Love's Peril (Lord Trent Series) (44 page)

She was taking him to Bramble Bay so he could relax and regroup, so she could gradually get him to ponder the future and how he would carry on. She was eager for him to pick a new path where he could feel relevant and useful in an endeavor that interested him.

She still owned Bramble Bay, and she’d tried to give it back to him so he’d have a connection to the property, so he could start to plant roots and learn what it meant to belong. But the oaf wouldn’t accept it.

“I need to explain several things,”he said, and his tone was so serious that she was greatly unnerved. For days, he’d seemed on the verge of confessions. Would they finally be voiced?

“What things?”

“First, I bought a house for Mildred in London, and I’ve set up a small trust fund for her so she’ll have an income.”

“You did that for Mildred? After all the trouble she caused you?”

“I did it for you. I’m turning over a new leaf, remember?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“My mother wouldn’t want me to punish her.”

“You’re being very kind—when I know you don’t think Mildred deserves it. Thank you. I hope it will bring about a reconciliation between you.”

He didn’t agree or disagree, but pulled an envelope from his coat and slid it across the table.

“This contains all the information for her.”

“Can’t you give it to her yourself?”

He shook his head. “I have made many concessions for you,
chérie,
but there are limits.”

She sighed, recognizing that she’d be walking a long road with him, but she was an optimist, and any conclusion might occur. Mildred was his aunt, and they should resolve their differences. Sarah would always expect it to transpire.

“All right,”she said.

“Mildred may have these gifts from me—with my blessing—only if she leaves Bramble Bay. She can’t ever come back.”

“I wouldn’t mind.”

“I would. If she tries to return, it will all be revoked, and she’ll have nothing. I need to be sure you’re safe from her.”

“I have you to protect me now.”

He nodded, but didn’t reply. “Please also apprise her that Hedley has left England. She’ll worry, and she shouldn’t.”

Sarah frowned. “Left England? Where did he go?”

“He’s joined the merchant marines.”

“He’s on a sailing ship?”

“Yes.”

His expression was completely blank, the one he was so good at displaying when he didn’t want her to guess his mischief. She hated seeing it.

“What have you done to him?”

“I’m giving him a chance to grow up. That’s all.”

“So you forced him to work on a ship?”

“It seemed better than killing him. If I’d murdered him, I thought you’d be upset.”

Her temper sparked. “You can’t just kidnap someone off the street and toss him in with a crew of sailors. Hedley has never worked a day in his life! He’ll likely perish from the pressure of it. What were you thinking?”

“You have to be safe from him, too.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, I’m not afraid of Hedley. You should have asked me to—”

He laid his hand over hers, the gesture quieting her complaint. He looked so grave, so somber.

“Reggie Thompson has been reviewing the estate ledgers at Bramble Bay.”

“What has he found?”

“Your father bequeathed you an inheritance and a very fine dowry.”

“No, he didn’t.”

“He did, Sarah.”

“Mildred and I discussed it on numerous occasions. There was no mention of me in the will.”

More firmly, he insisted, “Your father provided for you. He was very generous.”

“Then what happened to the money?”

“Hedley squandered it.”

There was a lengthy, excruciating silence as she digested the news, the ramifications.

“Did Mildred know?”she eventually asked.

“Yes. She spent quite a bit of it, too.”

“I see…” His hand still covered hers, and she glanced down at it, liking how it seemed to shelter and bolster her. She gave a futile laugh and tears filled her eyes. “She told me my father didn’t care about me.”

“She lied,
chérie
.”

“She said I was a disappointment to him, that he hadn’t been proud.”

“She’s a hard woman, Sarah.”

“Yes, she is.”

“So this is why you must swear to me that you won’t let her prevail on you. Even if I’m around to protect you, she might go behind my back to pressure you, and I wouldn’t know. I’ve made arrangements for her specifically so there’s no reason for you to bother with her.”

“I understand.”

“Do you?”

His sharp question had her fuming.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Promise me that you won’t ever permit her to live at Bramble Bay and that you’ll allow me to support her—so you never have to.”

“I promise. I won’t let her back.”

