by Laura Landon
His darkening gaze studied her. “Does what I do bother you?”
She brought her attention back to their previous topic and shook her head. “What bothers me is the danger your work puts you in.”
“There’s not that much danger,” he said, but Sarah knew he shielded the truth. Liddy had told her the risks Austin took every day, and how worried she was that one day she’d get a letter informing her that he’d been killed.
But Sarah couldn’t tell him that. It was what he did, what he’d been trained to do. What he was driven to do. It would have to be his decision as to whether or not to do something less dangerous. It was not her place to influence him. All they’d shared were a few kisses—a few very powerful, precious kisses—but still…
She glanced at the scenery beyond the window. Ragged beggars no longer lined the streets. Instead, smartly dressed men and women wearing the latest fashions strolled down the walks. Beautiful town homes adorned by manicured lawns and colorful flower gardens replaced rundown shanties and shacks. Wrought-iron fences ran along the paved walks. Sarah was in awe. She hadn’t seen this area of London when she’d come here with Jonathan.
“Does your brother live close to here?” She was unable to shift her gaze from the homes as they passed them. She’d never seen anything so magnificent.
“Yes. Just a few streets from here. He lives at Etherhouse.”
“Oh,” she said, feeling like she’d stepped into a dream. “Is that where you grew up?”
“Here, and at our country estate.”
“Oh.” Sarah pulled her gaze from the sights out the window and sat back against the cushion. “Does he know we’re coming?”
“Yes.”
“I mean, does he know I’m coming? And why?”
“He knows I’m bringing a guest but he doesn’t know why. Your reason for coming wasn’t something I wanted to put in a letter.”
“No, I suppose not.” Sarah thought about that for a moment. “Will he mind?”
Austin smiled. “No, he won’t mind. In fact, having a guest will be good for him. Unless Harrison has changed—which I doubt—he’s been holed up in his office for days working on estate books and shipping records.”
“Liddy said he’s terribly busy.”
Austin turned his attention to the passing homes. “Harry has asked me to help him manage the estates. Gabe has offered me a similar position. I think they’re determined to force me into a new vocation.”
Sarah was surprised. “You would consider leaving London?”
“I wouldn’t have a year ago, or even a few months ago, but I find myself more inclined than ever to live out my life in the country.”
Sarah’s heart increased its pounding. She could envision Austin riding over the countryside, could picture him talking to the tenants…flirting with the local girls. Even marrying one of them.
She experienced a painful ache inside her breast. If he left London he would be lost to her. If he married, he would be gone from her forever. She didn’t want to be separated from him. She didn’t want him to live out his life away from her. “I can see you living in the country.”
“Can you?”
“Yes. You would fit well there.”
“Is that where you’re most content?”
“It’s all I know. It’s where I’m used to being.”
Their gazes locked and neither of them broke the connection. Only when the carriage slowed did he speak.
“We’re here,” he said.
A knot formed in her stomach and she looked out the window. She wasn’t ready for this to begin, but she had no choice.
Austin dismounted from the carriage as soon as a footman lowered the step. He held out his hand and she placed her fingers on his arm. “Go slow, Sarah. Your shoulder is bound to be sore after riding all day.”
She didn’t tell him it had passed being sore several hours ago. She allowed him to help her to the ground. He placed his arm around her waist to hold her steady, then escorted her to the house.
A tall, distinguished gentleman waited for them in the open doorway. His coloring was the opposite of Austin’s, his hair as dark as the color of his eyes. But his build was the same. So was the smile on his face. As soon as Austin was near, he clamped Austin’s shoulder then pulled him close.
“Welcome home, Austin. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Thanks, Harry. I’m glad, too.”
“Come in,” Austin’s brother said, stepping aside to allow them to enter. An austere-looking butler appeared to take Austin’s hat and gloves, then reached for hers.
“I’ll do that, Ruskins,” Austin interrupted, stepping behind her. “Easy, Sarah.”
He carefully lifted the cloak from around her shoulders and handed it to the butler.
Austin’s older brother lowered his gaze to Sarah’s bandaged shoulder then turned to the butler. “Ruskins, have Cook prepare a tea tray with some sandwiches.”
The butler scurried away and Etherington shifted a narrowed gaze in Austin’s direction. “Do I need to call for a doctor?” he asked her.
“No,” Austin answered, “but perhaps we could go somewhere private.”
“Of course.”
The Earl of Etherington led the way down a long hall. They stopped at the second door on the right and the earl opened the door. Sarah stepped inside and stopped. Her breath caught.
“Do you like it?” Etherington asked.
Bright sunshine streamed through the open windows showcasing the vivid shades of burgundy that decorated the room.
“It’s beautiful.”
“We call this the lilac room,” Etherington said. “Liddy named it when she was young. It was our mother’s favorite room and she filled it with lilac flowers the moment they bloomed. Father kept up the tradition after she was gone, and in early spring the smell of lilacs filled the whole house.”
Sarah imagined this room filled with flowers. It was easy to picture. “Oh, that must have been wonderful.”
