Page 83 of Temptations of a Wallflower
He seemed displeased that she continued to speak when it was clear that she wasn’t entirely herself. Yet he said, “The scandal will ruin her. Everyone will know who she is, and she’ll have to stop writing.”
“She’d lose everything,” Sarah said bleakly. “Friends, family. She might be driven from England.”
“I know,” Jeremy answered darkly. “And I hate to do that to her, when she’s done nothing of real harm.”
“She’s donenoharm,” Sarah said vehemently.
“But my father and uncle both think she’s contributing to the ethical decay of Society, and they’ll stop at nothing to make certain she can pen no more novels.”
“Why doyouhave to go after her?” Sarah asked,unable to hide the edge of bitterness in her voice. “If you think she’s so innocuous.”
“Don’t want to,” he growled. “But it’s impossible to tell my father no. He’ll cut me off if I don’t obey,” he added bitterly. “He’ll hound me until I do as he wants. He’s done so forever.”
“This is a woman’slifethat’s at stake, Jeremy!” She couldn’t keep the heat from her words. “Surely you can find some means of denying your father. We have my dowry, my inheritance.”
“My father stops at nothing to get his way.”
“Perhaps it’s time he learns that he doesn’t get everything he wants.”
He glanced down, looking ashamed. “You’re right. Yet I have to perform due diligence. I’ve one more lead to track down, and then I’ll tell him that I’ve done all that I can.”
God, let that lead be a futile one. Let every path he pursued be fruitless. It was the only hope she had that their union could continue. And if he did find out that she was the Lady of Dubious Quality—would he expose her? Would he shame her publicly, and turn away from her? He’d have no choice.
There couldn’t have been a more awful situation than this one. “Can’t you give it up now?” she urged. “Think of that woman.”
“Just one more possible clue to investigate,” he soothed, without actually soothing her. “And then I’m finished.” He looked at her with concern. “You truly look unwell, love. If I cannot call a physician, let me get you upstairs and resting in bed.”
Her neck rusty, she nodded. She allowed him to helpher up from the bench and guide her gently out of the garden. The whole time, she leaned on him, aware of the irony that the man who supported and helped her so tenderly was the same man who could utterly destroy her.
Inside, they passed Lady Hutton, who exclaimed in shock and dismay when observing Sarah hanging limply on Jeremy’s arm.
“She doesn’t want a physician,” Jeremy said when his mother insisted on summoning one.
“But what happened, my dear?” Lady Hutton cried.
“It’s nothing,” Sarah tried to insist, but her voice was weak. “A dizzy spell. It will pass.”
“Perhaps it’s a forerunner of good news,” Lady Hutton said with a little smile, glancing at Sarah’s stomach.
Oh, God—Sarah hadn’t thought of that. She was fairly certain that she wasn’t increasing, but there was always a chance. And if that was the case, then everything was doubly catastrophic. Even without the possibility of a baby, life as she knew it might be over.
She should have known the danger of the game she was playing. Except it wasn’t a game. It was her livelihood, her purpose for being. Had she given up her writing before they’d married, not only would itnothave solved the problem but she would also have suffered excruciatingly.
But soon, she might have to choose. Writing or love. And even that choice might be taken from her.
Chapter 24
One night, three weeks after my adventure, I lay abed, too restless to sleep yet too exhausted to get up. The arms of Morpheus were denied me, as were the arms of my highwayman. The ecstasy we’d created fueled my most passionate dreams and filled my waking moments. More than once, I’d used my own hands to bring me satisfaction, but it was a pale echo of what pleasure Jacob had given me.
My fingers were trailing down my belly when I heard a tap on my window. Rising, too distracted to notice my nudity, I rushed to the window and threw open the casement. I could not believe what I saw . . .
The Highwayman’s Seduction
Jeremy paced the length of the parlor set aside for his private use while in London. After yesterday’s incident, Sarah had appeared pale and shaky this morning at breakfast, yet she’d insisted that it was nothing more than exhaustion from being in London. He couldn’t help but think her ill health was somehow related to hispursuit of the Lady of Dubious Quality—though, when he’d pressed her about it, she had claimed otherwise.
“I only feel for that woman,” she’d said. “I cannot help but believe that you’re playing with her life.”
“You think less of me for my task,” he’d answered darkly.
