Page 39 of Drowned in the Pleasure of a Devilish Baron
Rebecca nodded. “It’s just that today, while visiting Lady Cunningham, Sir Felix arrived.”
John and Lady Marlow exchanged looks. “Continue. Do not stand on ceremony, I want to know exactly what happened,” she said.
“Yes, Ma’am. We were in the drawing room, Miss Sarah was singing beautifully, and then Sir Felix came. He said he only came to speak with Lady Cunningham, but in truth…”
“Go on!” John snapped.
“You know your sister, Lord Marlow. She is not a very good liar. And her face when Sir Felix entered… Well, she looked as if she had expected him to come.”
John rose from the couch in agitation. “And?”
“He spoke with his sister, and I thought that was all. Perhaps if that had been all, I would not have thought I needed to tell you. But,” she took a deep breath, as if she were steeling herself. “But Lady Cunningham asked for a spot of help in her nursery, and when we returned— when we returned, Sir Felix and Miss Sarah were in the drawing room together.”
“What?” Lady Marlow stood now to, her face blazing. “You left my only daughter unsupervised with that… that…” she could not seem to find the correct word.
“I am so sorry, Ma’am!” Rebecca cried out. “It was a terrible mistake. I did not feel I could refuse the Marchioness, and we were only gone a moment! I am absolutely sure that there was not enough time for something improper to have occurred between them.”
“What reason did he give for being alone with my sister?” John said, walking closer so that he towered above Rebecca. “Well?”
“He-he said that he had only just returned to look for Lady Cunningham. He needed to speak with her once more.”
“And did you believe him?” Lady Marlow asked.
“I-I-” Rebecca’s voice was shaking too hard for her to put together an understandable sentence.
“Enough of your foolishness! Tell us now!” John said.
“No, Sir. I did not believe him. That is why I felt you had to know at once. Though I am very sure that they only had one moment together alone, I still thought you should know. I believe they have been meeting at the Cunningham Manor.” Rebecca spoke quickly, her words tripping over one another.
“She did seem quite upset that you were joining her this morning,” Lady Marlow mused. She flicked a dismissive finger at the lady’s maid. “Go on now.”
Rebecca curtsied deeply and fled the room.
John turned back to his mother “What now? Could she be compromised?”
“Absolutely not,” her tone was certain. “Sarah is not the sort to let something happen. Besides, you heard Rebecca, and I believe her. They were likely alone just for a moment’s time, whispering sweet nothings to one another and making promises that neither will be able to keep,” she scoffed. “But we shall still have to handle this.”
“How?”
“To start with, there will be no more visits to Cunningham Manor, escorted and chaperoned or not. That Lady Cunningham is far too tricky for a lady. It is absurd that she should hold such a high ranking and act so poorly.” She went to the window and stared outside. “Secondly, our plans will have to move more quickly. If she has been compromised, then she needs to be married off, and quickly, before she ruins all of our plans.”
“She won’t like it.”
“She has no choice in the matter,” Lady Marlow said in a tone that brooked no argument. “She has a duty to uphold, and she has betrayed our trust. John, tell Rebecca and the coachman that Sarah is not allowed out of this house until after Sunday’s dinner with our special guest. Be sure they all understand the consequences will be dire if she manages to get past them.”
He nodded.
“I will go speak to our little Sarah now.” As she walked to the steps, she stopped and turned to him with a considering look. With that, she began up the stairs toward Sarah’s room.
Chapter Nineteen
The way you made me feel today is something I could never have dreamed. For all of the lady’s conduct books Mother has forced on me, not one has mentioned that being with a gentleman can be so…
Sarah tapped the tip of her quill against her lips, considering the right word.
...impassioned.
The rattling of her doorknob set her heart in her throat, erasing all of the warm pleasure of writing to Felix about what had happened that day between them.
