“But does he want me and are we still suited? He is not exactly clamoring to woo me back. While I accept I can marry for respect and friendship, I can’t marry your brother while I love him and he doesn’t love me. That would be torture.”
Lauren sat back, biting her lip, looking like the world was ending. Farah understood her need to see Lucien settled not just financially with a good marriage but settled back into society. Farah was sure she’d counted on Courtney being the key to everything.
“I’m not going to discount Lucien immediately, but I won’t sit around and be embarrassed or ignored for long.”
“That’s fair,” Farah said and hugged her friend.
“My brother is just confused and struggling with all that has happened to him.” A wobble entered Lauren’s voice. “I just want him to find happiness after all that has happened, and I think he can find that with you.”
“I hope so, too,” Courtney replied.
Ava-Marie interrupted their conversation, tugging on Farah’s skirts. “Can I play hide and seek, too? I’m good at hiding!”
“I know you are,” Farah said, laughing. “All right, why don’t I go hide and you all have to find me?”
“I bet I find you before my auntie. But Lady Courtney knows this house best.”
She tapped Ava-Marie’s nose. “Then the ladies will give you a head start. Once I’ve hidden, Ava-Marie gets a lead of twenty counts. How is that?”
“That’s fair,” the little girl said, nodding.
Farah knew she could only hide in these two rooms, or Courtney’s father or brother might see her. She moved quietly and hid in one of Courtney’s armoires pushing her gowns aside.
It took Ava-Marie only fifteen minutes to find her. “You didn’t hide very well. I would have gone up to the attics. I almost started there. I’ll teach you one day at my Daid’s house. I’ll tell him how I found you so quickly.”
The women shared a look of concern before Courtney knelt to Ava-Marie’s level. “Sweetie, this is a special game. You can’t tell anyone that Lady Farah is here, okay? It’s a secret.”
Ava-Marie’s eyes widened with excitement at being entrusted with a secret. “Are you hiding from someone?”
“Yes. I’m playing a game with Lord Ware. An important game that I must win. Will you help me by keeping my secret?”
She nodded solemnly, though the women weren’t entirely convinced she understood the gravity of the situation.
As Lauren prepared to leave with Ava-Marie, Farah hugged the little girl goodbye. “Remember, not a word to anyone,” she whispered.
*
Later that evening,as Lucien tucked Ava-Marie into bed, she looked up at him with bright eyes. “Papa, I know where Farah is hiding. If I tell you, will I win the game?”
Lucien’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “What game, sweetheart? Where is Farah?”
Ava-Marie seemed to hesitate, as if she knew she wasn’t supposed to tell him. But the temptation to win was too strong. “She’s at Lady Courtney’s house. Did I win?”
Lucien’s mind raced with this new information. He kissed Ava-Marie’s forehead, his voice soft. “Yes, darling. You won the game. Now, time for sleep.”
As he closed the door to her room, Lucien debated what to do with this newfound knowledge. Should he tell Rockwell, or keep Farah’s secret?
At least she hadn’t run off on her own and the worry eating at his stomach eased. He felt responsible for Farah’s situation and if anything happened to her… Well, he carried some of the blame.
He understood what Rockwell would be going through, not knowing where she was. He’d be going out of his mind with worry. As would Blackstone.
He summoned a servant and sent a missive for Lord Ware. He thought Rockwell would likely be at Wolf’s house. He would let Rockwell know first, to give him time to go and talk somesense into Farah. Then in a few hours, he’d have to send the same note to Blackstone.
Once his task was completed, he sat in his study wanting time to himself. He loved his two sisters even though he couldn’t remember them. Lauren and Madeline fussed over him and he knew Lauren was desperate for him to marry and help the family’s financial situation. He also knew Lauren expected him to marry Courtney.
Everyone expected him to marry Courtney.
She did, too.
