“It would be safer.”
“But at what cost? Could you have pretended with your husband?”
Sarah rose abruptly. “Let us leave Roland out of this. He’s dead. Gone. While your gentlemen are very much alive andrelatedto each other. Why could you not have found a different man to choose over the duke?”
“It was not my intention to fall in love with Jack. It just happened—”
“Wait, is this the American? The one who has everyone in uproar because he had once disappeared and then just turned up.”
“It is.”
“Oh, Char, he’s using you. Can you not see that? I’ve heard the gossip. They say he and his twin never really rubbed well.”
“That is not true,” Char answered. “I have seen them together. They are as all brothers.”
“And you know this because you have sisters? And so much experience with siblings?” Sarah queried. Her tone said she wanted Char to think.
“I know because I love Jack. He is honorable, Sarah. He is good. We tried to avoid this.”
Her aunt threw her hands up in the air.
“There is more,” Char continued.
“I don’t believe I can take more,” Sarah snapped.
“Uncle Davies has not been paying the money for my support.”
“What?” Now she had Sarah’s attention. “Are you telling me he is going to stop?” She moved so that the table was between them.
“He hadn’t started since he quit sending funds months ago.”
“But he sent money. There was that purse—”
Char shook her head.
“You told me it was from him,” Sarah pointed out.
With a deep breath, Char admitted, “I lied.”
“Then where did the money come from?”
This was not going to be easy. “I picked a few pockets.”
“What?” Sarah almost knocked the table over in her shock. The teapot, cups, and saucers wobbled on the table before she settled it with a hand. Coming back around, Sarah sank into her chair. “Charlene Blanchard, you must tell everything.”
Char did. She started by explaining about being afraid they would be tossed out by the landlord.
“A real fear,” Sarah conceded. “Of course, now he is waiting for you to marry the duke so that he can collect favors.”
“Which is despicable of him,” Char announced. “Be that as it may, I saw this lad in the market pick the pocket of a wealthy man. I mentioned it to Lady Baldwin and she said she knew how to do it. She has had a rather colorful past.”
Sarah groaned aloud and buried her head in her arms on the table.
“It really isn’t Lady Baldwin’s fault. I begged her. I was rather good—”
Her aunt groaned again.
“I tried to be careful in choosing my marks. I gave you the money and told you it was from Uncle Davies.”
