Rebecca broke the hold and, slipping her spoon into her black coffee, stirred, then stopped abruptly when she realized what she was doing. She cut him a quick look from lowered lashes and deflated. He was watching her with a decided smirk.
“Well, if you’ll, er, excuse me, Your Grace,” she said as nonchalantly as she could manage, and stood. “I shall see to my packing and be on my way.”
“Are you sure, my lady? You haven’t touched your food.”
Unsurprisingly, her appetite had fled. “I’m sure. With Lady Huntley gone, I can’t very well remain here with you. Goodness. In another instant, you’ll be accusing me of orchestrating her departure in a ruse to trap you into marriage.”
He rose as she did.
“Again,” she couldn’t resist flinging at him, wishing it was a firelit-tipped arrow.
It took every ounce of will not to dash from the morning room, and fromhim.
~~~
“Well. Another timely exit by Lady Rebecca,” Sebastian said aloud.
“Pardon, Your Grace?”
“Nothing, Timms. Have Daniel ready my carriage. It appears I’m to London.”
“I’m sorry, Your Grace. Lady Huntley took the carriage at daybreak. We had no reason to believe…”
“Not an issue, Timms.” Sebastian turned a grim smile on his butler. “As it turns out, Lady Rebecca is planning an excursion to London as well. I shall take a horse and accompany her party as an outrider.”He wanted to rub his hands together at his sudden and brilliant idea, but Timms would likely expire from shock if Sebastian exhibited such uncharacteristic conduct.
“Very good, sir.”
~~~
“So soon, milady? But we’ve just arrived.” Serena hurried to the closet and began retrieving dresses and tossing them on the bed.
“It appears my friend is on her way to London and bound for disaster. We must save her from herselfwithoutalerting His Grace. I wish to leave within the hour.” Rebecca tugged on the bell cord and gave the instructions for Barrett to ready her conveyance. Afterwards, Rebecca dove in to help an appalled, but resigned, Serena. It was not the first time Rebecca had taken on a servant’s task for expediency.
They made record time.
Rebecca proceeded down the grand stairs, Serena on her heels, to see Timms in the hall already.
“Your carriage awaits, my lady.” It felt somewhat otherworldly—Cinderella like—except, she was no princess, and there was no prince awaiting her.
“Thank you, Timms. I’ve left the duke a note. If you would be so kind as to deliver it—”
“Certainly, madam, but perhaps you would care to deliver it yourself.” He opened the door, showing Ryleigh standing next to her carriage, holding the reins of a stellar mount.
Restraining her groan was impossible. “Please, tell me it isn’t so,” she muttered.
Timms, wisely, remained silent.
Behind her, Serena’s relief turned palpable.
Rebecca garnered her wits, squared her shoulders, and stepped purposely through the portico. The clouds in the distance were gathering, as was her temper. “Just what do you have up your lace-trimmed sleeves, Your Grace?”
“I shall accompany you to London,” he said. “As an outrider, of course.”
“Of course.” She’d known the duke too long to bother keeping her sarcasm at bay. “I suppose Gabby, er, Gabriella, took your rig?”
His head tipped in a sharp nod. “That, she did.”
Rebecca thought about that for a minute. As irritating as it was, the duke’s presence offered a great deal of protection. She hated that she didn’t trust her own travel equipage, but in this instance, getting to London as quickly as possible was crucial. Not to mention Finch Cromwell. “Very well.” She looked up at the darkening sky. “I suggest you carry your sturdiest hat and coat, Your Grace.” With that she stepped into the carriage, and once Serena was settled, she tapped the ceiling for Barret to proceed.
