Lord Coatbridge looked over his shoulder for a moment as if wondering whether or not he was able to escape the conversation by simply leaving the room. Much to Sara’s surprise, Miss Cartwright immediately moved and stepped in front of the doorway, blocking it bodily. She folded her arms across her chest and gave Lord Coatbridge a glaring look that dared him to try to make his way past her.
“You cannot escape so easily, Lord Coatbridge,” Sara put in. “I will not pretend that I have discovered this about you alone, however. You are correct about my inquisitiveness, but it is only because Lord Stoneleigh was determined to find out what had happened to his fortune that we stand here now. I now realize the only reason that you courted me - it was the same reason that you took Lord Stoneleigh’s fortune. You wished to gain as much money as possible to cover your debts. Debts that were never spoken of, either to myself or my father.”
“They were not spoken of to me, either.” Lord Westerly added. “Not only shall your betrothal to my daughter end, but I will make certain that every young lady in London is warned away from you.”
Lord Coatbridge did not crumble, as Sara had suspected he might. Instead, he shrugged. Arrogance still flashed hot in his eyes, his shoulders straight as he looked from one person to the another, evidently determined to become triumphant regardless.
“You may say whatever you wish to me. You may forbid me from marrying your daughter and indeed, you may chase away any other young lady of consequence from my arms. But my debts shall still be paid, and my remaining wealth significant enough to protect me from poverty. I shall find someone to wed me in some years, when I require an heir. Until then, I have all that I require.”
Sara’s heart shattered. Yes, Lord Coatbridge had admitted to stealing Lord Stoneleigh’s fortune, and injuring him in the process, but he had already used those funds to pay off his vast number of debts. He had no cause to return Lord Stoneleigh’s fortune – and indeed, perhaps no longer had enough wealth to do so. He had no requirement to return it either, for what could be said that would force the man to return something he no longer possessed?
“Then you are a gentleman without honor,” Lord Westerly stated, his face flushed, and his hands curled into tight fists, but this had no effect on Lord Coatbridge’s demeanor. “You stand before us admitting to theft, admitting to deceit, and you fear nothing. It gives you no concern.”
“No, it does not.” Determined, Lord Coatbridge lifted his chin. “As I have said, I have what I require.”
Lord Stoneleigh took a few steps forward and Sara’s heart cried out in pain for all that he was enduring at present. There was no hope left for him.
“On the evening that you stole my fortune, you put brandy into my hand, Brandy that no doubt was laced with something to make certain that I did as you pleased. You took me into another room, to demand my fortune of me, to force me to sign the agreement you had concocted. And when I did not, you chose to injure me so that I, in fear of my life, would do as you asked.” For a moment, Sara expected Lord Coatbridge to deny that but instead he merely shrugged. “Do you really think that you are the only gentleman who can behave in such a manner?”
The threat in Lord Stoneleigh’s voice was sudden, his voice low and dark as Sara caught her breath in shock. This was not something which she had ever expected of him, for she had never once considered that he could be a gentleman inclined towards threats and violence.
The air of confidence began to leave Lord Coatbridge. Clasping his hands in front of him, he darted his gaze away, no longer seemingly able to look at Lord Stoneleigh as steadily as he had once done.
“I am not a gentleman willing toeverinjure another in the way that you have done to me. I have no intention of drugging you. I have no intention of putting a knife into your flesh as you have done to me. However, I haveeveryintention of regaining what is mine, and you can be assured that not only will I do it, but that I shall have success.” Lord Coatbridge’s lips curled, and he immediately began to laugh as Sara frowned. What had Lord Stoneleigh meant? Those words did not seem to be holding any threat. “You see, I have other ways of making certain that I have my fortune returned to me again.” Seemingly ignoring the expression on Lord Coatbridge’s face, Lord Stoneleigh moved closer. There was a smile on his lips, as though he was certain that he would achieve the victory. Upon seeing it, Sara felt her heart lift free of the worry and doubt which had plagued her for the last few minutes. “I have a very good friend by the name of Lord Wiltsham. He was present with me before we entered this room.”
Sara glanced around the room, suddenly realizing that it was exactly as Lord Stoneleigh had said. Lord Wiltsham was not present even though she had fully expected him to be. Why had she not noticed? Blinking in surprise, she turned wide eyes back to Lord Stoneleigh, catching the smile in his eyes as he looked at her, before returning his attention to Lord Coatbridge, who sneered at him.
“Why should I care about the whereabouts of Wiltsham?”
“Upon hearing your declaration to Lady Sara, he immediately quit my company and removed himself to your house. At this very moment, he will be searching for a list of your debts, which I have no doubt he will find very quickly indeed, given – as you yourself have stated – that you have only just paid them.”
A flare of hope tore through Sara’s heart, and she clasped her hands tightly together in anticipation of what he was about to say.
“And, as the Marquess of Stoneleigh, I will visit each person individually. I shall tell them what you have done and using the strength of my title, shall demand that I am given back what you have falsely paid them so that the debts are returned to you.” He lifted one eyebrow as Lord Coatbridge shifted from one foot to the next, no smile on his lips now. “Do you believe that they will reject the word of a Marquess over the word of a Viscount? And do you think that they will be particularly pleased to hear of your duplicity?”
Sheer relief flooded her as Lord Coatbridge dropped his head. Yes, this was not the most conventional way of taking back what was his, but clearly Lord Stoneleigh did not expect Lord Coatbridge to willingly return what he had stolen. The more she considered it, the more she grew certain that all would be well. Clasping her hands together, her thumbs under her chin, Sara closed her eyes and let out a long breath.
“You are a disgrace,” Lord Stoneleigh finished. “You have no place in society now. I, Lord Westerly and Lord Wiltsham will make certain of it. That is the end of the matter.”
When Sara opened her eyes, she realized that Lord Stoneleigh was no longer looking at Lord Coatbridge. Instead, his eyes were fixed on her, a gentle smile on his lips as he came closer, one hand stretched out towards her.
“My dear lady,” he murmured softly as if no one else was present. “I think it is time to return to this soiree, do you not?”
Such was the rush of emotion she felt that Sara could not even speak. Instead, she could only nod. Her eyes darted to Lord Coatbridge for a moment, taking in his slumped shoulders, his bowed head, and the paleness of his cheeks. Lord Westerly was saying more to him, but Sara gave them both no further attention. Instead, she looked back into Lord Stoneleigh’s face, her relief more than she could express.
“Come then.” Taking her hand, Lord Stoneleigh pressed it to his arm, and with Miss Cartwright opening the door for them, led her out from the room. Everything, it seemed, was now at an end.
Chapter Thirteen
“You have had success, I hope?” The moment Lord Wiltsham made his way back into the study where Gideon had been waiting, questions began to fly from his mouth. “Did you find what you were looking for? Are all of his debts accounted for?”
“I did, yes.” Lord Wiltsham’s grin was broad, and Gideon pressed both hands to Lord Wiltsham’s study desk, leaning his head forward as he let out a long, slow breath. “You need not concern yourself any longer,” Lord Wiltsham continued, settling one hand on Gideon’s shoulder. “Everything you need is here. Your work to regain your fortune may begin as soon as you wish.”
“You cannot know the depth of my gratitude.” Lifting his head, Gideon reached out to shake Lord Wiltsham’s hand firmly. “I do not think I would have been successful without you.”
“But successful we were.” Lord Wiltsham grinned, before pulling out a sheaf of papers from behind his back and setting them down on the study desk. Gideon’s eyes flared wide.
“That is a very large number indeed!”
