“What about Courtney? We have to send her a note immediately.”
At Ivy’s words, Farah gripped her arm as she tried to move round her to the writing desk. “No. His family first. He has no memory of anything before five years ago. He didn’t remember Rockwell, or his family, and—he doesn’t remember Courtney.”
That made Ivy burst into tears. “Poor Courtney. To have the man you love come back from the dead, only to not know you.”
“You can understand why we have told no one other than Wolf. Lucien is not the man you knew. He will need time to come to grips with this situation. Rockwell thought it best to wait until morning to meet with his family. And keep it small. Society will be aghast as soon as they learn he has returned. I suspect everyone will try to call upon him. It could be overwhelming for him.”
She wanted to explain more about Ava-Marie and Caitria but thought it best not to talk longer. “Let’s go downstairs and meet everyone.”
“Everyone? That sounds ominous,” Ashley said.
As she reached the door, she turned to them. “Remember to act surprised. You’re not supposed to know all of this.”
With suppressed excitement, the three ladies made their way downstairs. They met Tiffany and Wolf on the second-floor landing. “You ladies will wait in the drawing room, please. I’ve organized refreshments but everyone will be tired, so we mustn’t keep them up long.”
She felt herself blush under Wolf’s gaze, but Tiffany merely hooked an arm through hers and drew her into the warmth of the fire crackling room. “Thank you for helping Rockwell. It must be hard on him. To find Lucien, but not find him, so to speak.”
“You’re not cross?” Farah asked.
“A woman has to do what she thinks is right for her and I understand it was an accident the way you ended up on his ship.But I was hoping there would be no sneaking home and there would be a marriage instead.”
Farah searched her friend’s eyes, but they held no judgment, merely disappointment.
“Rockwell is not the marrying kind.”
Just then, he appeared in the doorway and his eyes sought her out immediately. Tiffany drew in a sharp breath. “I wouldn’t be too sure of that.” Then Tiffany stiffened as Lucien appeared. His eyes sought Farah out, too. “Oh, dear. Courtney will not like that.”
Farah blushed, not even trying to deny Tiffany’s implication. “He’s latched on to me because I was kind to him. I’m the only lady he knows and I’ve accepted Ava-Marie. He’s anxious about his daughter, given her start in life.”
“Rockwell doesn’t like it, either. So maybe that’s a good thing. Might make him wake up to the fact he is going to make a mistake if he lets you…” Tiffany stopped talking and merely squeezed Farah’s arm.
Farah stood back as Ivy and Ashley rushed to embrace Lucien. Farah’s gut tightened as she watched the man try to cope with meeting so many people who knew him but he didn’t recognize. Ivy and Ashley drew him towards the settee and were soon hounding him with questions that he obviously didn’t wish to answer. And the ladies hadn’t even met Ava-Marie or Caitria yet.
Rockwell gave Lucien an encouraging smile, almost as if wordlessly letting him know it would be worse tomorrow, when he met his family. Had Lucien decided what he’d tell everyone about where he’d been and how he’d been living his life?
Finally, Wolf said, “It’s very late and we are all tired and emotional from such a discovery. Lord Furoe, Taylor has organized a bedchamber and my valet is ready to serve you. He’s drawn you a bath.”
Lucien cleared his throat and put down the glass of brandy he’d been given. “I’d like to check on Ava-Marie and Caitria first.”
“Of course.” Wolf nodded. He indicated the butler waiting at the door. “Taylor, show Lord Furoe to his daughter’s nursery.”
As soon as the door had closed and Lucien could be heard walking upstairs, Ivy and Ashley rounded on Farah and both said together, “Daughter?”
Rockwell scolded his sisters before she could reply. “This is Lucien’s story to reveal. We do not involve ourselves in gossip. You’ll meet Ava-Marie in the morning, but we will give our friend time to adjust. And we will support him when he meets his family.”
“When will you alert Lord Danvers?” Tiffany asked.
“I sent a message that Wolf and I will call on the family tomorrow. We are going to take Lucien to his family home in the morning without Ava-Marie.” Rockwell walked to the fireplace and leaned on the mantle.
“He’s worried about the reception his daughter may receive,” Farah explained. “Even though we’ve told him that his sisters will love his little girl, he can’t remember them and obviously wants to protect her. Besides, it’s probably best that he goes alone so he can talk to his family about what occurred without worrying about his child. Then he and his family can decide the story they wish thetonto learn.”
“And what about Courtney? She’ll never forgive us if we don’t tell her. I’d hate for her to learn the news from someone else,” Ivy exclaimed.
Farah silently agreed, but it wasn’t really her place to dictate who and when Lucien wanted his return to become public knowledge.
Tiffany spoke up. “I think we should visit with Courtney while Rockwell, Wolf, and Lucien visit Lord Danvers and family. What do you think, dear?”
Wolf nodded. “I feel that is only fair, given she was his fiancée. But you must stress the importance of keeping the details secret until we understand how Lucien wishes to present himself to the world.”
