Colbert stared at her. “You wished to stay in danger?”
Lydia huffed. “I wished to help. I...” She trailed off, unable to agree to his assessment. “I could have waited in my carriage.”
“And what would you have done when those brigands set onyou? I do not think a carriage door would have held them at bay.”
Lydia pressed her eyes shut. “My friends will be wondering where I have gone.”
“I do believe they are busy for now, but I will send a message to let them know where to find you. And I can send help as well. Several footmen. A doctor perhaps?” He sounded relieved that she was no longer as against his whisking her away—or at least that she was not kicking him.
She crossed her arms but nodded, seeing that it was the best plan she could hope for, if a cowardly one. “And where exactly are you taking me?”
“My father’s home.”
Her frustration rose again. “I have my own home, Mr. Frank Colbert.”
“A home from which you left, at night, in the company of two gentlemen,” he accused.
Her mouth dropped open. “Did you follow me?”
He pursed his lips. “I had no choice.” His look turned sheepish. “I confess I was waiting outside in hopes you would change your mind regarding my proposal. I did not intend to wait long, but then another man came to call on you, and I admit to a... well, a bit of jealousy. I waited to see if you would send him off as well, but you did not; you went with him.” He sounded dejected, and Lydia ought to have softened his hurt the smallest bit, but she could not. She was angry to have had the control over her person stolen from her. And she was terrified for those they’d left behind.
“The situation is one that you do not understand, but you need not worry yourself over my reputation. Please return me home.”
“I do not think your uncle would appreciate your leaving at night with two men, regardless of the circumstances.”
“My—who?”
Colbert was silent. Then he cleared his throat. “Apologies, a slip of the tongue.”
Lydia narrowed her eyes at him. “I have no family. You know this.”
He nodded, his composure returned. “Yes, of course. As I said, it was a slip of the tongue.”
“Regardless, you may take me to my own home.”
“We are almost to mine, Miss Faraday. Let us stop, send help to your... friends, and then I will escort you home.”
She pressed her eyes shut, wishing she could just as easily press back the nausea overtaking her. There was no use arguing, so she crossed her arms tightly, avoiding his eye. He offered his apologies several more times, but she merely nodded stiffly in his direction. The longer she was in this carriage, the more tightly wound she became. Not only did she fear for the safety of her friends, but another, more selfish, fear had begun to take root.
Would Lord Berkeley want her after this? He’d never said he wanted her at all, but his kiss... His kiss had made her hope. But after the time spent alone with Mr. Frank Colbert, her reputation could be ruined. Would Lord Berkeley turn her down then?
She tried her best to slow her racing heart—deep breaths through her nose and forced relaxing of her limbs—but it did not work. Lord Berkeley may not be interested in a future with her, but she would not pursue a shadowy version of what she felt with him with anyone else. She would await her twenty-fifth birthday and receive her freedom then, even if freedom was not her first choice any longer.
At last, the carriage slowed, and Mr. Frank Colbert opened the door.
“Come, we will get you some tea and send that message.”
Lydia accepted his assistance from the carriage but released his hand immediately. “Just the message, please.” She flexed her hands, anxious to be free of the man’s presence.
He nodded a little too solicitously. “Very well, if you insist. Come inside a moment, and I will find a servant.”
Lydia followed him up the stairs, refraining from dragging her feet. She just wanted to find Lord Berkeley and see that Sir Henry and Charlie were well. Every second that ticked by meant a greater chance that they were hurt or worse.
The door opened, and Mr. Frank Colbert ushered Lydia inside, asking the butler, “Is my father up?”
The butler nodded. “He is in the study with guests.”
“At this hour? Never mind. Fetch him, will you?”
