An Accidental Affair (14 page)

Other food had been delivered, too—exotic fruits and small cakes in covered dishes. She had enough to last her most of the day without ever needing to show her face outside this room and would save them for later. Relief trickled through her that Rothwell had planned everything so she did not have to make any immediate decisions about her life. Another sign that she did not know very much about him at all but what she discovered now proved him extremely generous.

Arabella moved to the bed where clothing had been laid out in readiness for dressing. The parcels were a mystery but clearly meant for her. She opened each one, blushing with each new discovery. A chemise, corset, and fine silk stockings were terribly personal but essential if one cared to be properly dressed. How had Rothwell acquired ladies’ clothing so quickly at this hour? Given her gown of last night had disappeared when the servants had come, and she had nothing else to wear, she couldn’t refuse to put them on.

Feeling extremely self-conscious, Arabella slid the stockings up her legs and secured them beneath her knees. Next she slipped from the robe and drew the chemise over her head. The fit was good and she lifted the corset. Luckily, it was a style she could manage alone without a maid, and it fit snugly around her body.

The last was the dress, a simply styled affair that didn’t look too fussy. She stepped into the peach muslin, securing the material around her and at last feeling ready to face, well, anything better than last night.

However, dressing did bring to mind her future destination. She wasn’t wanted by Farnsworth except to marry off. He would sell her home and leave her with nothing but her pride to warm her. She had no family to turn to, only friends, and none of them in London. Every decision required an effort and more hours of travel than she cared to contemplate.

She moved to the window and carefully peeked through the gap in the curtains at the street below. The view was one she’d never had before and she took a moment to reacquaint herself with Rothwell’s nearest neighbors. None of them were friends to Farnsworth, though they were little known to her too. The relief of that eased her mind. She leaned against the wall, hiding behind the safety of the drapes, and watched the comings and goings of those below. She was relieved to be here and not out there where who knows what else could have assaulted her.

She touched her face again and then moved to the mirror. The bruise was not as bad as she had imagined this morning, but it definitely did not make her pretty in any way. She lifted her chin and moved her damp hair back over her shoulder to inspect the bruises made by Farnsworth’s hand about her throat. A shudder raked her. She’d never been subjected to violence before. Her father had been the gentlest of men, and her late husband had left her alone. At no time in the past had she ever imagined Farnsworth capable of such cruelty, although his temper was easily provoked.

Arabella pulled her hair forward so it covered her neck and the bruised side of her face. She would keep it down today to hide the damage even from her own eyes. She poured another cup of lukewarm chocolate from the pot and settled in a chair to think. Perhaps if she was as undemanding as possible, Rothwell might allow her to remain hidden in his house for today and maybe, if she was extremely lucky, until she was fully restored to her usual appearance. She couldn’t face the world like this, but to make plans for her future she would have to speak to others. At the moment, she might only have the courage to let Rothwell see her face. He’d been so kind, but she didn’t want to shock him. There was nothing else she could do now but wait for her appearance to heal itself or for Rothwell to grow bored with the situation and suggest an alternative that involved leaving.

~ * ~

Sometimes to get to the heart of an issue, a man has to skirt very close to the border without actually asking a direct question. Merrick judged himself most fortunate for crossing paths with Mr. Milne outside the coffee house he frequented and garnering an invitation to step inside the man’s home for a drink after their short walk. He wouldn’t quibble at so sudden an invitation, and with any luck, he would get the answers he needed to make a decision about Miss Milne.

He studied the numerous small curios that littered Mr. Milne’s desk and every other available surface in the room. “You have a lovely home. I imagine your wife, and to some degree your daughter, like everything just so.”

“That they do,” said Mr. Milne, nodding enthusiastically. “Sensible management leads to a well-run home. My own wife began with pin money of six hundred a year, but she’s a kind soul with an exceedingly generous heart to those less fortunate. My daughter takes after her in that respect. Always ready to spend a shilling for another’s comfort. They do love to patronize the craftsmen of our great city.”

“I honor them for their generosity.” Merrick smiled at Mr. Milne, judging the last few moments had considerably advanced his knowledge. Despite a timid nature at balls, Miss Milne appeared rather free with purchasing unnecessary things.

As many fathers in the merchant class were, Milne was eager to have his daughter marry into a titled family. He didn’t appear unduly concerned about his reputation today and had been rather happy to relate particulars of his daughter’s nature. He proudly boasted of her accomplishments and even mentioned some early setbacks best forgotten.

Such candidness pleased Merrick. He did not mind if his future wife had the odd incident in her past, nor a tendency to shop, so long as he was made aware of it before he proposed. He had enough scandals in his own family to make him a less-than-stellar candidate for marriage and had no illusions that his wife might have habits in her life best forgotten or at least overlooked.

Eager to be on his way home to his unexpected houseguest, he stood to leave a short time later. “I should be going and let you get on with your business. Thank you for seeing me, sir.”

Milne surged to his feet. “I say, Rothwell, is anything the matter? I would have thought you’d wish my daughter to be called down to speak with you.”

Merrick smiled. He was not ready to propose. He wanted to observe Miss Milne when she was not aware of his presence and also talk to her once or twice before he declared his interest. And he was later than he hoped to be in returning to Arabella. She had barely been out of his mind all day and had proved quite the distraction, but running into Milne had been an opportunity he hadn’t wanted to pass up. “Another time perhaps.”

Mr. Milne sat back, his hands resting on his overstretched belly. “Yes, indeed. I’ll likely see you next in Essex for the wedding. Looking forward to sampling the duke’s hospitality. They say Ford affairs are very fine.”

Merrick peered at Mr. Milne. “I had not known invitations had already been sent for my cousin’s wedding.”

