Free The Rogue's Reluctant Rose by Daphne du Bois

stony expression as he drove them back to Kitty and the groom, ignoring the curious glances from the handful of people they passed on their way.
    Kitty had been looking anxiously all around her, and relief flashed across her face as they drew up beside the old woman. She shot a look of fury at the nobleman, who leaped down from the phaeton to help Araminta descend. His groom stepped aboard, and the marquis bowed over her hand, ignoring the outraged noises made by her duenna.
    “Good morning, Miss Barrington. I thank you for the honour. Doubtless I shall see you again.” His voice was perfectly polite but his eyes appeared almost to devour her. In an undertone he added, “We have not quite finished discussing your situation, after all.”
    “I think we have,” she replied, wondering if he still meant to blackmail her. “Good morning, my lord.” With a curtsey she walked away, in the direction of her aunt and uncle’s home.
    As they walked, Kitty voiced her outrage, enquired whether she was unharmed, who the marquis was, and what had happened during their ride.
    “I was so frightened, my girl! Quite at a loss as to what I could do to help you. I thought for a dreadful moment that you had been abducted and would be lost to us forever. That man is an utter blackguard to have stolen you in such a fashion. Why, we must hurry home at once and tell your Uncle Worthing. I dare say he will call that man out.”
    Araminta, however, was very tight-lipped on the matter, apart from assuring her maid that she was unharmed, if a little startled, that the gentleman simply had an eccentric sense of humour, and begging Kitty not to say a word of it to her uncle. This, Kitty could not understand, though she gave her word.
    “Eccentric or not, that man behaved most inappropriately! It is an outrage. I do not see why you would wish to shield him from your uncle. Sir Timothy would be outraged if he were to hear of it. We are fortunate indeed that it is so early still that very few people saw.” Kitty huffed, as they opened the little, iron, gate and proceeded towards the front door of the Worthing townhouse.

Chapter 5
    The equipage stood ready outside the Suttons’ townhouse at ten o’clock the following morning. At the insistence of Lord Worthing, Araminta was to take one of his carriages, though she had tried to persuade him that she would do just as well in a hired vehicle. Her uncle would not hear of any such thing, however, proclaiming that it was ridiculous that his own niece should make such a long journey in a hired carriage, when his own was both available and much more comfortable. He deemed the idea as ridiculous as if she had suggested travelling by stage-coach.
    Aunt Worthing had fussed over her undertaking such a journey alone, even accompanied by Kitty, who took to protecting her charge with the same zeal a fierce mother cat would her kittens. Despite this, however, all Araminta’s efforts to reassure Lady Worthing passed over her without any effect.
    When the time came to leave, she parted from her relations with a mixture of relief and reluctance. She was still unsettled from the turn the previous day had taken, and longed to be away from London, if only for a short while. She could see her sister-in-law and little nephew, and plan her next move in the safety and comfort of Fanshawe Hall. There, she would feel close to her family, there she knew her worries would be worlds away. Closing her eyes, she could already see the long drive through the park surrounding her home, shadowed by ancient oaks and elders. She could picture the elegant façade of the house, and the shabby stables a way behind it. She could see her brother’s face and those of her parents.
    However, she also felt sorry to be leaving the Suttons, though she would see them again soon. They fussed and cared for her as warmly as they did their own children, and she had grown even more attached to them during the course of her short stay. As they parted,