“Good.”

He studied her for another long while, the tense moment festering, and she hated that they were quarreling. Over Mildred again! It was so exhausting, and Sarah loathed how family issues bubbled up to plague them.

She smiled, desperate to ease over the awkwardness. After the previous stressful weeks, she only wanted him calm and content.

“How many children do you think we’ll have?”she asked.

“Me? A father? Are you mad?”

“Children are usually the end result after a marriage. Didn’t anyone tell you?”

“But
children
. Gad.” He shuddered. “Besides, I can’t sire any; you know that. Why you’d wed a man who can’t fill a nursery is a mystery to me.”

She ignored the comment. “If our first is a girl, shall I name her after your mother?”

“And curse her? No. Give her a pretty name that will notify everyone she is beautiful like her mother.”

At the compliment, she preened with delight. “You can be so charming when you wish to be. What if it’s a boy? Should I name him after your father?”

“Absolutely not.”

“How about after you.”

“Again, why would you curse him? Give him a name that will warn the world he is a force with which to be reckoned.”

“I’ll make a list, shall I? Or shall I surprise you with my choices?”

“Surprise me,
chérie
.”

“I will.” She assessed him, afraid for their future, but excited for it, too. “Will you be happy at Bramble Bay? I want you to love it there—as I have always loved it.”

His thoughts unreadable, he said, “I don’t know if I’ve ever been happy.”

“Then you’ll be very happy with me, for I intend to spend my life spoiling you.”

“You’re kind to me, Sarah. Kinder than I deserve. I’m lucky to have met you.”

“Yes, you are.”

He gazed at her, brimming with affection, then he rose and stepped around the table.

“I must settle our bill. Finish your breakfast. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“I can’t bear to be parted from you even for a short time.”

“I’m sure you’ll manage.”

He leaned nearer, as if he might kiss her, right there in the inn’s dining room while they were surrounded by other customers. But in the end, he didn’t.

He drew away, and she watched him go, gaping like a smitten ninny. She pulled her eyes away from the door and began eating again. With her recent tribulations, she was constantly hungry. She gorged like a field hand, cleaned her plate, then cleaned Jean Pierre’s, too.

He hadn’t returned, and she figured he was out in the yard, having the horses saddled. She drank a cup of tea. Drank another. Still, there was no sign of him.

She’d just decided not to wait any longer, to join him in the yard, when she heard booted strides out in the foyer. She glanced up, expecting Jean Pierre, but to her consternation, Raven was there instead.

She stared and stared, not comprehending what she was witnessing. Why was Raven at the coaching inn?

“Hello, Sarah.” He came over and sat in the chair Jean Pierre had vacated.

“How did you know we were here? Did you see Jean Pierre out at the stable?”

“No, I didn’t see him.”

His expression was odd, as if he was regretful or embarrassed.

“Where is he?”

“He’s gone, Sarah.”

“Gone…where?”

“To France.”

“He…what?”

“He left.”

She cocked her head, confused, as if Raven was speaking in a foreign language.

“We’re on our way to Bramble Bay.” Pointlessly, she added, “We’re getting married.”

“He didn’t want to get married.”

“What? Of course he wanted to. The celebration is all planned. We applied for a Special License and everything.”

Her comments sounded plaintive and naïve, as if she was the stupidest woman who’d ever lived, as if she’d been seduced by a rogue and was only now learning the true extent of her folly.

“He loved you, Sarah. Never think he didn’t. That’s why he went.”

“Because he loved me?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not making any sense.”

Raven stood and held out his hand. “Let’s go.”

“To where?”

“To Bramble Bay. I’m here to take you home.”

“But…but…Jean Pierre was taking me. Don’t tell me he isn’t.”

Raven was quiet for a lengthy interval, then he murmured, “When enough time has passed, you’ll realize this is for the best.”

“It’s not for the best. I have to see him! I have to talk to him!”

“He doesn’t wish to talk to you. I’m sorry.”

He gestured to the door, and she studied him, the door, him again. She yearned to jump up and rush outside, to climb onto her horse and race after Jean Pierre. How many minutes had elapsed? How far had he traveled? Which direction had he ridden?

