Alexander had lied to her. About everything.
It was suddenly crystal clear.
As cold realization dawned, her blood ran hot with anger. Sara had been made a fool of by the man she had loved with all her heart, the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. The man she was defying her parents to be with.
He never really loved her.
If he really loved her he would have been hurt, jealous, and angry with her to discover that she had been unfaithful to him with Lord Bridgeton. Instead, he acted quite calm. As if it didn’t matter that she could be carrying another man’s child. His love for her was all an act to convince her to marry him. A ploy to seduce her for her great fortune.
A ghastly thought occurred to her then. What would have happened after tomorrow? After she married him? He was still going to keep Lucy with them, to flaunt her right under Sara’s nose, allowing her to continue to believe that Lucy was his sister, wasn’t he?
It was that moment when she stepped toward Alexander Drake and struck him across the face with all the force she could muster. Her hand made a satisfying smack against the smooth flesh of his cheek. She saw the shock register in his eyes, which immediately flashed with wild rage. Just as she withdrew her hand, he grabbed her by the wrist, holding her in a viselike grip to prevent her from attacking again. Alexander began to twist her arm behind her back.
Before Sara knew what was happening, she sensed the commanding presence of Christopher Townsend behind her. With a yelp, Alexander released her hand just as Christopher punched Alexander squarely in the face. The sickening crunch of bone reverberated around her as she turned in time to see Alexander fall backward and land on the floor with a heavy thud, his face covered with blood.
Lucy screeched in horror and dropped to his side, calling, “Drakey!”
“If you ever put your hands on her again, I will do more than break your nose. I’ll kill you,” Christopher threatened in an icy voice, acting every inch the Earl of Bridgeton. He pulled Sara into his arms, holding her tenderly. “Did he hurt you?”
Stunned and still angry, she shook her head. The warmth and security of Christopher’s strong arms around her almost made her cry.
“Oh, Christopher,” she murmured, resting her head against his broad chest. “Let’s get out of here.”
“I hate you, Sara Fleming!” Lucy suddenly screamed, rising to her feet. “From the moment I met you last summer, I’ve hated you!”
Turning her head, Sara stared at Lucy, as a foggy image began to form. “Last summer?”
“You have had everything handed to you on a silver platter and it’s not fair. You’re spoiled and self-centered and you always get everything you want!” Lucy cried. “You couldn’t even remain faithful to Alexander, could you? You’re so selfish and stuck up, you don’t even remember meeting me in Newport, do you?”
It was then a dim memory arose within her. Sara had spent last summer in Newport with her friend Amanda Ellsworth. Lucy had been a servant at the house. That was it! That was where Sara had seen her before! Lucy was the companion of Amanda’s grandmother, Margaret Ellsworth, who had been ill and confined to a wheelchair. Searching her memories, she could recall seeing Lucy sitting with the elderly woman on the terrace once, and thinking to herself that the young woman looked quite unhappy. They must have been introduced to each other at one point, but Sara couldn’t recall the exact moment. She had spent most of her time in Newport preoccupied with a devastated Amanda, who was recovering from being jilted by her fiancé.
But there had been some incident while she was at the house in Newport. What was it? Again Sara reached into her memories from almost a year ago. There had been a lovely garden party one afternoon with hundreds of guests and Amanda’s pearl necklace had been stolen.
Sara narrowed her eyes at Lucy. “Oh, I remember you now, Miss Camden.”
“It’s not fair that you rich girls get everything and other girls get nothing!” Lucy’s voice was full of bitterness and venom. “Other girls have to work their whole lives, for miserable old crones, for a pittance. While you get pretty new gowns and expensive jewels and are waited on hand and foot and get to go to fancy parties. It’s just not fair!”
Slowly Sara said, “You hate me for that, but you don’t even know me.”
“Of course I hate you!” Lucy spat out.
“Lucy, stop,” Alexander mumbled, with his hand covering his blood-streaked face.
