The Deceptive Lady Darby (Lost Ladies of London 2)

Rose hadn’t. Coincidence did not bring her to Everleigh. Coincidence had nothing to do with the deep sense of belonging she experienced when held in Christian’s arms. This was her predestined path.

“I should go.” She simply meant she should not keep his lordship waiting. Still, she drew Mrs Hibbet into an embrace and hugged her tightly. “My mother died a long time ago, but you have given me another glimpse of unconditional love. You love Lord Farleigh like a son. Anyone can see that. Know that I love him, too. Know that I never meant to hurt him.”

The words tumbled from her lips without thought or censure, but she felt the truth of them deep in her bones. Tears welled in her eyes, and she hurried away down the stairs before she crumpled into a blubbering wreck.

Once outside the study, she stood there for a moment — waiting for what, she didn’t know. She gazed at the grandfather clock, listened to the rhythmical tick, wished she could turn back the hands and make everything right again. She looked at the tapestries lining the walls on the stairs, inhaled the smell of polished wood, caught a hint of Christian’s musky cologne in the air.

Come what may, her heart would always reside at Everleigh.

Sucking in a breath, she straightened her shoulders and knocked the door. One could not postpone the inevitable.

She waited to hear Christian’s voice, wondered if he would give any indication as to his feelings. Instead of calling for her to enter he yanked open the door, and their eyes met.

It was as she feared. Suspicion and disappointment marred those vibrant green gems. He held his mouth in a firm, cynical line.

“Rose. So, it appears the D is for Darby.” He stepped back and bowed. “Won’t you come in?”

She entered the room, and her beloved brother jumped up from the chair.

“Rose!” Oliver rushed forward and drew her into an embrace. He smelt exactly as she remembered, warm, familiar, comforting. He looked at her, regret swimming in his eyes. “Can you ever forgive me for staying away? I would have come sooner had I known of your predicament.”

Rose looked up and cupped his cheeks simply to prove he was not a figment of her imagination. “There is nothing to forgive.”

Nicole rushed to their side. “Oh, I have been so worried about you. Do you know how many times we’ve travelled the road back and forth to London? What made you come here?”

Rose glanced briefly at Christian although from the dark look in his eyes she wished she hadn’t. She needed to explain it all to him first.

“Yes, why did you not return to London?” Christian’s ice-cold tone sliced through the air. “After all, you left Morton Manor with the intention of reaching Lord Cunningham did you not? He is the man you love, the one you wish to marry?”

Good Lord, no!

Nicole had told him about Lord Cunningham. Oh, he would not understand. “I do not love Lord Cunningham,” she snapped. I love you. “And I certainly have no intention of ever marrying him.”

“Oh, thank the Lord for that.” Nicole put her hand to her chest. “The gentleman is a cad. No matter how hard I try, I can find nothing to recommend him. I can’t imagine what you were thinking.”

“Six months locked in an old asylum can affect one’s judgement.”

“Indeed,” Oliver said stepping back. “Why else would you take a job as a maid?” He made it sound degrading, undignified, and yet she had never felt so empowered, never felt so needed.

“When I left the manor, I came upon Father’s coach at the inn. I assumed he’d come for me.” She turned to Nicole. “I wanted to warn you, but got lost in the woods and ended up here. The rest, well … I don’t suppose it matters now.”

Oliver frowned and then recognition dawned. “You did not know Father had died.”

“No. I came back to the manor the following day, but you’d gone.”

Christian cleared his throat. “Now I understand why you were so distressed that day. The story about being hired to work at the manor was just that, a story.”

The disdain in his voice cut deep. She turned to him, took a hesitant step forward, but Christian stepped back. “I never meant to deceive anyone. You must understand, I didn’t know what to do. Had my father found me, he would have sent me back to the manor.”

Oliver came to stand beside her. “Lord Farleigh has assured us of his discretion. No one will know you were here. Let us put this unfortunate event behind us and start anew.”

Unfortunate event?

Being at Everleigh had changed her in every way. She belonged here. She belonged with Christian.

“We have so much to tell you,” Nicole said. “But the most important news is that we’re getting married tomorrow, here in Abberton.”

“Married?” Rose gulped.