But with a heavy heart, she grasped that if he didn’t want to be found, he never would be.

The strength had gone out of her legs, and she couldn’t catch her breath. She couldn’t push back her chair, couldn’t stand.

He left…he left…he left…

The words kept ringing in her mind.

How long ago had he decided?

If Raven had been informed of where they would be and when—he’d come to fetch her as if she was a stray dog on the side of the road—then Jean Pierre had never intended to marry her. He’d ruined her with impunity, then fled. Apparently, he was his father’s son in every way.

Every detail about him had been a lie. She’d imbued him with character traits he didn’t possess, had convinced herself that he could change, that he could become the man she’d dreamed he could be rather than the man he was.

Though she’d temporarily believed differently, she wasn’t unique or special, wasn’t able to entice and hold a man like John Sinclair. Not at all. Hadn’t Mildred always said as much? Her nephew was simply reconfirming her low opinion.

What now? What was Sarah to do with herself?

For so many months, her entire world had revolved around him. She’d assumed they would be together. Yet a connection was the very last thing he’d envisioned. All this time, what had he thought? What had
he
planned?

While she’d been weaving a grand scheme for the future where they would be blissfully content at Bramble Bay, he’d been watching the rear door, wondering if it would be a good moment to sneak off.

His ability to walk away as if she’d meant nothing, as if she’d given him nothing, was cruel and malicious. How could he treat her so badly?

A wave of fury swept through her. It was so virulent that she was glad she was sitting down when it hit. If she’d been standing, the force of it might have knocked her over.

“Yes, let’s go home,”she mumbled more to herself than to Raven. “And swear to me that you won’t mention his name to me ever again.”

“Sarah, he didn’t feel he was worthy of you. You’re so fine, and he—”

“Swear to me!”

He sighed. “All right, I won’t.”

She lurched to her feet and staggered out.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“I suppose I would consider it.”

“You’re too kind, Sheldon. I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”

Mildred was in the hall outside Sheldon’s front parlor. He was sequestered with a female, the door ajar, and she frowned, wondering to whom he was speaking.

He’d been gone for several days and was finally home. She’d had a maid fix her hair, had put on her best dress, then hurried down to greet him as if they were married, as if she was his wife.

She kept trying to solidify their friendship, eager for him to recognize that she was helpful and competent, but he ignored her every attempt to ingratiate herself.

Quietly, she stepped nearer and peeked in. To her dismay, Sarah was with him, sitting in the exact spot where Mildred sat in the evenings when it was late and she and Sheldon were alone.

“There are many issues to contemplate,”Sheldon was saying. “I’ll have to meet with my solicitor.”

“I don’t have a lot of time for delay. Very soon, there will be no hiding it.”

“I could probably have an answer for you in two weeks. This situation has been worsening for months. Another week or two won’t make a difference.”

“I feel so disgraced. I wouldn’t want to add to the gossip, and I wouldn’t want any shame to attach to you.”

“We’re the largest landowners in the neighborhood. Who would dare to spread stories?”

“With the way my luck’s been running, just about anyone.”

Suddenly, Sheldon appeared very sly, and he said, “If I decide to assist you, I should get Bramble Bay for my trouble. Wouldn’t you agree? You’d have to sign it over to me.”

Sarah seemed taken aback. “You’d expect to have it?”

“I’d be giving up an awful lot. Think of all you’re asking me to do.”

“It hadn’t occurred to me,”Sarah murmured. “I thought I’d keep it.”

He scoffed. “I always forget how young you are, how inexperienced in business matters. There’s a price for everything.”

“But Bramble Bay.”

“I’m afraid it would have to be part of any deal we struck. I couldn’t move forward in any other fashion.”

Mildred scowled. Sheldon was demanding Bramble Bay and Sarah might give it to him? What were they discussing?

Mildred had few options remaining, but if Sarah relinquished the estate to Sheldon, Mildred had no options at all. Sarah couldn’t surrender Bramble Bay. Mildred absolutely would not let her.