Page 2 of To Claim the Long-Lost Lover
Their private room became a place where they could relax with the one person in the whole world who would always love and never judge. Even after Sarah moved earlier this year to a lodge in the grounds of one of the duchy’s smaller estates, she still had a place in her uncle’s homes, and the private sitting room was still a retreat.
Her visits to London had become rare but busy, as she travelled to meetings and entertainments in search of donors and political supporters, and Charlotte went to different events and also inspected establishments she supported, where she often rolled her sleeves up to be of practical assistance.
Here, in their sanctuary, they could share their day, and enjoy the insights of the other, laughing over trials that seemed far more tolerable when shared with a dearest friend.
Today, Sarah was silent as Charlotte made an entertaining story out of a visit to a school on the edges of the slums of St Giles. Sarah’s mind wasn’t on it. She needed to tell Charlotte what she decided, and for once, she could not predict her sister’s reaction.
Charlotte noticed, of course. She trailed off, her changeable hazel eyes—so much more interesting than Sarah’s pale blue—sparkling gold in the candlelight as she put her head to one side. “You have something on your mind, Sarah. What is it?”
Sarah’s huff of laughter acknowledged her twin’s insight. “I do have something to say, but it can wait until you finish your story. What did Matron say next?”
Charlotte waved off her own punchline with an impatient gesture. “I made my point, darling, as I’m sure you already knew. Matron knows she must rethink her opinions on the superfluity of mathematics for a child from the slums, even those who are as brilliant as young Tony Tweedy. Either that, or she will be seeking another position.” She waved an expansive hand. “The stage is yours, Lady Sarah.”
Now that the moment had come, Sarah wasn’t sure which of her rehearsed approaches to take. No. This was Charlotte. They might be different in appearance, temperament and interests, but Charlotte was her other self. The persuasive techniques she had learned to manage slum lords and society ladies had no place here.
“I wish to marry,” she said, bluntly.
Charlotte’s eyes widened. “I did not know you had met anyone you favoured.”
Sarah shook her head. “I have not.” She leaned across the space between their chairs and took her sister’s hand. “I want Elias to have a father and a place in Society, Charlotte. I want...” She looked at her hands. “I want him to have brothers and sisters. I want what cousin Sophia has—to hold my own new born baby in my arms...” Her voice trailed off.
Charlotte squeezed her hand. “I understand. And I suppose the latest family news made it worse.”
Sarah nodded. The first time she had seen Jamie’s and Sophia’s new little girl—cuddled in the arms of her mother with her father hovering, unable to take his proud and doting eyes from the pair of them—she had wanted a painter to capture that moment. Perfect love. The kind of family Uncle James’s children had apparently enjoyed, but that she and Sarah had never known. Since then, she had been yearning to be one of the chief actors in her own family portrait.
Not that she was unhappy with Elias. Her little boy was the sweetest and cleverest child in the world. One of the worst things about London was that the hours they enjoyed together in Oxfordshire were diminished to minutes here and there through the day in the townhouse’s nursery.
But she wanted more.
The determination that had been growing for months had recently been fuelled when she discovered that Sophia expected to present Jamie with another child later this year, and that cousin Ruth, married nine months ago to the Earl of Ashbury, was already expecting an interesting addition.
“It will have to be the right sort of person. And even if you find someone who will become father to your son and keep your secret, people will talk,” Charlotte warned.
Sarah shrugged. “As Uncle James says, people can talk all they like, but if they can’t prove anything, and if the leaders of Society accept him, the scandal will disappear.”
There would be difficulties, finding someone the chief among them. The right person needed to be tolerant, supportive, respectful of women, understanding of a youthful mistake with consequences.If I am unable to find such a paragon in Society, I will have to look outside.
Even once she discovered suitable candidates, she would need to audition them very carefully. If they refused what she asked of them, she could not marry them. After that, their silence and their co-operation would be imperative.
“Darling, what of Nate?” Charlotte asked.
“I have to believe he is dead,” Sarah said. “He has been gone seven years, Charlotte. In all that time, he has never tried to contact me. If he is still alive, he doesn’t want me. Elfingham said he took money to leave me, and at first I thought he lied, but seven years, Charlotte!”
Charlotte nodded. She, more than anyone, knew that their brother had been unreliable. “Very well,” Charlotte said, settling herself back on her cushions and picking up her pen and the pad of paper on which she had been making notes. “Let us make a plan.”
2
In the end, Nate didn’t head off to London the next morning. When he went up to the nursery to say farewell to his little half-sisters, his stepmother was thrilled to hear he was intending to sample the Marriage Mart. He made no mention of Sarah Winderfield, because he didn’t want his father casting any caltrops in his way.
Lady Lechton took his arm and left the nursery with him, rattling away as they walked with a list of reasons why he could not go straight away or alone.
“You will need somewhere to stay—an appropriate address is essential. New clothes, Nate.”
Nate was only half listening, but he curbed his impatience to be off. It had taken him a fortnight to convince the timid lady to call him Nate, and he’d no wish to frighten her by cutting her conversation short.
“You dress for comfort,” she continued, “which is all very well here in the country, but will not do in Town. Introductions to the proper people, people who will send you invitations. That’s very important, Nate. They will be pleased to have you, I can assure you, once they know you are eligible. Young men are much in demand, and handsome young men who are in line for a title… well.”
She frowned a little, opened her mouth, shot a nervous look at Nate, and closed it again.