Trying to comprehend what was happening, Sara asked them, “So you and Alexander came up with this plan to fool me into marrying him?”
“And you fell for it, you vain little twit!” Lucy grinned wickedly. “You think you’re so smart. So high and mighty! We had you convinced that Alexander loved you, when it’s me he really loves! Yes, I’m the one he loves. And when you married him, we were still going to be together. He was going to set me up in a fine house and buy me everything I wanted and all the time I’d know that I’d be hurting you and making your life miserable.”
The vitriol with which Lucy’s words were spoken unsettled Sara. Someone she barely knew hated her and wanted to deliberately hurt her because of what she had. “You want the things I have? Is that why you steal jewelry? Like a pearl necklace?”
“I don’t steal,” Lucy hissed, her face a mask of bitter resentment. “I take what I deserve to have.”
“Well then,” Sara said, gesturing to Alexander with disgust. “You can take him. He’s all yours. I don’t want him anymore. You are absolutely right, Lucy. You deserve him. You both deserve each other.”
“I hate you!” Lucy cried, dropping back down to sit beside Alexander.
“Let’s go home, Sara,” Christopher said, gently guiding her toward the door. “We’ll alert the authorities that two American thieves are in this room when we get downstairs.”
They left Alexander Drake lying on the expensively carpeted hotel room floor with blood streaming from his nose, and a despondent Lucy Camden seated beside him.
25
Safe Harbor
Back at Devon House again, Sara spent the rest of the night explaining to her parents the events of the last hours with Alexander Drake. And apologizing. She apologized to her parents for the way she had acted. She apologized to her aunts and uncles for causing them so much worry and trouble. And she apologized to her cousins. Embarrassed and rather humiliated, Sara felt like a great fool. Although her parents were more than relieved to have their daughter safely home again, there was no doubt that Sara was still in disgrace over her recent behavior.
During the carriage ride home with Phillip, Mara, and Christopher after leaving the Savoy Hotel, Sara had remained silent, unable to discuss anything with her cousins or Lord Bridgeton. She simply had too many tumultuous thoughts racing through her mind to speak, as she tried to come to grips with the fact that her courtship with Alexander Drake had all been a ruse for him and Lucy Camden to get their hands on her fortune. Not only had Alexander not loved her, he had deliberately plotted and schemed with another woman to dupe her into marrying him.
Deeply hurt and undeniably angry, it was almost too much to bear.
Six months ago, Sara had innocently fallen in love with a dashing and handsome stranger who gallantly came to her assistance one fall afternoon, not having a clue that the whole thing was prearranged and orchestrated to take advantage of her. She had given Alexander her heart and he had manipulated her.
Heartsick and furious at having been so misled by Alexander Drake, Sara retired to her room and spent the night crying in bed. She didn’t cry so much for losing Alexander, but for being so easily tricked by him and Lucy. The spiteful words Lucy had flung at Sara had stung as well, because they bore a mark of truth.
Was Sara so vain and foolish, so self-centered and used to getting her own way, that she had been so gullible and smoothly taken in by Alexander’s captivating and charming ways? It certainly seemed that way. Perhaps that awful Lucy Camden was right after all. Sara had had everything she wante
d handed to her quite easily all her life, and the first time that she didn’t was when her parents whisked her away from Alexander. And her parents had been right, while Sara had acted like a spoiled child, pouting and angry because she wasn’t getting her way.
It wasn’t her fault that her father made millions of dollars, but looking back over her life, perhaps she had spent more than a lot of her time and money on frivolous pursuits like acquiring expensive and fashionable clothing and attending social events in New York. She thought only of herself. It was only when they’d arrived in London that Sara had worked in the bookshop. And she had simply done it for fun. As a lark. Not taking into consideration that so many of the women who worked at their jobs had no choice but to work to earn their money to survive.
Sara was very lucky, indeed. And she had not been very grateful for all that she had. Instead she complained about being an heiress.
