The silence that followed was so thick, you could have cut it with a knife. The duke stared at her, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
“You…what?” he finally sputtered.
“I went to Ireland with Rockwell,” Farah repeated, her voice growing stronger. “It was an accident, truly. By the time he realized I was on his ship… But the point is, the adventure helped me. I’m not the weak-willed lady you think I am, brother. I can make my own decisions, including who I will or will not marry.”
The duke collapsed into a nearby chair, looking shell-shocked. “But…but what about the scandal? If word gets out…”
“That’s where I come in,” Lucien interjected smoothly. “By announcing our engagement, we’ve neatly sidestepped any potential scandal. Thetonwill be far too focused on ourupcoming nuptials to worry about any rumors of impropriety. If I say I fell in love with her as soon as she found me in Ireland, the scandal will be embraced.”
Farah turned to Lucien, her eyes wide. “But…we’re not really engaged,” she whispered.
Lucien merely looked at her. “We could be,” he murmured back. “If you’ll have me, that is.”
“You’ll have to marry now. I will not let you be ruined,” her brother all but roared.
Farah’s head was spinning. This was all happening so fast. Courtney—Oh my God, what must her friend be thinking? And then she did the only thing a woman caught up in a situation like this could do… she gained time by pretending to faint dead away.
Chapter Twenty
Rockwell took thestairs two at a time, his heart hammering against his ribs like a caged beast.What the hell had just happened?
He arrived outside Blackstone’s study just in time to see Farah’s limp form being carried up the stairs, her face as pale as moonlight. “Farah,” he called, but Blackstone emerged like a storm cloud from the study and pulled him inside, slamming the door after him.
“I should beat you to a pulp…” But Lucien materialized between them, pulling Blackstone off him.
Rockwell stepped back, his fingers trembling slightly as they smoothed his ruffled clothes. He addressed Lucien. “Is Farah all right?”
Blackstone’s roar filled the study. “No, she bloody isn’t all right. She’s ruined. Or she will be once Mrs. Ahearn talks. I should call you out. Regardless of how she ended up on that ship of yours, you should have come to me and offered for her immediately.”
“She wouldn’t let me.”
The duke scoffed. “Let. Let!” His fist crashed onto the desk, making the crystal decanters jump. “She doesn’t understand what her life will be like if she’s ruined. You, of all people, should know because of Ashley. How could you not protect her? Your brother must be ashamed of you.”
“I gave her my word.” Rockwell’s voice roughened with suppressed emotion. “I gave her my word that we would try to return home, and if there was no scandal, I’d respect her choice.Her choice.But if word got out, then of course we would have to marry.”
That seemed to take the wind out of the duke’s anger.
“Well…” Lucien’s smooth voice cut through the tension, “you don’t have to marry her, anyway. As I’ve offered for her.”
Rockwell swung round to face his—friend. “You’re taking advantage of the situation. Farah would never consider you if not for the revelation of this scandal.”
“You seem rather upset at my offer? For a man who told me, and Farah, you didn’t wish to marry, you seem awfully upset at my honorable proposal to save her from ruin.”
Lucien’s smug smile made Rockwell’s fingers itch to rearrange his face. “Has Farah even said yes to you? I doubt it. She doesn’t love you and you are her friend’s former fiancé. Courtney’s heart still beats for you, and Farah would never hurt her. What must Lady Courtney be feeling standing in the ballroom downstairs with all of society watching her abandonment?”
“God damn it.” Lucien’s face twisted with guilt. “That’s a low blow.”
Rockwell walked over and stood toe to toe with Lucien. “Just because you don’t like the truth, don’t get angry with me.”
Blackstone agreed with Rockwell, and he rounded on Lucien. “While I thank you for coming to Farah’s rescue with your very public offer, Lady Courtney doesn’t deserve this treatment from you. She’s in the ballroom facing this alone. Please explain yourself to her.”
Lucien hung his head and sighed. “I didn’t ask for this. It’s not my fault I lost my memory.”
“But the way you’ve been behaving towards Courtney since you’ve been back is your fault.”
Lucien didn’t refute Rockwell’s words. “I’d best sort out my mess.” Lucien turned before leaving the room. “My offer stands if Farah needs me.”
“She won’t need you,” Rockwell almost growled.
