Lord Stoneleigh only smiled at her sympathetically.
“I know your intentions are good, but you cannot. You know you cannot.”
“On the contrary, I have every intention of going with you.” Sara lifted her chin as Lord Stoneleigh blinked. “I am quite determined. I shall wait outside White’s so that we might talk together.”
“Sara, be reasonable.” Miss Cartwright, who had been standing near Sara, completely unobserved by Gideon, reached out and touched Sara’s arm. “You are reacting to the obvious shock that has overwhelmed you at this news. You cannot simply go with Lord Stoneleigh in the midst of this situation at present, and demand to see and speak into whatever situation they are currently enduring. That would not be wise. And to stand outside White’s, unaccompanied…. Scandalous – what would people say? You do not need that kind of reputation!”
Sara closed her eyes, trying to make sense of all that she felt and desired in this present circumstance.
“Lord Coatbridge has injured me yes, but he has done worse to you. How can I simply stand back and permit him to continue on in such a way? I must know why he has done this to you, and what his intentions were as regarded myself.”
“I fear that your father would take an entirely different view to you, my Lady,” Lord Stoneleigh replied softly. “Yes, I see your intentions, but I also must advise you against joining me.” Taking a deep breath, he squeezed her hand. “I have it. I shall bring Lord Wiltsham to this park, should you be able to remain here a little longer? Then we can meet and discuss it in such a manner that you are present, but also protected from all impropriety. Would that please you?”
Sara let out a long breath, one she had not known she had been holding. His understanding of her desperation was a great relief, and she nodded fervently.
“That would please me greatly, and I am most appreciative of your consideration. You can see my distress, I am sure, although it can be nothing compared to yours.”
Much to her surprise, Lord Stoneleigh let out a quiet chuckle.
“I confess, Lady Sara, that I have felt a good many emotions - none of which I can express effectively at present! However, I am filled with a great relief that I have been able to identify the man responsible, thanks not only to you, but to Richards also.” Taking a deep breath, he released her hands. “Will you wait here for me? I shall be as quick as I can.”
“But of course.”
Lord Stoneleigh departed without another word, hurrying away from her as Sara let out a long, slow breath. She understood Lord Stoneleigh’s explanation of having so many emotions that they were tangled with one another, for her own felt exactly that way, confusing her as to what it was that she felt at present. But in the midst of it all, she could sense that the same relief which possessed him was settling over her also. There was no promise that he would regain his fortune, but there was a beginning of hope, and that would be enough for her at present.
“I do not understand all that has gone on at present, but it seems to me that this is a very serious matter.” Miss Cartwright grasped her hand, catching her attention. “Forgive me for speaking if you did not wish me to, but I could not allow you to damage your reputation so. To march to White’s with Lord Stoneleigh and wait for him alone would not have been wise.”
“I thank you for your concern.” Sara gave her friend a warm smile, not wishing her to think that she was in any way angry with her. “I acted a little impulsively, but the situation is as you have identified, a most serious one.”
“I am sure that Lord Stoneleigh will return as soon as he can,” her friend replied, trying to reassure her. “You will, at some point, have to explain it all to me, but might I also ask if there is something a little more... significant between yourself and Lord Stoneleigh? I noticed how he grasped your hand and how eager you were to draw close to him.”
Sara turned to her friend, already feeling that familiar warmth working its way into her cheeks.
“I believe that I do feel a good deal more for Lord Stoneleigh than I have ever felt for any other gentleman of my acquaintance,” she admitted quickly. “Nor am I embarrassed to say such a thing.”
“Embarrassed?” Her friend blinked a little in surprise. “Why should you be embarrassed?”
“Because it has come upon me quite suddenly, in a way that I did not expect. There has been a great deal of confusion at times, but it seems now that I am quite overcome by Lord Stoneleigh. All I can think of is being in his company. I am so desperate for things to go well for him because of just how much he has come to mean to me of late, rather than because I fear to attach myself to a gentleman without fortune. Believe me, I am quite astonished to be admitting such a thing to you, but it is true. He is a mosthonorablegentleman who has spoken to me with such care and concern, even though he rejected me at the first!”
“He… he rejected you?”
Miss Cartwright’s confusion made Sara laugh.
“Yes, but only because he was attempting to protect me from his present circumstances, which involve Lord Coatbridge.” Her smile and her laughter faded quickly. “There is a good deal more to say and certainly a good deal more to explain, but I have not the liberty at present to do so. All I can say is that Lord Coatbridge is a man who has done much more than simply break himself off from our courtship in order to betroth himself to another. He has done a great many wicked things, and I am not certain of how, or if, he will ever recover himself from this. I believe that he thought his misdeeds would remain undiscovered, but now the truth has found its way forward, and it cannot be hidden from us any longer. That is why Lord Stoneleigh is going to speak with his friend, for he must find a way to speak to Lord Coatbridge in a manner which would have him admit to all of his wickedness.” Shaking her head, she let out a sad sigh. “I am a little concerned that Lord Coatbridge will deny everything and refuse to do what is honorable. After all, he is not a man willing to evenconsiderwhat is the right way to do things. Rather, it is as though he actively seeks out what is immoral.”
Miss Cartwright’s eyes had widened to such an extent that it was some moments before she blinked and looked away.
“Gracious,” she murmured softly. “I look forward to the day when you can explain all of this to me, my dear friend, but for the moment I will beg you to be cautious. If this matter affects Lord Stoneleigh, then you must permit Lord Stoneleigh to resolve it. Do not involve yourself if you have no need to do so. It is better for your reputation that way.”
Sara nodded but did not verbally agree. If this matter involved her in any way, then to her mind she had every right to know exactly what was going on and what Lord Coatbridge had done. Beginning to pace up and down the small grassy area where she had come across Lord Stoneleigh, she lifted her hands to her lips, her head bowed as she continued her slow pace.
Lord Coatbridge would be forced to face his wickedness. It would be revealed to him by those from whom he had sought to keep it hidden. What would his response to their discovery be? Would he have any sorrow? Would he seek their forgiveness? Or would he, as she feared, simply ignore what they had learned and brush them aside, turning his face away from what he had done?
And if he chose to do the latter, then what was it that they could place upon him? How could they demand that he returned what he had stolen if he would not admit to it? Was there a chance that he would be able to escape from the consequences of his actions? Despite their endeavors, could Lord Coatbridge prove himself to be the victor?
“He is returning.”
Sara’s head shot up as she lifted her gaze, seeing none other than Lord Stoneleigh and Lord Wiltsham striding towards them. It had felt like many hours since he had left, but within a few minutes, he was beside her, his hands reaching for hers once more. She took them willingly.
