“You think that is all?” Abigail asked, watching Pippa get to her feet and pace away.
“Of course it is,” Pippa insisted, stopping before the fire and staring into the flames. “There could never be anything more to it, even if I wanted there to be. Lord Leighton needs to tidy up his reputation, connecting himself with me in any way would do nothing for that purpose. He needs to find a lady of impeccable actions and credentials. Someone who will make Society forget what Erasmus did, not remind them of it every time she enters a room.”
“Pippa—” Abigail began.
Pippa shook her head and faced her with a smile that felt as forced as anything. “He will be here shortly, and I still have a great deal of preparing to do. Would you come help me?”
Abigail studied her a moment, then got to her feet. “Of course. I’d do anything you needed, love. Anything at all.”
Pippa knew that was true as they linked arms and headed up to her chamber for the last gathering of items and checking of drawers and cupboards. That was the only way Abigail could help her now. The rest of what she needed to do and how she needed to behave rested entirely upon her own shoulders.
And she was determined not to fail or fall victim to a temptation that could never be.
Rhys’s carriage arrived exactly on time a few hours later, and Pippa found herself watching as he chatted with the servants that had loaded her bags. He was very kind, jovial even. A few times he cracked a smile during the endeavor, and she was mesmerized.
Rhys hadn’t done much smiling in the short time she’d known the man. For obvious reasons.
But at last everything was prepared and the time had come. He joined her and Abigail on the step for the farewells.
“Do take good care of her, my lord,” Abigail said with a pointed glance in his direction that made Pippa blush.
“I will, Abigail,” he promised as he took both her hands briefly. “And you and I will have a great deal to discuss when I return. I have not forgotten you in all this.”
Pippa turned away slightly. Unlike the other wives, Rhys had always known Abigail, for she was the only legal one in the bunch. The two seemed to share a casual friendship, and that was to be expected.
Still, there was something about looking at it that made Pippa’s own heart throb a little harder.
“I know you haven’t. We’ll talk upon your return.” Abigail pivoted to Pippa, tears in her dark eyes. “Oh no. I hate this. You must promise me you’ll come back to London.”
There was a wildness in Abigail’s tone. A desperation that Pippa rarely heard from her. She nodded even though she wasn’t certain she would be able to come back here for a very long time. “I will.”
They hugged, both trembling as they clung to each other. Finally, Abigail released her and turned away. “Forgive me, I do not think I could bear watching you go.”
She fled into the house, and Pippa lifted a hand to her mouth to catch a sob. She stared at the door Abigail left open in her haste, breath coming hard and heavy as emotion overwhelmed her.
“Come now,” Rhys said softly, and she jumped when he took her arm.
She glanced up at him and her breath disappeared for a far different reason. He was staring down at her, face lined with concern and gentle understanding, and for a brief moment she wanted to turn into his chest. She wanted his arms to come around her. She wanted to breathe in the scent of him through his coat and know what his warmth felt like.
He darted his gaze away as if he could read those inappropriate thoughts and guided her toward the carriage. “I hired a maid for you, as we discussed,” he explained as they reached the carriage door. “So be prepared.”
She drew a gulp of air and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I’m ready,” she lied.
He squeezed her arm and then opened the door, helping her up into the vehicle. A petite young woman sat on the bench, and for a moment Pippa stared. Sit next to this stranger or across? Across meant she would sit next to Rhys. She didn’t think she was ready for that.
So she slid into place beside the young lady as Rhys followed her into the vehicle. “Mrs. Montgomery, this is Nan Feeley.”
“Good afternoon,” Pippa said, extending a hand in greeting. “I so appreciate you taking on this position on such short notice.”
“Of course, ma’am,” the young woman said softly as they shook. “I’m happy to be of service to you.”
The way she looked toward Rhys made it clear she knew who her true employer was, but what did it matter? She had a kind way about her, and it was true that Pippa needed a maid. Her last one had…
Well, her last maid had mothered a child with Pippa’s husband, so there was that. She tried to push the bitterness of that truth away as the carriage rocked into motion and they headed onto the street.
“I’ll ride along with you ladies for a while,” Rhys explained. “Though I might change to my horse after a spell.”
“The weather is beautiful for it,” Pippa said, pulling the curtain back as the afternoon sun twinkled through the sparkling glass. “I don’t think I can hardly recall a finer late summer in years.”
For a while they discussed the weather, and she was pleased that Rhys had steered them that way. Surely Nan had heard of Pippa. He might have even had to pay her a little more to associate herself with such a fallen woman. But the topic of weather was benign and allowed Pippa to relax.
Except for when she looked at Rhys. Her foolish heart increased every time she was so wrong as to do that.
Eventually they rode from the confines of London, though, and the pace of their carriage increased. Nan reached for embroidery to pass the time, and that left Pippa to do nothing but stare once more at the man she’d been trying not to look directly at for an hour.
He smiled and his gaze slipped to Nan before it returned to her. His meaning was clear. Although he had hired the young woman and probably vetted her meticulously, she was still a stranger. They would have to be careful about what they spoke about in front of her.
“Are you pleased to return to Bath?” he asked.
Pippa pursed her lips. He probably thought that was a harmless question, as meaningless as the weather. She knew better. But she didn’t have to reveal herself. Not to either of her companions. She was capable of small talk, after all.
“I grew up there,” she said. “I know it very well.”
His brow wrinkled a little at the nonresponse. Of course he would catch it. He was too clever and observant not to. “I’ve visited a few times,” he said. “It is expected that one must go there to take the waters and see the sights.”
She nodded slowly. “Yes, it is a busy town. There were many diversions to be had there thanks to the bustling tourist trade. My father benefitted, of course.”
“He owns an…”
She filled in the gap. “Assembly room. A very popular one, at that. Visited by all of quality who come to the city. If you visited, you probably went there, yourself.”
That was a thought. The idea that Rhys had glided his way through the assembly rooms, that perhaps they had just missed each other, made her shiver.
She tried to keep her face neutral, but it was almost impossible. Worse when he said, “I think you must look forward to seeing your parents again.”