distracting her from the panic that threatened to consume her. She prayed for divine intervention.
To her relief, she spied Mary making her way toward them. Not an angel from heaven, but she would do. “Mary, please don’t wander off like that again. We’ve been searching everywhere for you,” she scolded, sending her a meaningful look.
With a sparkle in her eye, Mary played along, “I’m so sorry, miss. Please forgive me.”
“No harm done.” Rebecca turned to Mr. Black, ready to send him on his way. “Thank you for keeping me company while I waited for Mary to return.”
A pleased grin softened his features. Clearly, he was aware of her intent to be rid of him, and was amused by it all the same. “My pleasure.” The low timbre of his voice grazed over her flesh as sure as a gentle touch. “Good day, Miss Bailey.”
“Good day,” Rebecca whispered as he strode off.
“He’s a handsome devil,” Mary said once he was out of hearing range.
“Yes, he is.” She continued to stare, confused by the sense of loss that weighed her down. “But it would be best to stay clear of him,” she said as much to herself as to Mary, tearing her eyes away from his broad back.
“What? Why would you do that?”
She stroked the fine feathers of her duster. “He’s already suspicious. I have no doubt he’ll soon remember me from his visit with Miss Endicott.”
“You don’t know that. Most gentlemen wouldn’t remember the name or face of a servant girl if she stood before him naked.”
“He isn’t like most men.”
“I see,” Mary muttered knowingly. “Still, last night must have gone fairly well if you already have plans with… Who did you say?”
“Mr. Westerly. And yes, I had a wonderful time. You can’t imagine what it was like, truly amazing, like a dream.” The image of a charming pirate clouded her mind. Forcing the thought away, she scanned the lawns, trying hard to focus on today’s outing. “Mr. Westerly should be coming any time now…” She spied him some distance off in a plum suit.
“What is it?”
“I see Mr. Westerly. He’s speaking with Mr. Black.” What could they be talking about? If Mr. Black disliked Philip Westerly as much as he said, one would think he’d avoid him. Yet, the two men appeared to be talking amicably, even shaking hands as they parted ways. “Here he comes.” Rebecca turned to Mary and clenched her hands together. “How do I look?”
Mary nodded. “Good, good.”
“Miss Bailey, how nice to see you again,” Mr. Westerly said as he approached.
“Hello.”
“I’m sorry I left you waiting. I ran into an acquaintance of mine, Christopher Black. He’s invited us both to dinner and the opera later this evening, if you’re interested. Are you free?”
Rebecca swallowed past the sudden tightness in her throat. “I’d love to.” If it meant more time with Mr. Westerly, she’d gladly come along. She needed to save her father. Yes, this was her chance to save him. Which perfectly explained the anticipation blooming in her chest.
…
Outside the Endicotts’ home, Christopher waited in the carriage for Westerly’s return, his gaze fixed on the door although he looked at nothing in particular.
His cousin leaned toward him. “I can’t wait to meet this woman who’s caught your eye.”
He met Kimberly’s amused stare. “She hasn’t caught my eye.” He’d arranged this evening to gain Miss Bailey’s trust and to watch over her. Now that he knew she was the one Nathan spoke of, he had a duty to keep her safe…at least until he determined whether she was already safe on her own.
The carriage door swung open far sooner than he would have suspected, and Miss Bailey stepped inside. He drank in her curly auburn hair, pert nose, and shapely lips like he’d been dying of thirst.
She took a seat on the open bench across from him and busied herself with adjusting her skirts. After thoroughly completing the task, she cast him a furtive glance,
To her relief, she spied Mary making her way toward them. Not an angel from heaven, but she would do. “Mary, please don’t wander off like that again. We’ve been searching everywhere for you,” she scolded, sending her a meaningful look.
With a sparkle in her eye, Mary played along, “I’m so sorry, miss. Please forgive me.”
“No harm done.” Rebecca turned to Mr. Black, ready to send him on his way. “Thank you for keeping me company while I waited for Mary to return.”
A pleased grin softened his features. Clearly, he was aware of her intent to be rid of him, and was amused by it all the same. “My pleasure.” The low timbre of his voice grazed over her flesh as sure as a gentle touch. “Good day, Miss Bailey.”
“Good day,” Rebecca whispered as he strode off.
“He’s a handsome devil,” Mary said once he was out of hearing range.
“Yes, he is.” She continued to stare, confused by the sense of loss that weighed her down. “But it would be best to stay clear of him,” she said as much to herself as to Mary, tearing her eyes away from his broad back.
“What? Why would you do that?”
She stroked the fine feathers of her duster. “He’s already suspicious. I have no doubt he’ll soon remember me from his visit with Miss Endicott.”
“You don’t know that. Most gentlemen wouldn’t remember the name or face of a servant girl if she stood before him naked.”
“He isn’t like most men.”
“I see,” Mary muttered knowingly. “Still, last night must have gone fairly well if you already have plans with… Who did you say?”
“Mr. Westerly. And yes, I had a wonderful time. You can’t imagine what it was like, truly amazing, like a dream.” The image of a charming pirate clouded her mind. Forcing the thought away, she scanned the lawns, trying hard to focus on today’s outing. “Mr. Westerly should be coming any time now…” She spied him some distance off in a plum suit.
“What is it?”
“I see Mr. Westerly. He’s speaking with Mr. Black.” What could they be talking about? If Mr. Black disliked Philip Westerly as much as he said, one would think he’d avoid him. Yet, the two men appeared to be talking amicably, even shaking hands as they parted ways. “Here he comes.” Rebecca turned to Mary and clenched her hands together. “How do I look?”
Mary nodded. “Good, good.”
“Miss Bailey, how nice to see you again,” Mr. Westerly said as he approached.
“Hello.”
“I’m sorry I left you waiting. I ran into an acquaintance of mine, Christopher Black. He’s invited us both to dinner and the opera later this evening, if you’re interested. Are you free?”
Rebecca swallowed past the sudden tightness in her throat. “I’d love to.” If it meant more time with Mr. Westerly, she’d gladly come along. She needed to save her father. Yes, this was her chance to save him. Which perfectly explained the anticipation blooming in her chest.
…
Outside the Endicotts’ home, Christopher waited in the carriage for Westerly’s return, his gaze fixed on the door although he looked at nothing in particular.
His cousin leaned toward him. “I can’t wait to meet this woman who’s caught your eye.”
He met Kimberly’s amused stare. “She hasn’t caught my eye.” He’d arranged this evening to gain Miss Bailey’s trust and to watch over her. Now that he knew she was the one Nathan spoke of, he had a duty to keep her safe…at least until he determined whether she was already safe on her own.
The carriage door swung open far sooner than he would have suspected, and Miss Bailey stepped inside. He drank in her curly auburn hair, pert nose, and shapely lips like he’d been dying of thirst.
She took a seat on the open bench across from him and busied herself with adjusting her skirts. After thoroughly completing the task, she cast him a furtive glance,
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