Matthew stiffened, for he had not spoken of money at all. He had come here, hoping to end the blackmail relationship andchange it into one where Sarah Carlisle could have a better life of her own.
From his pocket, he took out a bank note and handed it to her. “For the sake of my father, I am willing to help you. But the past should lie buried.”
She took the money, her wrinkled face holding only pain. “It won’t be buried until I am.”
Lily stared outside the coach window, thankful to be back in London and eager to see Matthew once again. But to her surprise, there was a dog upon the doorstep when the coach stopped in front of her brother’s townhouse. Lily exclaimed with joy when she saw Sebastian waiting outside. He was sniffing and circling the entrance. She hurried outside the coach, not even waiting for the footman. The moment the dog spied her, his tail wagged with delight.
“Sebastian!” She opened her arms as she went up the stairs, and the dog crashed into her, sniffing her hands and licking her hands. Foolish tears sprang from her eyes, but she didn’t care. “I never thought to see you again. Now what are you doing here?”
For a moment, she wondered if Lord Davonshire had come to pay a call, but why would he? They had only just arrived home from Yorkshire, and he would not even suspect she was here. It was nearly evening, though the summer daylight was bright outside.
The footman caught up to her and apologized. “I am sorry, Lady Lily. I will remove the dog, if you wish it.”
“Not at all. Bring him inside. He may be hungry or thirsty.” She had no idea how Sebastian had run away from home again,but she intended to enjoy his company for a few hours until she returned him to his owner.
And she could hardly wait to see Matthew. Though it had only been a few weeks, she missed him terribly. She hoped to pay a call upon him at Lady Arnsbury’s residence, first thing in the morning.
James followed her inside the townhouse, handing his hat to another servant. “Why is that dog here again?”
“I have no idea. But I will keep him for a while, at least. I’ve missed him so.” She guided the Newfoundland into the drawing room and sat upon the floor, letting the dog flop against her. He rolled onto his back, exposing his stomach, and she rubbed it. His tongue hung out of his mouth, and she could not help but smile at his ridiculous expression.
Her brother shook his head with a sigh and took a seat across from her. “You’ve a soft heart, Lily.”
“So I have.” She saw nothing wrong with that and continued cuddling Sebastian. She ran her fingers over the dog, checking to ensure that his wounds were fully healed. He continued to lick her, and her heart warmed to the affection. She supposed she would send a note to Lord Davonshire to let him know the whereabouts of his dog, but in the meantime, she would enjoy the love of this animal.
Her brother rang for refreshments and asked the footman to bring him the collection of notes and invitations from the past few weeks. He sat at his writing desk and began sorting through them.
“I need a secretary,” James remarked. “This has gotten out of hand. It will take days to answer all of the notes.” He set aside a small stack and then stopped when he reached one note. Frowning, he tore it open. Lily paid it no heed, busy petting the dog, until James abruptly stood. He crumpled the note and shoved it into his coat pocket.
“What’s the matter?”
“I’m not certain.” His expression tightened, and he turned to face her. “Can you imagine any reason why Evangeline would ever send for me?”
“Heavens, no.” Lily knew how deeply her friend despised James. “She never would. Why would you ask that?”
“Because of the note she just sent, asking me to pay a call. She says it’s urgent.”
“Thatisstrange.” Lily didn’t know what to think of it, but she was distracted when the footman arrived with sandwiches and tea. She directed him to place the tray upon a low table near the chairs, and immediately reached for the food, feeling ravenous.
“I’ve a mind to see, just to satisfy my curiosity,” James remarked. “Perhaps she is plotting my murder.”
“Be careful,” Lily warned with a smile. The last time she’d spoken with her friend, the young woman had decided she was through with James. Everyone thought that was the end of it.
She finished her sandwich and offered a scrap to the dog so her brother would not see the forbidden excitement on her face. Right now, she had no qualms about urging her brother out the door. She yearned to be in Matthew’s arms and hoped he could come pay a call on her, despite the late hour.
James took two sandwiches from the tray and lifted his hand in a wave farewell. As soon as he had gone, Lily hurried to the writing desk and scrawled out a note to Matthew, telling him of her arrival. She folded it and gave it to the footman to be delivered immediately.
She could hardly wait to see him again.
Chapter Seventeen
Evangline Sinclair despised embroidery, but she engaged in the necessary evil to pacify her mother and to give the illusion that she did possess a few womanly skills. Her mother Margaret sat across from her, sewing violet lace to a corset, while Aunt Amelia was studying a sketch of a new design.
It was such a paradox to see her impossibly proper mother adorning undergarments more befitting a courtesan than a lady. But then, it was the reason for her family’s wealth, so Evangeline could hardly complain. She let out a sigh and glanced over at the hearth where Annabelle slept beside her puppies.
“You have a caller, Miss Sinclair,” the footman announced to Evangeline. “Lord Penford is here to see you.”
“Now why would he be here?” her mother wondered aloud. “I thought the two of you had parted ways.” Margaret stared hard at her daughter, before a faint smile edged her mouth. “Clearly, I was wrong.”
