“Perhaps he did not know.” Trying her best to steal away some of the shadows from his gaze, Sara thought to find a little hope. “Perhaps he did not know everything that would happen.”
Lord Stoneleigh suddenly turned his head towards her again, his eyes searching hers as his free hand reached across and pressed her fingers where her hand rested on his arm, lingering there.
“You are very kind to try to make my situation a little more bearable, but Lord Foster discovered the truth. Lord Gillespie was the man who encouraged gentlemen such as I to make our way to the East End. He knew precisely what would happen, and yet he did so regardless. It may be that he was forced into such an action - I cannot say for sure - but regardless, he did that, and he did that to me.”
There was such a heavy, haunted expression on his face that it tore at Sara’s heart. His eyebrows were heavy across his forehead, his eyes drawn. His shoulders had dropped and had he not been looking at her, Sara was quite sure that his chin would have rested on his chest.
She could find nothing more to say for the present. So many thoughts were flying around her mind that it was impossible to reach out and capture even one. There was only one single question that forced itself to the forefront of her mind, however - whether or not she believed that Lord Stoneleigh was telling her the truth.
“You say that you have lost your fortune, but that two of your friends have regained theirs,” she began slowly, breaking the silence. “Do you stay in London because you intend to do the same? That is why you were in the East End, is it not?”
“Yes.” His simple answer sent a sudden flare of hope through her chest, entirely unexpected but yet warming her through. “That is precisely my intention.”
“But what have you learned?” she asked quietly. “If these other, wicked gentlemen are unable to be of any further assistance to you, then what else have you to consider?”
“I have learned a little.” Lord Stoneleigh smiled, but it was a rather sad smile, lingering for only a moment as his eyes dropped away from hers. “There was a fellow at the red-doored gambling den, who spoke to me at length about what he had seen. He told me the story of how I had become so injured. He declared that the fellow who had done such a thing had been back in that very same establishment on more than one occasion since, but thus far, he could not recall his name.”
Her breath hitched.
“You mean to say that you know that the gentleman who stole your fortune is near you? He is here in society still?”
“Yes, that is so, or at least it appears to be. I have only a vague description of him. However, the description fits more than one gentleman. Therefore, how can I tell which fellow it is?”
Her interest grew still further and there seemed to be no doubt in her mind, now, that she believed everything he had said. She trusted him, she realized. She trusted his word.
“And what is this description?” she asked, walking more swiftly now, a little afraid that her mother would overhear them.
“You will laugh when you hear it, since I have so very little to go on,” he told her, but Sara squeezed his arm encouragingly.
“Please tell me.”
With a sigh, he met her eyes.
“Very well.” His shoulders dropped, a long, heavy breath punctuating his words. “I have learned that he is a tall and slender gentleman with dark hair. In addition to this, he mentioned a lady by the name of Clara. That is all I know of him. And yes, before you ask, I have searched out every young lady in town for the Season, who bears the name of Clara, and have found no connection of any of them to any gentleman with that particular description.”
Sara was about to state that she could well understand his frustration, given the vague description, only for an idea to fling itself so hard at her that she stopped dead. With wide eyes, she turned to face him, her heart pounding so furiously that it was painful.
“Lady Sara?” Lord Stoneleigh looked at her, his eyes wide with alarm. “Whatever is the matter?”
Sara blinked furiously, struggling to catch her breath as the realization became more than just a thought. Her chest was so tight that she could barely get the words out, and yet they demanded to be spoken. She felt almost furious in her belief that what she was about to tell him was true. This moment could offer him the answer to all of the problems he currently faced.
“Lord Stoneleigh,” she pronounced, her hands clutching at his arms. “I - I believe I might know who the gentleman is.”
* * *
Gideon stared at Lady Sara,seeing the color slowly drain from her cheeks.
“You… you think you know who I am speaking of, based solely on that minuscule description?”
Lady Sara nodded slowly, her fingers tight on his arms.
“What if it was not ‘Clara’ that this person heard. What instead, if it was ‘Sara’?”
Gideon blinked furiously.
“I do not understand what you mean.”
“Whoever told you of that name might have made a mistake. They might have thought they heard the name Clara but instead it could have been Sara. Does that not make sense to you?”
