CHAPTER NINE
“Lucy, wake up,”Rowansaid.
Lucyblinked and saw him crouching beside her.Shecould have sworn she’d felt his hand on her cheek, a gentle caress.Perhapsshe’d imagined it.
“AmIin trouble,” she asked, sitting up.Theblanket fell to her waist.Shenoticed his eyes trail down and wondered why he was staring at her like that.Forheaven’s sake, she was wearing his shirt.Avery comfortable and warm shirt that smelled just like him.Shebreathed deeply and cleared her throat, and tried again.Hervoice sounded rough and ragged from sleep.Shelooked up atRowanand saw that same intensity in his eyes that she had seen before.Beforethey kissed.Beforeeverything changed.Beforeshe realized she’d fallen in love with him.
Shelooked around, her hair whipping around her shoulders.
“Whatare you looking for,”Rowansaid, his voice raspy.
“Myspectacles.”
“Here,” he said gruffly, reaching into his pocket. “Ifound them on the floor and didn’t want them to break.”
Gently, he placed them on her face.
“What’swrong,” she whispered.Somethinghad changed between them again.Eventhough they’d argued last night, she still had felt safe in their little cocoon of pillows and warm blankets,Ashe, and a cozy fire, and memories of his kisses still lingering on her lips.Andthe snow softly falling.
“Nothingis wrong,”Rowansaid quietly. “Latham,Nelson, andSliceare here.”
“Oh.Thatmeans we go back today.”
“Yes, we go back.”
Shelooked up as the three men entered the parlor.
“Itold you to stay out of it,”Rowansaid over his shoulders. “I’llhandle this.”
“Handlewhat?”Lucyasked, feeling a growing alarm creeping up her spine.
Noone said a word.
“Issomething amiss?Anotherstorm?Pleasedon’t say there’s another storm.Iquite need a bath after these last two days…”Shestopped and stared at the three men standing, looking at her in silence.Theylooked like three big bad wolves coming to take her to the underworld.
“Everyoneis waiting for your return,”Lathamsaid in a low voice. “Mywife,Katie, andPaulaare worried sick about you.”
“Wehad a feeling you were safe withGarrison—Scarborough, but we couldn’t search for you until this morning.Thestorm…”Slicesaid.
“Yes…the storm,” she added softly.
“Butit’s time to go back,Lucy,”Nelsonsaid.
“Lucy, you must get dressed…inyourclothing,”Rowansaid. “Ihave something to ask you before we go.Ican’t do it with you…like that.”
Shelooked from the faces of the three men, then back toRowan.Theyall looked terribly upset.Andshe hadn’t missed the wayRowantold her to get dressedin her clothing.
Theneverything became clear.
Great!Justgreat.Shebreathed out a shivery sigh.Ofcourse.Anotherscandal.Anotherreason for people to gossip about her.Nother friends of course, but word would eventually get out.Servantstalk, even if they mean no harm in doing so…Sheshould be used to this, but one never gets used to being ridiculed.Hereyes welled with unshed tears of frustration. “Thereis a simple explanation for this,” she began in a voice thick with tears. “Yousee,Iwas helpingAshehere.Heis the fox, and he appeared to be injured, sick, or both.Anyway,Row—LordScarboroughandI, when the snow began to fall, it fell so heavy and fast, we thought only to get to the nearest shelter, and this was the closest place.Wewere already too far from the manor house, which looked to be uphill…”Evento her, it seemed she was spinning excuses.Butit was the truth!
“Wealready know the truth,”Lathamsaid gently. “Butyou must understand how this looks to the outside world.”
Rowansaid nothing, and worse, he looked angry.Hisarms were crossed over his chest.Noneof this boded well, as far as she could tell.Shewould have to leaveLondon.OrEngland.Shecould go toAmerica.Shehad no choice.Therewas nothing for it.
“Leaveus,”Rowansaid.
Slice,Nelson, andLathamlooked at each other.
