Page 42 of Drowned in the Pleasure of a Devilish Baron
“Whitfield Wines has decided to expand, to broaden the business. From the sounds of it, it is likely to be very successful.”
He frowned. “We cannot allow that to happen. Something must be done.”
“I agree completely. It is time to take action. No more waiting around, no more talking. Something must be done.”
“But what?”
The more polished of the two drummed long, elegant fingers against the tabletop between them. “There is nothing so effective as a threat, in my experience. With some, that is all it takes to end the problem.”
“You believe the Marquess will back down with nothing but a threat?” The scarred man lifted one bushy brow.
“Certainly not. His new business partner, on the other hand...”
Chapter Twenty-One
Saturday saw Sarah listlessly prowling the house and gardens, the desire to be anywhere but there so strong that she felt the very walls of her home closing in around her.
Even in the garden, she felt eyes watching her closely. Rebecca stayed on her heels no matter where she went, even staying with her in her bedroom. There was not a moment’s privacy to be had, and after only a few hours of this new way of life, Sarah felt certain she would go mad.
She sat down after breakfast, a meal she had more picked at than actually eaten, and wrote a letter to Juliet.
Jules,
My family is most displeased with me. Rebecca told them about yesterday, and I confessed to the rest. I have been forbidden from visiting you. Can you call on me here? I would very much like to speak with you.
Please give your brother my apologies.
Love,
Sarah Marlow
But when she handed the sealed letter to Rebecca, her lady’s maid just shook her head.
“What?” Sarah asked, holding out the letter once more. “I’m only asking you to please post this for me.”
“Apologies, Miss, but your mother has asked me to stop any of your letters from going out. She does not want you writing to Lady Cunningham at all, and certainly not her brother.”
“I’m not writing to her brother! I’m writing to Juliet! Surely she cannot deny me basic communication?”
“Apologies, Miss.” Rebecca turned back to the basket of sewing in her lap at the corner of Sarah’s room, and acted as if she did not feel the hot glare Sarah sent her way.
Huffing in frustration, Sarah left her room, looking for her mother. She found her in her rooms, at the window overlooking the garden and drinking tea.
“Good morning, my darling.”
“Mother, Rebecca will not let me send Juliet a simple letter. Surely you have not forbidden this?”
“Do not take your frustration out on poor Rebecca, dear. She is simply doing as she is told. I do not want you sending letters out to Lady Juliet, getting her help and cooking up some ridiculous scheme.” Seemingly unbothered, she took a sip of her tea.
Sarah took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. “Mother, Juliet was expecting me today. It would be unforgivably rude for me to simply not show up. At least allow me to cancel our plans.”
Lady Marlow looked at her archly. “Rude to cancel the secret plans you both knew went against your mother?”
Sarah flushed at this but did not back down.
Her mother sighed. “Very well, then.” She held out an imperial hand. When Sarah did nothing, she snapped her fingers. “The letter, give me the letter you wrote and I shall make it appropriate to send.”
Sarah thought about what she had written in the letter and took a step back. “I’ll write a new one instead.”