“I had a note from Rutherford just this morning, inviting myself, my wife and my darling daughter to join him.” He touched the side of his nose with one finger and grinned. “Your grandfather assuredly plays a long game, but he will be proved right in the end.”

What the devil was this? “Will he?”

“It takes a brave man to stand in the Admiral’s way when he wants something done. I’ve no objection to his laying out the timetable at all for a match. Either way, we’ll each get what we want.” Milne saluted him with the remains of his drink. “Until the wedding.”

Merrick strode out, puzzling over what he’d learned. His grandfather was no friend to Mr. Milne. At least not to his knowledge. He’d never known they were acquainted, which had added to Miss Milne’s appeal. Until now. Was a scheme at play? Merrick had a sinking feeling he’d already been cast in the central role with Miss Milne as his leading lady. That his grandfather was likely meddling placed a pall over getting to know her. He had hoped to avoid family interference, but it might just be impossible.

As he reached the entrance hall, his remaining good humor vanished. Farnsworth stood before him, a condescending smile spreading over his face. “I say, Rothwell. Well met.”

Merrick itched to wipe that expression off his face. “Farnsworth.”

The stupid man came closer, giving Merrick a glimpse of the left side of his face. A cut oozed red at his hairline. Arabella hadn’t mentioned that she’d fought back, but he was pleased. A little harder and Arabella might have killed the man. A pity she had not.

Farnsworth’s expression grew serious. “Now, this is fortuitous. Do you have a moment?”

Whatever Farnsworth had to say would not be worth listening to. “Actually no. I have somewhere to be and cannot delay. Good day to you.”

“Wait. I wanted to warn you to be cautious. I was attacked in my home last night. A terribly brazen affair, indeed.” He pointed to the wound on his head. “I discovered the villains in my home quite by chance and routed them, or so I thought at the time.”

Farnsworth had to be joking. “Really? How terrible for you.”

“It was, but that is not the worst. You see, while they were taking my candlesticks and silverware out through the back window, my sister-in-law, Arabella, fled the house in a wild panic and hasn’t been seen since. I truly fear for her sanity. She must have been quite overset with fear for us all.”

Merrick stared at the man. This was how he would explain Arabella’s disappearance to any who questioned her whereabouts? The fool. Anyone who knew Arabella would know she wasn’t one to suffer panic without cause.

Farnsworth pointed to his wound again. “This is what they did to me. I truly fear for Arabella’s safety if the brigands followed her into the night. I dread to think what has happened to her. I am sure she fled far into Green Park. I followed long as I could, of course, but lost sight of her in the heavy rain. Keep your eyes open would you, and do be discreet. My dear Arabella means the world to me and to my daughter. We would hate to lose her though will gladly take her back no matter what evil has befallen her.”

Merrick held on to his temper by the skin of his teeth. Arabella’s happiness meant much more to him than to this bastard. However, the time wasn’t right to reveal he knew her location, so he kept his mouth shut. He wanted to see how far Farnsworth would go in his lies first. “What have the Runners to say?”

Farnsworth’s expression grew evasive. “I’m on my way to them now.”

No, he wasn’t. It was three in the afternoon and the man was paying house calls. Milne had no ties to the Runners or the law. Merrick had a suspicion that Farnsworth wouldn’t hire even one man to find her. It had been hours since Arabella had fled Farnsworth’s home, and he’d likely done nothing more than design a story to explain his injury and garner sympathy should Arabella reveal what he intended for her. If pressed, would Farnsworth weep over a vacant grave bearing her name? He probably hoped she would return to him properly chastened and cowed into submission so she would marry Lord Parker without fuss.

Milne’s butler gestured to the doorway Merrick had just walked through. “Mr. Milne will see you now, Lord Farnsworth.”

The sorrowful expression instantly slipped from Farnsworth’s face at the news. “Excellent.”

Merrick again forced himself not to pound the man to a bloody pulp. He had no right to do so. Not yet. But once Arabella was healed and settled in an alternate safe haven, Merrick would pay a call to Farnsworth and avenge her. There were any number of ways to make the man suffer that would be undetectable.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Merrick let himself into his home and immediately looked around for Arabella. When he heard and saw nothing but the usual household sounds and sights, he sighed. It was foolish to hope her nerves had relaxed sufficiently to make her feel safe in his home. She’d had quite a bad time of it last night.

“Has she come down yet?” he asked Holland as soon as he appeared.

“No, my lord.” Holland frowned, his glance rising to the ceiling. “She is up and moving around but will not allow anyone to see her. I fear the bruising must be quite bad.”

Merrick shared that fear. He’d worried for her welfare all day while he’d continued about his business as usual, as if he did not have an unexpected houseguest resting in his future wife’s bedchamber. There had better not be any lasting harm done to her appearance. Farnsworth had done enough to shake her confidence already and with the lies he was spreading about her flight into the night, he feared any disfiguration would break her confidence completely.

Merrick slapped Holland’s shoulder and then slid his hat and gloves onto the hall table. “I’m sure she will come down in due time. However, I’ll look in on her directly to see if she needs anything.”

“She should not be here,” Holland said quietly, for his ears alone. “We should have let her catch her breath and then taken her to your aunt this morning.”

Merrick did not need Holland to voice the doubts that had already invaded his mind. He’d spent the morning roundly chastising himself for selfishness on his part for wanting Arabella to stay where he could keep an eye on her. The cost to her reputation could be severe, but he felt better knowing she was truly beyond Farnsworth’s reach. “My aunt would have questioned her. You saw her last night and her behavior this morning. She wasn’t ready to face any of that.”

“And now?”

“And now I do not know, but I will ask what she wishes to do. If she wishes to remain or will not see me, then she may stay exactly where she is. If she wishes to leave, then I will see that it’s accomplished in a way to avoid discovery and spare her reputation any stain. Is her presence any great hardship for the household?”