“Tell me what it is you wish to ask me, and I shall prove it to you. Given your furrowed brow, I am not entirely certain that you believe me.”
She nodded slowly, keeping her gaze fixed on him even though he was still refusing to meet her eyes.
“Shall I ask you why you are in this particular part of London, or are such matters much too personal? If they are, then might I be permitted to ask you something else?”
One eyebrow lifted gently.
“I am afraid I cannot tell you about my reasons for being in the East End of London, no.”
Considering this, Sara nodded slowly.
“Well then, what else shall I ask you?”
Lord Stoneleigh chuckled, finally meeting her gaze.
“I thought you had a good many questions, Lady Sara. Why now do you struggle to find even one?”
Embarrassment colored her face.
“Yes, I am aware that you overheard my conversation with my friend in the book shop. I am also aware that I paid you very little attention when we danced which, perhaps, was the beginning of my interest for I could not remember whether or not you had spoken to me about the injury to your arm.”
A slight frown touched Lord Stoneleigh’s brow, chasing his smile away.
“Yes, I did speak to you about my arm. Begging your forgiveness if I grasped your hand a little awkwardly as a result of my injury,” he replied. “Although evidently it made very little difference to you since you did not even notice my words.”
“You are willing to speak of your injury, then? Might I ask how it came to be?”
Something flickered across his expression, but it was gone before she had time to understand it.
“And this is where I must disappoint you, Lady Sara,” came his easy reply. “There is no great story.”
She curled her lip.
“There is always a story, Lord Stoneleigh.”
He sat back in his seat, no longer looking at her, but giving his attention to the window as he folded his arms.
“I will concur, but this is, at least, a very dull story. I mentioned it to yourself and your friend because I was worried that my dancing would be impaired, not because I wished to give any particular details. However, since I have said that I shall answer you, I will tell you.” A breath caught in the pit of her stomach as he turned back to her and leaned a little further forward in his seat. “I injured my arm when I fell awkwardly. It has taken a long time to recover, and the surgeon tells me that it will take many months before it is again as it once was.”
Sara’s shoulders slumped. Could it be true?
Lord Stoneleigh chuckled, looking at her, aware of her disappointment.
“I did warn you that there was very little to understand.”
“You fell,” she repeated as Lord Stoneleigh nodded. “That is all that occurred.”
“Yes, that is all,” he confirmed, as the carriage finally drew up outside her father’s house. “And this is where I shall take my leave.”
There was no time for any further conversation and Sara was forced to silence any further questions. Lord Stoneleigh grasped her hand as he helped her hand down before bowing over it – and she knew that the conversation was at an end.
“You must hold to your promise, Lady Sara.”
Releasing her, he tipped his head in question.
Giving him a quick smile, she nodded and, either on instinct or from desire, reached to grasp his hand once more.
“Thank you for what you did. I am aware that I may have angered you, but I am grateful for all that you have done for me.”
