Page 90 of A Lady’s Guide to Mystery and Mischief

Before she could respond to Helena’s inquiry, Jennings cut in. “Ah, yes. How have you been, Miss Rafiq? I’ve been curious as well.”

Farah raised an eyebrow at the interjection. “I’ve been well, thank you.”

“Is that so?” Jennings asked, fork lifted halfway to his mouth. “Should we expect a wedding invitation soon?”

“Andrew—” Helena said, voice low.

“No, it’s all right.” Farah kept her tone bright. “There won’t be a wedding, I’m afraid. Mr. Beaumont and I have decided to part ways.”

Jennings let out a snort of laughter. “I see.”

Grey frowned. “I fail to see the humor in that.”

Helena, a master at ignoring her husband’s impoliteness, regarded Farah with surprise. “Have you really, Farah?”

“I have,” Farah confirmed. “It was for the best.”

“I can hardly believe it,” Helena murmured.

“Why not?” Jennings had a smirk upon his face now. “Was this not the expected outcome?”

“Of course not,” Helena shot back. “And need I remind you that this visit is meant to act as an apology for our behavior at the ball?”

“You needn’t,” Jennings said. “I am simply participating in the conversation.”

Helena sighed. “I’m sorry to hear things didn’t go as planned, Farah.”

“It’s not really as dire as all that,” Farah assured her.

Helena paused, her eyes sweeping over the empty plates in front of her guests. “Why don’t the two of us discuss this further? We can go upstairs and allow the gentlemen time in the parlor.”

“I don’t—” Jennings began.

Grey opened his mouth at the same time to say, “I’m afraid I—”

Helena placed her hand over her husband’s. “Surely you don’t mean to excuse yourself so soon, Andrew.”

“I’ve an early start tomorrow,” he said. “I’m interviewing a scientist who is interested in assisting with my research.”

Grey nodded at Farah. “I’m happy to wait for Miss Rafiq in the parlor. I shouldn’t have protested against staying so quickly.”

Farah’s heart swelled, and she had to bite down on her tongue to prevent her elation from showing. “Please go ahead, Mr. Montgomery. I’m certain Helena will ensure I make it back to Willow House in one piece.”

“Of course I will,” Helena said. “She’ll take our best carriage.”

Jennings sniffed. “Our only carriage.”

Grey hesitated as everyone stood to leave the table. When Helena and Jennings began to lead the way out of the room, he hung back, whispering, “Are you sure?”

“Entirely,” Farah murmured. “She and I need to talk.”

He acknowledged her words with a gentle, almost imperceptible touch at the small of her back. Sparks shot up her spine before spreading throughout the rest of her body, leaving a tender warmth in their wake. Although she wanted more than anything to take the carriage back with him, she couldn’t. As much as she’d dreamed of love, and as ecstatic as she was to have fallen headfirst into it, she was beginning to understand how easily it threatened to eclipse everything that had been important to her. It wasn’t something she had anticipated, but it was something she was now painfully aware of. And so she would stay with Helena. She would stay out of a different kind of love—the kind she should have viewed as equal to the romantic love she now had for Grey.

What if you miss out on the perfect moment in the carriage?

The thought came unbidden, but Farah made quick work of shooing it away. It would come. Nothing would change that.

And besides, she could think of far more romantic situations to precede a declaration of love. A tense, too short dinner with Helena and her husband didn’t quite set the mood she was hoping for. Most likely, she and Grey would have spent the whole ride dissecting the conversation—something that could easily be left for later.