More than feeling like a fool, she felt truly ashamed of her behavior. From the way she treated her parents to how she ran away and caused her entire family to worry about her, to how she had behaved with Lord Bridgeton the night before.
Christopher Townsend.
She had behaved dreadfully with him and treated him terribly as well.
She hadn’t seen Christopher since he’d brought her home from the hotel, but according to her parents their wedding was still set for Saturday. The day after tomorrow she would become Lady Bridgeton. The thought sobered her, for she could not imagine what her life would be like now that she would remain in England. Mixed feelings for him and their impending marriage were just as confusing.
After a fitful sleep and a long night of tossing and turning, Sara arose early the next morning. She dressed in a soft pink gown with her hair simply arranged and headed downstairs to breakfast, leaving Boots with Leighton. To her surprise, Parkins told her that Lord Bridgeton had just arrived and was in the library with her parents. What was Christopher doing here so early? Why had she not been called to join them? Sara hurried down the hallway and flung open the library door.
“Sara!” her mother called in surprise, looking up from where she sat on the sofa. Her father and Lord Bridgeton stood before the mantel. “We thought you were still asleep.”
Sara stared at her parents and Lord Bridgeton, curious as to why he was here and why she was not being included in this little gathering which she was certain had some bearing on her future.
Her father said, “Sara, could you please excuse us? Lord Bridgeton has something he wishes to discuss with your mother and me.”
“I’d prefer to stay, if you don’t mind,” she said softly.
“Actually, Captain Fleming, it might be best for Sara to hear what I have to say to you,” Christopher said, his expression grim. “This affects her as well.”
Although his tone was rather somber and she worried what he might be sharing with them, Sara was pleased that he wanted to include her. She gave him a hesitant smile, which he did not return. Christopher looked as handsome as ever though, tall and commanding. He’d been quite forceful with her yesterday at the Savoy Hotel and had surprised her by trouncing Alexander so soundly while protecting her.
Her father agreed. “Very well. Please join us, Sara.”
She moved quickly to the sofa to sit beside her mother.
Christopher nodded to her. “I was just about to tell your parents the reason why I asked them to meet with me.” He looked to Sara’s father. “I had wanted to say this to you yesterday and it was why I was at Devon House when we discovered that Sara had left. But with the events that followed, we never had time to talk. So here I am.”
Sara and her parents looked at him expectantly. She couldn’t imagine what all this was about. And to think she would have missed it, if she had stayed in bed! What on earth did Christopher have to say? Was he going to announce that he didn’t wish to marry her after all? Was that it? Her heart skittered in her chest.
Christopher cleared his throat. “Captain Fleming, the other evening when you discovered your daughter with me, I told you I was already engaged. Which I was. To Miss Bonnie Beckwith.” Briefly his eyes flashed to Sara. “I told you I would break off my engagement with her first thing the following morning. Which I did. I am now free to marry your daughter as we arranged. However, I must tell you why I was engaged to Miss Beckwith in the first place.”
Her mother laughed lightly and waved her hand. “Really, Lord Bridgeton, that is not necessary for you to share with us.”
“I’m afraid it is most necessary,” he said, looking solemn.
Sara was on pins and needles. Since the other night she had wondered why on earth Christopher had been engaged to the likes of Bonnie Beckwith and wondered why he had kept it a secret from her. She couldn’t imagine that he loved the girl.
Christopher looked directly at Sara with his chocolate brown eyes. “You see, Miss Beckwith is an heiress.”
Sara sucked in her breath at his words and it felt as if both her parents did too. She had not been at all aware that Bonnie Beckwith was an heiress.
“I was not in love with her, nor did I even like her, to be brutally honest,” Christopher said, looking humble. “I was simply marrying her for her money.”
“I see,” her father said with a frown.
Confused by what he was saying, Sara stared at him, still wondering why.
