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“I was not aware the duchess had these many guests at her home.”
Though his voice was carefully inscrutable, Pippa sensed that something bothered him. “Theo is hosting a small house party.”
“How many guests?”
“I would say twenty?”
A harsh curse slipped from him, and her heart lurched. “Everyone here is a friend, William.”
He said nothing to that assurance and unease crept down her spine. Earlier when he had said they would depart, she had not objected, sensing that after their passionate encounter their time alone in the cottage had ended. Their trek back to the duke’s estate had been mostly done in companionable silence as they navigated the overflooded riverbanks and the mud-logged roads. Pippa, however, had sensed that they might never see each other again. Though a wild grief had flashed through her and stung the backs of her eyes with tears, she had refused to feel any sort of sorrow. Their thrilling moment was hers to cherish for a lifetime, and she would not make anything as foolish as regret taint that memory.
“Let me dismount here, William,” Pippa said huskily, emotions tightening inside her chest.
He eased her from the horse with a gentle care that had a lump forming in her throat. Once she was steadied on the ground, she peered up at him. How she wished she could interpret the way he looked at her.Will you miss or long for me, William, she silently wondered. “Thank you, my lord; perhaps we shall see each other again about town.”
William looked at her for a moment, and his lips twisted in a curious smile. “Perhaps,” he murmured enigmatically.
Already knowing he was not a verbose gentleman, Pippa dipped into a curtsy, before turning away. When her heart tried to tear apart, she shored up her resolve. Harriet had dashed outside at Agatha’s cry, and she too ran toward Pippa, who was limping a little.
The marquess had helped her to dismount, and Pippa hastened to her friends as fast as her still aching ankle would allow, laughing when they hugged her far too enthusiastically.
“Thank heavens,” Agatha cried, swiping at her tears.
“Oh, Agatha, do not cry.”
“They are happy tears, I assure you,” she said with a hiccup and then a laugh. “We were all so worried and could do little about it because of the blasted storm. The duke traveled with a search party of servants to look for you. Theo was so worried! The duke did not allow us to help in the search while it rained. We were determined to set out on horses today and find you.”
“I am so sorry,” Pippa said with a watery smile. “My horse tossed me and ran away.”
“We knew something terrible must have happened for that dratted horse returned to the stables. Oh, Pippa I am so glad you are safe,” Harriet said, then lowered her voice, “But please settle my nerves by telling us how you have come to be in the company of that scoundrel?”
Agatha glanced over Pippa’s shoulder at the marquess who had dismounted and was handing the reins over to a stable lad.
“Is that Lord Trent?” Agatha asked in a horrified whisper.
Pippa fought with all her will to not blush. She feared that she had failed from the way her friends’ mouths parted and their eyes widened. “He rescued me and provided lodgings at his cottage nearby. The torrential rain and winds prevented my earlier return.”
“We must know everything!” they cried in unison, looking scandalized.
Pippa laughed, allowing them to drag her inside where Theo and several other ladies would be waiting. A few other members stopped her on the journey inside to hug her and express their happiness at her safe return. Pippa could feel the touch of William’s eyes upon her but successfully did not glance in his direction. She could also feel the curious stares of the ladies from 48 Berkeley Square which were fixed upon the marquess, and his name spilled from a few of their mouths in shocked accents.
Everyone was curious as to why they were together, but Pippa knew their discretion was always to be trusted. There would be no scandal that she had returned alone with a rogue like the marquess after being missing for almost three days. Pippa halted in the hallway upon spying the duke. A harsh sigh of relief came from him when he saw her.
“Thank God you are safe and well,” the duke said, his blue eyes swirling with emotions. “Theodosia is beside herself with worry. Hurry to her chambers and assure her that all is well.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Pippa gasped and hobbled down the hallway as fast as she could with her still throbbing ankle, past the duke and up the stairs in looping strides. Once at Theo’s chamber, she knocked once and was bid entry.
The duchess was propped up in bed with several plush pillows behind her. Her eyes widened upon seeing Pippa and then Theo burst into tears.
“Oh, Pippa,” she cried, “I have been so worried, imagining the most horrid fate for you.”
She limped over to the bed, clambered up and tried to embrace Theo as best as she could with her high belly.
“Oh, Theo I am dreadfullysorry. Now I feel wretched that I did not try harder to return.”
“Oh,pish,” Theo said with a watery smile, squeezing her hand. “The rains were quite awful, my dear. I know you are resourceful and clever and would be well, but I still worried.”
“I am safe and well.” As quickly as possible she relayed everything to the duchess.