“It was.”
The earl walked into the room and extended his hand toward an inviting grouping of chairs arranged perfectly for easy conversation. “Please, be seated. Then perhaps you’d like to make the introductions, Austin. And explain what’s happened. Your message was quite unclear.”
“Of course.” Austin led her to a floral settee and then stood beside her. “Harry, I’d like you to meet Miss Sarah Bentley.”
“Miss Bentley.”
“Miss Bentley, this is my brother, Harrison, Earl of Etherington.”
“Lord Etherington.”
Before they could speak, a maid entered carrying a tray with tea and pastries and small sandwiches. The maid poured the tea and placed the sweets and sandwiches within reach. While she was busy with the food, Lord Etherington walked to a side bar and filled two glasses from one of the crystal decanters sitting there. He handed one to Austin, then sat in a chair facing Sarah.
“Very well, Austin. I’m waiting.”
Austin took a long swallow of the liquid from his glass and settled into a chair near Sarah. “By that, I assume you mean you’d like an explanation as to why we’ve come here.”
“That will do for starters.”
Austin’s eyebrows shot upward.
“Then,” Lord Etherington continued, “perhaps you can explain what happened to Miss Bentley. And why you’ve chosen to include me in whatever you’re involved.”
“Do you object?”
Etherington held up his hand. “Not at all. I just prefer to know at the outset what’s required of me.”
Austin took a sip of the liquid in his glass then turned to Sarah. “Why don’t you explain what’s going on, Miss Bentley. I don’t want to be accused of biasing the facts.”
Sarah placed the cup and saucer on the table while her hand was steady enough to set down the china without spilling the tea. “Very well.”
Etherington relaxed into his chair as if settling in for a boring narration. He wore a serious expressio
n, a look Sarah assumed was normal for him.
“First of all, would you care to explain how you were injured?”
Sarah took a deep breath. “I was shot.”
Etherington’s eyebrows arched and he glanced at his brother. “It’s one matter to place yourself in danger, Austin, but quite another to risk those around you.”
“Your brother had no hand in what happened, my lord,” she explained. “It was…another matter entirely.”
“Perhaps you’d care to explain, then, Miss Bentley.”
Sarah nodded, then spoke. “Until recently, I held a position with the late Viscount Fledgemont.”
Etherington’s arm halted while raising his glass and he focused his gaze on her.
“I was employed as an all-around maid for his wife.”
“He married her, then?” Etherington asked.
His remark stirred a defensive emotion and she answered him more caustically than she’d intended. “Yes, and they were very happy together.”
He lowered his glass. “I don’t doubt it, Miss Bentley. Fledgemont and I were friends—good friends. He died entirely too young.” Etherington turned to his brother. “Does Penderly know he married?”
Austin shook his head. “Nor does he know Lady Fledgemont is dead.”
Etherington’s features turned sad. “That’s unfortunate.”
“What’s unfortunate, my lord?” Sarah asked. She didn’t understand what he meant. “That the lady is dead, or that Lord Penderly doesn’t know about her death?”
Etherington shot her a scrutinizing look. “Are you insinuating that Lord Penderly wouldn’t want to know his son married?”
“I’m insinuating more than that, my lord. Much more. I’m stating for a fact my belief that Lord Penderly not only knows his son married, but that from that union a son was born. An infant he has tried to kill twice.”
Etherington rose to his feet and stared at her in disbelief.
Sarah regretted being so forward. Hadn’t her father always told her that words said in kindness accomplished much more than words spoken in bitterness?
“Do you know what you’re saying, Miss Bentley?” Etherington asked. His voice was tinged with sharp criticism.
“Yes. I know exactly what I’m saying. I apologize for my bluntness, but I am convinced Lord Penderly intends to kill his grandson.”
Sarah was tired of having to argue with everyone. Angry that no one believed that the mighty Lord Penderly could be behind the attempts on Jonathan’s life. Just once she wanted someone to consider that what she said might be possible, instead of looking at her like she was an inmate escaped from an institution for the insane.
The expression on Lord Etherington’s face told her he suspected she’d come directly from Bedlam and that he was about ready to ask her to leave his home.
“Austin, perhaps you’d care to explain,” Etherington growled as he slowly sat.
Sarah looked at Austin and dared him to contradict what she thought. She was tired. She was angry. Her head throbbed as badly as her shoulder. Why could no one see what she did?
She clutched the edge of the settee to hold herself steady and glared at him.
“There have been two attempts on Fledgemont’s son. The first attacker tried to smother the babe while he slept. The second attacker tried to shoot the infant. Miss Bentley fought the first attacker off. Thankfully, at the second attempt, she saw the gunman aim at the babe and threw herself in front of the child when the gunman fired. That is how she was shot.”
“And you think the assassins were hired by Penderly?” he asked, turning his attention to her?
“I do. Lady Fledgemont warned me that if the earl found out about the babe, he’d do everything in his power to kill him. He’d said as much when he discovered that his son wanted to marry an actress.”
“He actually said he would kill the child?”