Somberly, Christopher continued to explain. “My father died over a year ago and when he died, I inherited his earldom, his title, and the family estate. I also inherited a mountain of my father’s debts, a grand but crumbling manor house in dire need of extensive repairs, and two younger sisters and my mother to look after and care for.” He turned toward her mother. “In England, as you know, Mrs. Fleming, a gentleman such as myself, an earl, is not expected to work for a living nor are we trained to do anything but manage our own estate, provided the money is there to do so. Consequently, the only options available to me were to sell my birthright or acquire a wealthy wife. Bonnie Beckwith solved this problem for me and her parents were thrilled to have their daughter marry a penniless earl in exchange for her becoming a countess. In the meantime, I met and fell in love with your lovely daughter.”
Christopher paused, gazing briefly at her, and Sara’s heart skipped a beat. He was in love with her?
“Yes,” Christopher admitted, “I think I fell in love with Sara that first day she arrived in London and I met her here in this house. I was completely unaware that she was an heiress. As a matter of fact, I was told that you had lost all your money, Captain Fleming, and were in rather dire straits.” He looked to her father.
Harrison said with a regretful grin, “Yes, that was my brother-in-law’s idea to protect Sara while she was in England.”
“So you can see why I believed that I could never marry her, even though I wanted to, because I had a duty to save my family first. Information that I did not share with Sara,” Christopher said. “However, Sara and I managed to find ourselves growing closer, and then, the night before last, you happened upon us.”
Heat flooded Sara’s cheeks at the memory of the night in the drawing room and she avoided looking at her parents.
“Naturally, I asked for Sara’s hand, not only because it was the honorable thing to do, but because I love her,” Christopher continued. “Yet I was in a quandary because, not aware that Sara was an heiress, I realized by ending my engagement with Bonnie Beckwith, I would be forfeiting my last chance to save my home and my family.”
“Oh, Christopher,” she whispered, her eyes searching his face.
Once again, Sara felt like a selfish little fool. How on earth had she not known this? How had she not known that Christopher was in such an awful position? The night of the masked ball all she had thought about was herself and how she was humiliated and not being given a say in her own life. Not once had she given any consideration to what Christopher had been feeling. She had been just as culpable as he was the night he took her innocence. Yet while Sara had been furious at
being obligated to marry him, when she really wanted to be with Alexander, she never once stopped to think about what their sudden and forced marriage was doing to Christopher.
Sara stared at him, riveted.
“Yesterday morning, as I promised, I ended my engagement with Bonnie Beckwith. I also put Bridgeton Hall up for sale and inquired into a few positions with a banker whom I know and a few other friends, hoping to find gainful employment to support my mother, my sisters . . . and my new wife. Then I came straight over here, to speak to you about this, Captain Fleming. I thought you needed to know that although you believed your daughter was to be wed to a wealthy British earl, I am, in fact, quite broke.” Christopher paused, his eyes finally meeting hers. “As much as I love Sara and truly wish for her to be my wife, I couldn’t foresee her living the simple life I could provide for her. In spite of what happened between us the other night, I wanted to give Sara the option to decline my offer of marriage.”
They all remained silent.
Sara could barely breathe. Christopher had given up everything to marry her. Everything. He’d lost his ancestral home and had given up securing a fortune, believing Sara had nothing, and still he was willing to wed her without the slightest protest. He was prepared to work to support her. Touched beyond measure at his incredible sacrifice, she didn’t know what to say. She suddenly thought of Evelyn and Gwyneth Townsend and how lucky they were to have a brother who cared for them so much.
Christopher continued, “But when I arrived at Devon House yesterday morning to tell you all of this, Captain Fleming, it was to discover that Sara had fled. My only thought after that was to help find her and to make sure she was safe and unharmed. During our search, Lady Mara told me that Sara was a wealthy heiress. Imagine my surprise.” Christopher shook his head in disbelief. “So, I’m here today to explain all of this to you. And I still would like to give Sara the opportunity to decline my offer. I know that she loves another man, in spite of what happened between us. I don’t wish for her to marry me if that is not what she wants.”
The Heiress He's Been Waiting For Page 26
