“He struck you?”
“Yes, but—” She halted him when he growled and faced Solomon’s prone form. “Please, Derrick, I wish to leave.Now.”
For a moment they stood together, her safely in his arms, the heat of his body bleeding into her chilled form as she curled her arms around his neck, feeling more than ever like a small, frightened child. It was a terrible feeling, yet with Derrick being there, the man she’d always trusted to protect her, she knew she was safe. But the barely restrained violence in his gaze warned her that if they didn’t leave immediately, he would attack Solomon again. Some bloodthirsty part of her wished to see Solomon beaten further for what he’d tried to do, but the rest of her just wanted to be as far away from the man as possible. Solomon had betrayed her trust, and the thought of what might have happened if Derrick hadn’t arrived in time left her trembling and sick to her stomach.
“Arianna!” Just then Daphne rounded the thicket of trees and entered the lane. She urged her horse toward them. “Dear God, what happened? I stopped to speak to Lady Essex, and then you were gone...”
Her eyes swept from Arianna to Derrick and then to Solomon on the ground. She pulled her horse to a stop and slid from the saddle. Arianna knew that her friend was trying to piece together the strange scene before her; then Daphne’s eyes widened in shock.
Arianna should have pulled free of Derrick’s arms, but she was still too unsteady to stand on her own. She needed just a moment more to gather her wits and regain her footing—and it was not because she was enjoying the bliss of safety and warmth his arms around her created. No, not at all.
“Lord Seabright,” Daphne greeted.
Derrick nodded but said nothing.
“Arianna, what happened? Should someone see to Mr. Cumberland, or...?”
The man moaned on cue as he continued to lie on his back in the snow.
“Leave the bastard where he is. He deserves no aid,” Derrick declared flatly.
“Oh goodness... I feel I need an explanation.” Daphne’s gaze now settled on Arianna and Derrick again.
Arianna had been an utter fool, and now her friend would discover that. Part of her wanted to die of mortification. The rest just wanted to go home.
“I thought...” It was hard to hide the trembling in her voice.
“Why did you come down this way?” Derrick demanded. His gruff tone, the one she was used to whenever he spoke to her, was back. “Don’t you know what this place is?”
“I thought he was going to propose, but he had other...” Arianna glanced about. “What do you mean? What is this place? It looks like an ordinary lane in the park.”
“He’s right.” Daphne’s tone was quiet. “This is Scandal Lane. Men only bring women here for thingsotherthan proposing marriage.” Daphne turned pale as she glanced about and then turned her attention to Derrick. “Did anyone see you come here, Lord Seabright?”
“No, no one else is nearby. I was coming up on the opposite side of the lane,” Derrick said. “If the three of us leave now, we may yet avoid scandal.”
“Agreed. Quick, we must leave this lane, Arianna.” Daphne urged them back toward the horses. Derrick helped Arianna up into the saddle, then assisted Daphne into hers. Once he mounted his own horse, they quickly exited the secluded part of the park.
“Smiles, everyone,” Daphne said as she reached over to pluck a few stray leaves from Arianna’s riding habit. Arianna reached up to touch her hair and winced at the mess of wet tangles that touched her gloved fingertips.
“If anyone asks, say you had a fall,” Derrick murmured to her.
Arianna glared at him. The very last thing she needed was to be seen in this devil’s company. That was far more of a concern to her than her appearance at the moment.
The last few years, Derrick had acquired quite a reputation in London. He’d had several famous actresses for mistresses, and there was even a rumor that a houseful of courtesans had not been able to satisfy his desires. Not that Arianna was supposed to know about such things, but Daphne’s husband told Daphne all the latest scandals from his gentlemen’s club, or, “the last male dominion not subject to female interference,” as Arianna’s father jokingly called them.
“Arianna, your riding habit and cloak are soaked from the icy ground and a bit muddy,” Daphne pointed out.
“Heavens... We must go home at once.” Arianna could not afford to be the subject of gossip, not when she’d already had so much trouble getting even a man like Solomon to pay court to her.
“Lady Huntley, I can escort her home with you,” Derrick offered.
“No.” Arianna shot a determined look at Derrick. “Lucas might be there.”
“He isn’t,” Derrick replied. “I know for a fact that he’s at his club this afternoon.”
Arianna relaxed a little. If Lucas was not home, then she would avoid a lecture from him. More importantly, he and Derrick would not have a chance to quarrel—or worse...
Her brother had once been the best of friends with Derrick, but that had changed a few years ago and now they avoided each other and refused to speak about each other. Lucas refused to speak of Derrick or the situation that had broken their friendship. The reason for their falling out had always been a mystery, but as much as Arianna wanted to ask him, she far preferred to get home quickly to avoid the wagging tongues of gossip.