“Well, not…in so many words. But that was his meaning.”
“Where’s the babe now?”
“With Gabe and Liddy,” Austin said. “We couldn’t risk bringing him to London until we knew for sure who wanted him dead.”
“Wise decision,” Etherington added. “So, what are your plans?”
“I want Miss Bentley to meet Penderly. I want her to hear him explain why he hired me to find his son’s widow. Then, she alone will decide the babe’s future.”
Etherington looked shocked. “But the babe is Penderly’s heir. Surely you aren’t considering keeping the child from him?”
Sarah couldn’t take more fruitless arguing. She couldn’t stand having one more person look at her as if keeping the infant alive wasn’t more important than claiming an almighty title that would get him killed. Something inside her snapped and she lost control of her temper.
“What would you have me do, Lord Etherington? Keep Jonathan hidden from Lord Penderly so he’d be able to survive to reach adulthood? Or hand him over to someone who wants him dead and know he won’t live to see his first birthday?”
They didn’t understand how desperate she was to protect the babe. And they couldn’t know how much she wanted to keep him with her always. To have someone to love, someone who would love her in return.
Sarah readied herself to fire more angry words at the two brothers, but a pain shot through her shoulder and she swallowed hard to keep from crying out. She tried to conceal her agony, but Austin read her eyes.
“We’ve talked long enough,” Austin said, rising to his feet. “You need to rest now. We can discuss this again later.”
She nodded. She didn’t think she could suffer through any more arguments right now.
Austin held out his hand and helped her stand, but once she was on her feet she couldn’t gain her balance.
She was exhausted. She wanted to lie down and rest until the world seemed a sane place in which to live.
Austin wrapped his arm around her waist and she leaned into him.
“I need to see Miss Bentley to her room. I’ll return shortly,” he said to his brother.
Before they reached the other side of the room, the earl was there to open the door. “Rest well, Miss Bentley,” he said. “I apologize for causing you distress. You have my promise that dinner will be much more pleasant.”
“Thank you,” she said, then walked away with Austin’s arms still supporting her.
They made their way across the foyer and up the stairs at a slow pace. She knew he was being careful with her and his concern warmed her. But it didn’t change anything. She’d never felt so alone, so abandoned, a lone warrior fighting the world single-handedly. And she didn’t feel strong enough.
Suddenly, she felt as though she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders and the burden was too heavy. She struggled to remain strong but her emotions were stretched to the breaking point. Without warning, the first tear rolled down her cheek and a sob escaped from deep inside her.
“Ah, Sarah,” Austin said, turning her into his arms. “You’re not fighting the battle by yourself. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Somehow he knew how she felt. He understood her fears. She felt closer to him than she had before. He cradled her in his arms and gave her his strength. The steady beating of his heart beneath her ear soothed her more than she wanted to admit.
How could she be so attracted to someone who wanted the opposite of what she wanted? Even if Penderly convinced her he wasn’t behind the attempts, how could she give Jonathan up? He was hers now, he’d always been hers. From the moment he was born she’d claimed him as her own. Only a force beyond her control could make her give the babe up and not keep him as her own.
She wrapped one arm around his waist and leaned in closer. This was where she felt safest. This was where she could almost make herself believe she belonged—with him. But she didn’t. She belonged with Jonathan. Jonathan belonged with her. She’d promised Lady Fledgemont she’d always take care of the babe.
And it was a promise she’d keep.
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Chapter 15
Sarah rested for an hour, and when she awoke, she felt much better. Her head no longer throbbed and her shoulder didn’t ache as furiously as it had after the long journey.
Before she went downstairs, she took a warm bath and Bertie combed and fixed her hair. She put on one of Lady Lydia’s fashionable gowns and when she looked in the mirror, she felt prettier than she’d ever felt in her life.
The earlier tension seemed to have lifted by the time she joined the brothers, so strikingly handsome in their evening attire as they laughed over some bit of conversation. Sarah was gratified beyond words at Austin’s lingering, appreciative gaze.
As Etherington had promised, dinner was much more pleasant. Not once was Penderly’s name mentioned. Not once did they talk about why she was in London. Instead, they enjoyed an excellent meal and the two brothers talked about happier times before the war. During dessert, however, Lord Etherington brought up the time when Austin and Gabe had gone to the Crimea.
At the mention of the war, Sarah noticed a distinct change in the atmosphere in the room. She shifted her gaze to Austin who sat across from her, unable to miss his pursed lips, the knotting of the muscles at either side of his jaw. Something happened during the war that he wasn’t comfortable thinking about. A small voice warned her to let the subject pass, but she couldn’t.
“Did your position in Her Majesty’s service train you for what you do now, Captain Landwell?”
The expression on his face was partly disbelief, partly shock.
“What makes you think that?”
She shrugged her shoulders as if she needed to think about her answer. “I’m not an expert on the nobility, sir, but my guess is that there aren’t too many younger brothers of an earl who choose to devote their lives to finding thieves and murderers in the most unsavory parts of London.”
