gesturing to his sister.
“I cannot leave my friend to a life of misery and despair, no matter how easily you can make that decision,” Diana’s tartness hurt indeed. He stood perfectly still, looking between the two of them.
“That is not what I am doing. It is just not my place to get involved,” he said, before turning his eyes on Lady Ridlington. He didn’t need to search her face very hard to see the sadness there, it was plain to see in the way that she bit her lip. “My apologies, Lady Ridlington, but I know you no more than I do a person I pass in the street. I cannot take you away from your husband and hide you. The scandal would be shocking indeed.”
“I perfectly understand,” she said quickly, looking away from him. “If you would excuse me.” She retracted her arm from Diana’s, curtsied to them both and then hurried off, walking away and pushing between the people in the crowd. Where she went, he couldn’t see, for Diana had tapped him round the arm.
“Ow!” he said, pretending it had hurt more than it actually did, trying to draw some humor to the moment, but he could see on Diana’s face he had failed entirely. “Do not be angry at me, Diana. It would just not be proper.”
“And you think it proper to leave Lady Ridlington to that man, do you?”
“That man? I do not know the man! How can I make a judgement on him?” he asked, shaking his head.
“What’s going on?” Josiah’s voice disturbed the two of them. Francis turned his head to see Diana’s husband walking toward the two of them with two glasses of wine in his hand. He passed one glass into his wife’s hand before clocking the dismay on her face. “Something bad has happened.”
“My dear brother,” she said sarcastically, “has refused to offer his help to Lady Ridlington.”
“Well, I cannot say I am surprised,” Josiah looked over Diana’s shoulder at Francis.
“What does that mean?” Francis asked, finding his spine stiffen.
“I mean no slight by it,” Josiah was quick to assure him, coming to stand beside him. “You do not know the lady, therefore, why would you take the risk in helping her?”
“My sister asks too much,” Francis said quietly. “The Lady seems nice enough, but fleeing her husband? Think of the scandal and the gossip. What kind of gentleman would I be if I hid another man’s wife from him? Most of all, I cannot live with a married woman under my roof. That would also be a scandal.”
