Lucien smiled kindly at her. “Never say never. I never thought I’d be anything other than an honest farmer. But look at me. Overnight, I’ve become a peer of the realm.”
Farah couldn’t let that comment go. “You’ve always been a peer. You are returning to your rightful place. To a place you belong.”
“I guess that remains to be seen,” Lucien said, sinking back in the seat and looking out the window.
She flashed a look at Rockwell, but he too seemed to infer Lucien was right. Would he fit back into his old life? And what would he do if he didn’t…or couldn’t?
She chewed her bottom lip. For once on this trip, she wasn’t concerned about what awaited her when they arrived in London. She was more worried about Lucien and how society would react to his return from the dead.
*
Early evening, thegroup arriving in Dublin at the Twin Heads Inn garnered a bit of attention. Rockwell procured rooms for Lucien and Caitria, with Ava-Marie sleeping with her. Farah and Rockwell still had their private suite, and that was where everyone gathered for dinner.
“Look, my new gowns have arrived.” Farah looked at Rockwell. “Do I have time to get some gowns made for Caitria?”
“No. We sail tomorrow.”
Her face fell, but she understood Rockwell needed to get her home as soon as possible. She didn’t want Caitria arriving in London and being judged. Her clothes were clean and respectable but not fit for society. She pulled Caitria into her bedchamber and held a dress up to her. “We’re about the same size. Why don’t you try a couple? I’m sure I can send word to Orla to send a girl to make alterations tonight.”
Tears welled in Caitria’s eyes as she held the two gowns. “Thank you for being so kind.”
Farah hugged her. “Well, when I get back to London, society may make my life very difficult. I’ll need friends. It’s nice to make a new one.”
“You may count me as a dear friend, and I’ll always treat you as such.”
She sighed and sat down while she penned a note to Orla. “You may have to stay away from me or you’ll be judged. My brother doesn’t let me socialize with Rockwell’s sister Ashley, asshe has a scandal hanging over her head. I do anyway, when I can.”
“What did Lady Ashley do?”
She looked over her shoulder at Caitria. “I have no idea. She’s told none of us.”
“Us?”
“Say nothing to the men or Lucien, but my friends and I have formed a secret ladies’ club and we invest in shares via our friend, Lady Tiffany. She’s married to Rockwell’s older brother, Lord Wolfarth. We even have a secret anonymous investment challenge with some of the men, including my brother. I can’t wait for the sisterhood, as we call our club, to beat them.” She put the quill down and said, “I’ll introduce you to the club, and we can help you invest some of your pin money.”
“Pin money?”
“Lucien will give you money each quarter to spend on things you want. We take some of that and invest it. I have already accumulated almost five thousand pounds.”
Caitria plonked down on the bed. “Five thousand pounds,” she said breathlessly. “That’s a fortune.”
“Well, enough to live in a little cottage somewhere if I’m ostracized.”
Caitria hesitated, then bravely asked, “Why wouldn’t you just marry Lord Ware? He seems a pleasant gentleman, and he’s very handsome. He must be rich to own a ship. Why won’t you marry him?”
She better get used to answering this question. All the ladies would ask her, too. “Rockwell’s not husband material. He’s known as an adventurer. He sails off around the world and is hardly ever in England. I want more than that from a husband. I don’t want to be left behind, wondering what he’s doing, who he is with, and bringing up children on my own. Not to mention, constantly worrying if he’ll ever return.”
“You’re in love with him,” Caitria said softly. “Otherwise you wouldn’t care that he was gone.”
“Love?” She shook her head. “But I could be, and that would hurt me.”
Caitria nodded, and her eyes filled with tears. Farah sighed. “You’re in love with Lucien.”
“Yes, and I had hoped he might see me as a wife someday, after he got over Ava. He loved her a lot. I wonder if he’ll feel the same about her, now he knows Ava tricked him. Still, he’s Lord Furoe now, so my dream is over anyway.”
Farah didn’t dispute Caitria’s statement. It was likely true. Besides, she hoped he would fall in love with Courtney again. However, Lucien might choose someone else. What a mess. “Perhaps there is another man out there for both of us. One that can give us his heart and love us the way we deserve to be loved.”
Her new friend lifted her head and gave a shaky smile. “But it’s hard to find room in your heart for another, isn’t it?”
