Page 37 of Her Duke at Midnight
“Oh, and the cat.” Cecily had planned to check on the tabby this evening, but the night hadn’t gone as she’d expected in any regard. “Will you make certain she’s cared for?”
Jane nodded and smiled. “A few of us have come to love the little thing.” She leaned a bit closer. “Even if the Derwents insist she go,” she whispered, “we’ve vowed to see that she and her babies have a safe, warm home until the weather turns.”
“Excellent.” Cecily smiled too. “I’m relieved to hear it.”
“When will you be departing, my lady?”
“As soon as possible.” Cecily had wanted to go to Adam the previous night, but Fiona had persuaded her to wait. Sneaking off into the night would only further harm her reputation, she’d argued. Now Cecily wasn’t certain.
What if Adam was already on his way to London?
She’d follow him.
Cecily began to pace as soon as Jane left her room. One part of her plan remained unresolved.
Should she wake Fiona early or leave her a note? She much preferred to speak to her, but she also didn’t want to waste time arguing if Fiona was determined to talk her out of departing.
She couldn’t be persuaded.
A moment later, a footman appeared at her door to collect her luggage and secure it to Fiona’s carriage.
Cecily took one final glance around the room to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything and stepped into the hallway.
The door next to hers opened an inch, and Fiona stuck her head out.
“Cecily? Where are you going?” She looked and sounded sleepy. “Come inside. Let’s talk,” she urged.
Cecily followed her friend into her room and closed the door behind them.
“You’re going to seek out Everton.” Fiona fetched her robe and wrapped the tie around her waist.
“I must.”
“Will you accept his proposal?”
Cecily shook her head, pushing the question that had been on her own mind away. She had no answer. Noimmediateanswer. The truth was that she’d never met a man she desired more, a man whom she believed she could find happiness with for years to come. No man she’d ever wished to marry more.
But she wasn’t certain if she was prepared to enter into a union again yet. Still, she knew that in Fiona’s mind, it would be the only thing that would make all that had happened in the last three days make sense. Almost anything could be forgiven if they married.
If society could turn its head with men like Archibald, it could absolutely forgive a duke his foibles.
“I love him, Fiona.” Cecily held up a hand to forestall whatever her friend might say. “But I do not know if I can marry him immediately.”
“Is it because of the violence?”
Cecily frowned.
Fiona took a seat near the fire and beckoned her over. “When I saw him last night, bloodied, having beaten another nobleman at a house party… I wondered if that reminded you of Bissenden and his temper.”
Cecily sat and thought back to the moment when she saw Adam in his bloodstained clothing. She hadn’t had a single thought of Archibald, only worry that Adam was injured.
“He was defending me. That’s what Mr. Bennett told us.”
“Oh, I know,” Fiona readily agreed. “I don’t blame Everton a bit. In fact, he went up in my estimation.” She offered Cecily the flicker of a smile. “I just wondered if it gave you pause.”
“No, not at all.” Cecily shrugged. “I think I just had such dreams of what I could do as an independent lady. I thought I might travel or donate my time to a cause. Do some good.”
Fiona nodded in understanding. “You know that I would encourage you every step of the way. Indeed, you would be a charter member of the widows’ club.”
