Free An Accidental Affair by Heather Boyd Page B

with Lord Parker. Arabella shuddered at the storm that would likely land on her head because of this when Cecily was discovered missing tomorrow morning. It would not be an easy time.
    Arabella stopped as she spied a gleaming black carriage standing at the appointed place. The coach bore no crest that she could see but looked very new and fine. She held Cecily in place. “That could not be him.”
    “I’m sure it is.” Cecily hurried forward, hood falling to her shoulders in her haste, unconcerned that she could be spotted by someone who knew them.
    Heart sinking to her toes, Arabella had no choice but to follow.
    “Wait,” she called, but Cecily was already beside the carriage. Lieutenant Ford owned only a phaeton that she knew of. She imagined he’d hire a coach for the journey, but how he could afford such a fine conveyance in just a day escaped her.
    She hurried her pace then let out a relieved breath when she spied Lieutenant Ford beside the dark carriage, one hand on the door, one held out to Cecily. He had forgone his navy uniform for this excursion but still looked every inch a sailor. As if in a daze, Cecily moved to him without a second thought for Arabella.
    Lieutenant Ford raised Cecily’s hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “My love.”
    Cecily’s return smile was blinding.
    Lieutenant Ford dragged his gaze away from his future wife and grinned at Arabella over Cecily’s shoulder. “Thank you for delivering her into my keeping, my lady. I promise you we will see you again very soon.”
    “How could you afford…,” she asked before she thought better of her question. She winced at how uncouth her blunt question would sound. It was one thing to discreetly enquire after a suitor’s financial affairs, but quite another to demand answers on a public street.
    “I have my cousin, Lord Rothwell’s, generosity to thank for that.” His eyes flickered to the impressive conveyance and the restless horses attached to it. “He is as true a believer in love as ever there was.”
    Rothwell was involved? That truly surprised her. She’d had the distinct impression that he didn’t care to help anyone, especially not members of his family and that he considered the pair rash in their affections.
    Cecily turned and hugged her tightly. “I wish I could stay to see you made happy too. I cannot bear to think of you in Surrey. When I return a married woman, you must come live with us.”
    Arabella could never do as Cecily wished. She could not live off their charity since the pair would have so little to live on with a lieutenant’s pay. So she made no immediate answer in order to avoid the likely argument now. Time was of the essence. When she stepped back, Lieutenant Ford assisted Cecily inside. He joined her a moment later, and a groom jumped down from the rear of the vehicle.
    As the carriage rolled away, the groom came closer. The man was tall and narrow, well dressed and with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Now they’re on their way, I’m commissioned by Lord Rothwell to ensure you return home in safety, my lady. He had a feeling you’d follow the chit to this meeting and wanted to be sure you returned home unharmed.”
    Arabella frowned and glanced around her. “If he thought it so dangerous, then why did he not come himself?”
    “Wouldn’t do, my lady. Wouldn’t do your reputation any good to be seen alone with him. If you’d be so good as to return the way you came, I’m to follow at a discreet distance and ensure you’re sweetly tucked up at home again before the hour has passed.”
    He stepped back, hands lax at his side. Why would Rothwell care for her safety and the continuation of her good reputation? He was the one to kiss her senseless and not even apologize for mistaking her for someone else. Perhaps he routinely kissed the wrong women. She shrugged aside her irritation at the idea and squared her shoulders. She was thinking irrationally to worry about that now. She had