Chapter 18

"Eliza, it is so good to see you!" Siena said when her friend finally released her from her close grasp. "What are you doing here?"

"You told me you were here, so I came to rescue you," Eliza said, her arms still holding onto Siena's, looking her up and down as though to ensure that she was still whole and uninjured.

Siena could only laugh, for she had never felt safer.

"Rescue me? I do not need rescuing. I just wanted you to know I was healthy and well so you wouldn't worry. That was all."

"Well, I found I had no choice but to come make sure myself." She looked from one side to the other to make sure they were alone before she lowered her voice and dipped her head. "The Duke of Dunmore? Siena, what were you thinking?"

"I wasn't thinking anything. It is actually quite the story. Did you come alone?"

"No, of course not," Eliza said with a laugh. "Mother is inside the carriage, still snoozing away. I hope you do not mind."

Siena shook her head, even as worry began to claw in her stomach. She enjoyed Eliza's mother, who was everything that Siena would have wished her own to be, and yet she had a feeling that Levi was not going to be thrilled about suddenly hosting an additional two guests.

Eliza leaned in and whispered, "what is he like?"

"The duke?"

"Of course the duke!"

"He is…" she began, uncertain of exactly how to describe him, but they were interrupted by the sound of hooves pounding against the gravel of the front drive.

They both turned around swiftly to see a figure pushing his horse, practically racing toward them, his dark cloak swirling behind him as though he were a prince come to rescue the fair maiden from the tower.

"I say…" Eliza said with a swift intake of breath. She had always been something of a romantic, as headstrong as she was.

"Well, well, who do we have here?" His voice was as gallant as the rest of him, the man swinging down from the horse in a rather fluid motion, although not quite as adeptly as Levi, in Siena's opinion.

"Is that Lord Fitzroy?"

It seemed that Eliza's mother had awoken, as she now stood on the stairs of the carriage, one hand in the footman's, who was helping her down.

The man gave an exaggerated bow toward her, circling his hand in the air as he did so.

"Lady Willoughby, how do you do? You are looking as lovely as ever."

Eliza's mother used her free hand to flutter her face. "You make an old woman blush, Lord Fitzroy. Next time I see your mother, I will have to tell her that she has raised far too great of a flirt. Now, Lady Siena, I know all too well what you are doing here after my daughter finally confessed to her antics, but Lord Fitzroy, I am rather confused about you."

"The Duke of Dunmore has always been a great friend of mine," he said. "I visit on occasion, for he is, fortunately, so close to London."

"That he is, thank heaven, for I am not particularly fond of long carriage rides," she said.

Siena and Eliza exchanged a glance, rather confused by the entire exchange from which they had been excluded.

"Lord Fitzroy, you do remember my daughter, Lady Eliza?" Lady Willoughby said once she finally reached them.

"Of course. I could never forget a beauty such as she," he said, bowing over Eliza's hand and kissing the back of it.

Siena noted with interest that Eliza's cheeks had grown a rather bright shade of red. Why, she had no idea, for Eliza was not one to be disconcerted by the presence of nearly anyone around her.

"And this is her dear friend, Lady Siena," she continued, and Siena bent in a low curtsy.

Lord Fitzroy's eyes rounded at that information. He was a handsome man indeed, with light brown hair that swept perfectly over his forehead once he had removed his hat, impish hazel eyes, and dimples that appeared in both cheeks when he smiled, which Siena guessed was quite often.

"The mysterious Lady Siena vanished right before her wedding," he said. "Are you aware that you are the talk of London? Everyone is wondering where you went, and if they have no information, they simply make it up. How astonishing to find you here."

"It is quite the story," Siena managed, noting with interest that she did not receive a kiss on the back of her hand. She stole a glance at Eliza, wondering if her friend had forgotten to tell her something about this Lord Fitzroy.

"Well, I must say that it is one that I am most eager to hear. But first, as lovely as it is to be in the company of such beautiful women, I cannot help but ask whether my good friend the Duke of Dunmore has met with some unfortunate demise, because I can see no other circumstance in which he would welcome company – besides mine, of course – on his doorstep."

He looked around at them expectantly, that smile still affixed to his face.

Siena opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, but she couldn't seem to find the right words to explain how this had all come to be.

But she didn't have to.

For it was then that Levi decided to make an appearance.

When Siena had rushedout of the house, ecstatic to meet her friend, Levi had remained exactly where he was, standing still and watching out the window.

He wanted to give Siena time with Lady Eliza.

He also had no wish to greet the woman himself, nor invite her into his home, although he couldn't exactly see a way around it at this point.

The truth was, he had no desire to welcome anyone save Siena, but he had known that to involve himself with her could have these repercussions. He just hadn't realized they would come so soon.

Then Fitz had come thundering up the drive and he had nearly groaned aloud.

