Page 42 of Presenting Miss Letitia (Once a Wallflower 1)

After he assisted her down, the butler opened the door.

Letty coolly curtsied. “It has been quite an adventure, Mr. Cartwright. Thank you for bringing me through it safely. I doubt we shall meet again. I am to be presented to Queen Charlotte in her drawing room next week. The following evening, we shall go to Almack’s Assembly Rooms. One hears so much about it, one can’t leave London without experiencing it,” she added airily.

“The marriage mart? I hope you are not disappointed.” he said, rising to the bait.

“Is that what it is called? Then I don’t expect to see you there. I suspect it would find little favor with you.”

He sighed, he could hardly argue with her here on the pavement with the butler watching on. Better to work behind the scenes to remove her from Arietta’s influence. “It is my hope that you will enjoy the rest of your Season, Miss Bromley.” He offered her his arm and escorted her to the front door. “Even if you do not see me, know I am never far away if you should need me.”

Her gaze flew to his with an expression he found hard to interpret. “I foresee no reason to need you, but I am grateful, thank you.”

They reached the porch. “Be happy, Letty,” he murmured, bowed, and left her.

The front door closed behind her as he crossed the pavement, annoyed with himself for suffering some inexplicable sense of losing something precious. He would not drag Letty down into his world when she deserved so much better. Advising the driver of his home address, Brandon entered the chaise. He must bathe and change, then go to Whitehall to give Willard his news. No doubt he would be anxious to hear it.

Chapter Fifteen

Holmes’s imperturbable butler’s manner faltered. His eyes wide, mouth ajar, he took in the state of her appearance. “Miss Bromley! Lady Arietta has been most dreadfully upset.”

Letty swung around at a cry. Footsteps ran lightly down the marble staircase.

“Letitia!” Arietta gasped when she reached her. “I’ve been frantic. Where have you been?” Not waiting for an answer, she placed an arm around Letty’s shoulders and drew her toward the stairs. “I feared you might have eloped.”

Letty stared. “Eloped? Who with…?”

“Some catastrophe has befallen you. A carriage accident?” Arietta glanced at the footman who had just entered the hall. “You shall tell me all about it upstairs. Are you hungry?” A foot on the step, Arietta turned to the butler. “Poor Miss Bromley has suffered a carriage accident, Holmes. Order tea and sandwiches, and some of Cook’s carrot

cake. She will have it in her bedchamber.”

Once the door closed behind them, Arietta burst into noisy tears. She fumbled for the lace handkerchief tucked into her sleeve and sobbed into it. “I was so worried, Letitia, you cannot imagine. I shall be patient until you’ve bathed and changed your gown and are more comfortable. And then you must tell me what happened from the moment you disappeared at the ball!”

On the long journey back to Mayfair, Letty had discussed with Brandon what to tell Arietta. She was to stick as close to the truth as possible while withholding what was said about her late husband.

When she had bathed and changed into a dressing gown, she joined Arietta on the sofa in her room.

“Lord Fraughton, Mr. Descrier, and Lord Elford were involved in smuggling?” Arietta exclaimed, after Letty had given a brief account of what had happened, omitting some of the more scandalous aspects of her and Brandon’s experience. “Kendall and I knew them socially, but not this Marston.”

“Did Sir Gareth mention anything about these men?” Letty swallowed the last of the ham and cress sandwiches and picked up a slice of iced cake.

“I doubt he would have even if he had heard something. He did seek to spare me anything unsavory. He thought of women as delicate beings. And dear Kendall would never become involved with smugglers.”

“Mr. Cartwright can be of no further interest, surely.”

Arietta frowned. “Perhaps not. It would appear he is working for the Home Office in this matter.”

“Yes, and he looked after me. He was a gentleman.”

“Well, that’s to be applauded, Letitia, certainly,” Arietta said thoughtfully. “One would expect him to say nothing about your involvement in this episode, for he might find himself compromised.”

“Compromised?” Letty asked, surprise distracting her from Arietta’s volte-face about Brandon.

“Well, you did spend the night together. It would be damaging to you both should it be put about.” She raised her eyebrows. “Unless he wishes to marry you?”

“You don’t understand!” Letty pulled back the sleeve of her dressing gown and showed Arietta the raised welts on her wrist. “We were both tied up!” She thought it prudent not to add they were tied together, it might give the wrong impression. Lying a foot away from Brandon, his handsome mouth at kissing distance. She wished now that he had kissed her. She might have something to remember. Frowning, she forced herself back on track.

“Oh, how horrible!” Arietta’s eyes filled with tears again. “I shall send for a salve, and some arnica for your poor chin.”

“Mr. Cartwright doesn’t have the remotest desire to marry me,” Letty said firmly. “Nor do I consider him a possible husband.” She could never allow herself to dwell on such a possibility, for it would surely result in heartache.

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