“I am all right.”
He released her, though looked down into her eyes, searching her face.
“I must return you to your mother before she realizes something is wrong,” he said, quietly. “Lord Pleasance’s carriage is just here. Come.”
Emma struggled to put one foot in front of the other as she leaned heavily on Lord Yeatman’s arm. It took the last few ounces of strength to step up into the carriage and the moment that she sat down, her whole body sank into the seat and she did not think that she would be able to rise again without help.
“We will be back with your mother very soon. I am hopeful that Lord and Lady Pleasance will have distracted her so well that she will not be aware of your absence.” Lord Yeatman shifted from the other side of the carriage to sit next to her, and Emma rested her head on his shoulder, her chest heaving with the whirlwind of emotions that overcame her. “Did he hurt you?”
“No,” she whispered, her eyes closing as she settled against him. “But what he said is so astonishing, I do not think that I can speak of it.”
“Then do not,” he said softly. “I will have you returned home as quickly as possible but, until then, do not push yourself to say even a single word.”
“Will you call on me tomorrow?”
He nodded, his lips brushing her forehead.
“Of course,” he whispered, softly. “And every day after that, if you wish it.”
She nodded, her throat tight.
“I wish it,” she replied, only just managing to hold the tears back. “Thank you for saving me from him, Lord Yeatman. I do not know what would have become of me had you not.”
“I would have been loyal to you no matter what had taken place,” he swore, making her lips lift just a little. “Rest now. It will not be long before you are returned to your mother.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Iwill call on you tomorrow.” Frederick offered Miss Fairley a small smile, relieved when she managed to return it despite the whiteness of her face. “I do hope that you feel better quickly.”
“It was very good of you to take her back to Gunters and sit there with her, Lord Yeatman.” Lady Follet glanced at her daughter as they sat in the carriage, with Frederick and Lord and Lady Pleasance standing together beside it. “I am only sorry that I was too distracted to notice!”
Thinking that this did speak of genuine concern for her daughter, which meant that Miss Fairley would be well looked after, Frederick gave Lady Follet another small nod.
“But of course. I would like to call tomorrow if I can.”
“I look forward to it,” Miss Fairley replied, despite her mother’s concerned look. “Thank you again, Lord Yeatman. For everything.”
He smiled and then stepped back, the carriage door closing and, thereafter, driving away. Closing his eyes, Frederick blew out a long, slow breath and tried to calm the twisting anger that was whirling around his very soul.
“I am so very glad that you found her.” Lady Pleasance put one hand on his arm. “What happened?”
“I do not know,” Frederick replied, opening his eyes again to see the look of concern on Lady Pleasance’s face. “But whatever it was, it was greatly upsetting for Miss Fairley. Thank goodness that the carriage came to a stop when it did! I practically leaped from my carriage and ran towards it and when I pulled the door open, I saw Lord Wellbridge with his hand around Miss Fairley’s arm, pulling her back from the door. No doubt she was attempting to climb out and he was determined to stop it.”
Lady Pleasance shook her head.
“How dreadful.”
“I presume that we are going to go and speak with Lord Wellbridge?” Lord Pleasance lifted an eyebrow as the anger in Frederick’s heart continued to burn. “He cannot be permitted to continue in this way.”
Frederick nodded, his jaw tight.
“Certainly, that is true. If you are willing, then I am more than contented to go with you to his townhouse to see if we can…speakto Lord Wellbridge about what he attempted to do this afternoon.”
“Husband.” Lady Pleasance turned to Lord Pleasance, no doubt ready to tell him that he was not to do anything too harsh. “When you find Lord Wellbridge, please make certain to make my thoughts on his actionsveryclear indeed.”
Frederick’s eyebrows lifted, a slightly grim smile spreading across his face at her fervor.
“We shall make certain to do so,” Lord Pleasance promised. “Shall we go at this very moment, Yeatman?”