The groan emerged when the second woman made an appearance at the carriage door. A companion no doubt. Likely Lady Eliza's mother.

Just what he needed.

Levi ran his hand over his face, wondering if he closed his eyes and waited long enough they would all simply disappear like he was waking from a bad dream.

But no. When he opened his eyes, there they were, a band of people still standing on his front drive, bowing and curtsying to one another as though they were preparing to enter a ball of debutantes and not the lion's den.

Finally, he couldn't take the waiting any longer and he marched to the front door, wrenching it open to stare upon the lot of them.

They all stared back.

Siena with her usual tranquility, although her expression also held a wariness that he knew was due to worry over his response to Eliza's arrival.

Fitz with astonishment, which made sense for Levi would usually barely talk to even his oldest, most persistent friend.

And Eliza and her mother with the expressions of horror mixed with pity that he had come to expect from those seeing him for the first time. Or subsequent times, as it usually took people more than just one meeting to become used to his face.

"Your Grace."

The mother was the first to recover, likely from years of politeness both bred and trained into her. Her daughter followed suit, although while her horror either abated or she hid it well, a sense of curiosity remained as she studied him.

"Best come inside," Levi said, and when his stablehands and footmen quickly appeared, he wondered just how long they had been waiting, listening to see if he would welcome these visitors or turn them away.

"Truly?" Fitz said, and Levi could have throttled him. "You want all of us inside? Please tell me we can at least use the drawing room and not all freeze in the study."

Levi nodded curtly as he told one of the footmen to stoke the fire in the grate. The man appeared confused, but a nod from Thornebury, standing in the doorway, sent him action.

Soon enough, they were all sitting awkwardly in the small, intimate, feminine drawing room.

Levi had taken one of the armchairs near the fireplace, Fitz the other. Siena, Lady Eliza, and Lady Willoughby were squished together onto the sofa.

Siena was fidgeting, her hands fisting her gown, and Levi longed to reach out and place his hands over hers to quiet them.

But he couldn't in front of an audience – for so many reasons.

"Thank you for having us," Lady Willoughby began, far too brightly.

"I never invited you," Levi replied, and Fitz leaned forward, likely to attempt to soften Levi's words, but there was no need. Levi had no intentions of making these people feel comfortable in his home.

"What His Grace meant to say was—" Fitz began, but before Levi could stop him, Siena jumped in, likely sensing Levi's discontent.

"H-how are my mother and father handling my disappearance?" she asked, to which Eliza and her mother exchanged a glance.

"They are concerned, of course," Lady Willoughby said, although her face belied something else altogether.

"Are they most concerned about breaking the commitment to Lord Mulberry, or about my welfare?" she asked, looking at Eliza, and Levi could sense the trust between them, although he wondered how galling the truth was going to be.

"The former," Eliza said, placing a hand on Siena's knee, likely to try to soften the blow. "You know you are too good for them."

Levi growled, causing the stares once more.

He couldn't help himself. Even though he knew such marriages were arranged more often than not, the thought of parents using a woman such as Lady Siena, so innocent, honest, and loyal, in such a manner, was nearly incomprehensible.

"Of course," Lady Willoughby interjected, "that still does not excuse this ruse my daughter put together for you to avoid the wedding, Lady Siena. To send you out travelling alone!" She shook her head. "If only Eliza had confided in me, then I would have made sure to send a few footmen with you."

Eliza and Siena both turned abruptly toward Lady Willoughby, mouths open in shock.

"You would have helped me?" Siena asked, blinking, and Lady Willoughby leaned in with a warm smile.

"You are not my daughter, Lady Siena, but if you hated this man so much to leave your entire life behind, then of course I would have helped. From where do you think my daughter received her daring nature?" Her eyes flicked over toward Levi before returning to Siena. "You must now tell me how you ended up here."

"It is quite the story," Siena said before starting in on her tale. Even though Levi had been there throughout most of her escapade, when she spoke of becoming lost and then the highwaymen discovering her, his heart hammered hard in his chest at the memory of her in such danger. He wasn't alone – they were all completely horrified.

Lady Eliza was biting her lip, a sheen of tears covering her eyes.

"Siena, I am so sorry," she said hoarsely. "This is all my fault. I was so concerned about you leaving that I never stopped to consider the dangers that could befall you. The map should have taken you right to Streatham, but I could have made a mistake."

"This is not your fault at all, Eliza," Siena said. "I am a grown woman and can make my own decisions. I decided to leave, no matter the consequences. And while my journey was rife with danger, it led me here, where I have never felt safer."

Levi noted their incredulous stares, which he wasn't surprised about, although it seemed Siena couldn't quite understand it.

There was too much goodness within her.

He didn't deserve her – but for the first time, he was wondering if, perhaps, he might have to find it within himself to fight for her.