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“There is no need. I am, in fact, traveling to London myself. I have business at the ports. Miss Allen can simply accompany me.”
A stunned silence followed the Lord’s words.
Business in London?
Only days after he had arrived in Devonshire?
I felt sure that he must be lying.
I turned to him, my eyes wide, but he didn’t meet my gaze. His eyes remained fixed on Lady Radcliffe, who was uncharacteristically quiet. I noticed that Cassandra was here, too, standing behind him.
“Excellent, then.” Lord Marsden continued, when still no one had spoken. “We will leave in an hour’s time. It will be an overnight trip; I trust Miss Allen will pack appropriately.”
He turned to me, finally making eye contact. We only stared at each other for a moment, but something felt different in his gaze. But before I could get a grip on it, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room, leaving Lady Radcliffe to watch him leave in shock.
“Miss Allen, I pray that you aren’t entertaining such an idea!” The ladyship cried, her face livid.
I swallowed, gathering up my courage.
“I am. I will be going with him.”
Her face turned from red to purple.
“If you dare to go anywhere with that abominable man, I promise you, you will be ruined! Indeed, your employment with me will terminate – and I will never allow you near my granddaughter again!”
I felt the blood drain out of my face. I never wanted to hurt Cassandra… but this was my family.
At the end of the day, they were all I had left.
I gave Cassandra an apologetic look, and she smiled at me, tears welling up in my eyes. She ran over and gave me a hug.
“Have fun for me, my dear.” She whispered in my ear, squeezing my arm.
“Cassandra! Let go of her at once!” Lady Radcliffe cried, her voice nearly cracking.
I felt a tear run down my face, but I ignored it. I took one last look at my friend before running out of the room, my heart threatening to beat right out of my chest.
I would have to consider the repercussions later.
It seemed I was going to London, indeed.
And with Lord Marsden, of all people.
Intherushofevents had transpired over the afternoon, I had completely forgotten about the Lord and I’s drunken encounter the night before. But now that we were only feet away from each, trapped in a carriage until the morning, it was hard tonotthink about it.
I had woken up that morning with a splitting headache and a horrible feeling in my gut that I had done something very, very wrong. When the memories finally came back to me, hazy and dreamlike, I had been ashamed to even leave my room. If I recalled correctly (which I was really not sure I did), I had fallen on the ground, drunk, and then the Lord had carried me to my room…
Just thinking about it made me blush. Walking to village with the Lord and Cassandra had been tortuous; he had seemed intent on getting a rise out of me, mentioning us climbing trees and the like. And the whole time, I hadn’t been sure of exactly what had transpired… and I couldn’t get him alone to ask.
I was terrified he would say something about our encounter, or at least imply it. I hadn’t dared to tell Cassandra… I don’t think she would have minded, to be frank, but such an event was enough to ruin a lady. Sure, I was not areallady, and my marriage prospects were basically zero anyways.
I mean, whydidit matter?
Lady Radcliffe had already turned me out. It didn’t seem as if things could get much worse. But I was more concerned that Lord Marsden and I had done something I was unaware of… and that was killing me.
My concern over Lord Marsden and I’s encounter, of course, had been overshadowed by the news of my uncle’s injury. But I was doing everything I could reasonably do to see Uncle Nicholas. Only time and the London road stood between us now.
Sitting in the carriage, my mind was suddenly free to roam, tracing anxious circles around the night’s events.
