“And what of it?” he stated, almost nonchalantly. “We are no longer connected, you and I. What is it that you could possibly want from me now?”
“I should like the truth.” This was not exactly what she had intended to say, but the words came to her regardless. “I should like to know why you courted me with promises of affection and the like, only to then betroth yourself to Lady Nora.”
Lord Coatbridge rolled his eyes.
“You are much too trusting,” he threw out as if this was entirely her own doing. “I did not mean those words. I said them only to garner your interest, and it appears I succeeded.” From beside her, Sara caught Miss Cartwright’s gasp, but she felt very little upset over that remark. In fact, she realized, Lord Coatbridge himself meant very little to her at all. This was all a pretense, a part played for Lord Stoneleigh’s sake. “You did not think that you were the only one I was courting, did you?”
In that single moment, Sarah realized where she had made her mistake. She had believed that Lord Coatbridge had only been courtingher. But what if he had been making the very same pronouncements to other young ladies?
“That was why Lady Nora was so angry,” she murmured, half to herself as Lord Coatbridge let out a muttered exclamation. “She believed the same as I. She believed that your words were true.”
“Ah, but to Lady Nora, they are. We are to wed.”
“I understand.” Sara nodded slowly to herself. “And no doubt you were speaking of me and my foolishness when you were overheard in that gambling den.” Her eyebrows lifted. “Your little scheme has not gone unnoticed. You have been found out.”
“And who has found me out, save from you? Lord Coatbridge shrugged. “I knew that you were a little curious, Lady Sara, but I did not know that you would ever go to this extent to satisfy that curiosity.”
“I wanted to discover the truth. Your character is not as it appeared, as youattemptedto show me.”
Again, Lord Coatbridge shrugged.
“And what would such a thing matter?”
Praying silently that Lord Stoneleigh was listening, Sara took a small step closer.
“You admit to it then? You have conspired to take the fortune from another gentleman and injured him, physically, in the process? Perhaps you have even done this more than once?”
Clearly believing that nothing serious he said to her could be of any consequence, Lord Coatbridge spread both hands wide and grinned wickedly.
“If you are speaking of Lord Stoneleigh, then he brought that injury upon himself. If he had signed the piece of paper in the first place, then I would not have had to go to such lengths.”
It was almost as though he was pleased with himself, and a shudder ran over Sara’s frame.
“But why? Why do such a thing?”
“Because I was given the opportunity.” Lord Coatbridge dropped his hands and turned to face the door. “Just as I was given opportunity with Lady Nora, who has a far greater dowry than you, I might add.”
“Then that is your reason for all of this.” Fire began to burn in her veins. “It is about you gaining as much money as you possibly can!”
“It is about paying debts,” he stated, flinging one hand out towards her. “Not that such things ought to matter to you now. I shall marry Lady Nora and, since I have garnered enough wealth, now, to pay off theentiretyof my debts without consequence, I intend to live a very prosperous and contented life. I am afraid, however, that should you decide to speak of this to anyone, very few people will listen to you, and certainly none will believe you. I hope that this quietens your thoughts and your curiosity for the time being, however. Good evening.”
“I think that we will believe her.”
A deep voice had both Sara and Lord Coatbridge whirling around. It was not Lord Stoneleigh who was speaking, but rather an older, grey-haired gentleman whose small eyes were narrowed directly towards Lord Coatbridge.
The confidence immediately left Lord Coatbridge’s face. His eyes widened and he began to walk directly towards the fellow, shaking his head and holding out both hands wide.
“No, Lord Westerly, I beg you not to listen to this madness. This young lady… I was courting her previously, and she is only jealous that–”
“We all heard your words.” The man spoke darkly, his voice resonating around the room. “You can say nothing to absolve yourself. You shall not have my daughter’s hand.”
Instantly, Sara realized exactly who this was. Lord Westerly was Lady Nora’s father. Somehow, Lord Stoneleigh had managed to bring him here in time for him to listen to everything that Lord Coatbridge had said. In truth, she was rather relieved, for Lady Nora’s sake, that Lady Nora would not be marrying Lord Coatbridge, but her heart overflowed with gratitude at Lord Stoneleigh’s consideration. He had thought not only of himself, but of others also, wanting to protect Lady Nora from the fate of tying herself to such a scoundrel.
“You have admitted to everything,” Westerly continued, closing the distance between himself and Lord Coatbridge with great strides, one hand held up, finger pointing towards him. “You are not the gentleman you purported to be. You have no honor. You offered your hand to my daughter without revealing your true self to either myself or her. Your lack of consideration shows me that you have no true feelings for her.”
“No, that is not as things stand, I assure you!”
“You have just admitted it!” Lord Stoneleigh spoke for the first time, stepping forward a little more out of the hidden doorway. “You believed that Lady Sara could do nothing with what she had learned, but you were mistaken. She spoke to you, knowing that we would be here. I heard you admit to the fact thatyouare the gentleman who has my fortune, and who did me serious injury.”
