“Leave it for a few days, will you, Sarah? I’m a little weary.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You can be out until dawn and are never too tired to ride. I don’t believe you, but there’s no point in me attempting to find out where you’ve been.”
“How do you know when I’m out until dawn? You are worse than the Spanish Inquisition.” Hugh laughed. “But I’m pleased you’ve come to accept that you can’t pry too much into a fellow’s activities, Sarah. Or you’ll make a most annoying wife for someone.”
“Was Mr. Beaufort with you?”
Amused, he raised a casual eyebrow. “Why do you ask?”
“He canceled our engagement. He was to accompany me to Hyde Park to see the Great Fair to celebrate the Allied sovereigns’ visit to England. There are stalls and shows, and the Battle of Trafalgar is to be reenacted on the Serpentine. I was very disappointed, and I found his excuse rather vague. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’d lost interest in me.”
By her expression, she was obviously upset. As Luke had spoken of little else but Sarah on their journey north, it was clear that he’d missed her, and his feelings had not changed one iota. Hugh held her shoulders. “That is definitely not the case, Sarah. Luke was away from London. He assisted me when Lucy was kidnapped by her aunt’s friend, Mr. Rattray.”
Sarah gasped. “Poor Lucy! Tell me more, Hugh!”
“Rattray took Lucy to a hut near Epping Forest,” Hugh said. “Luke and I were able to rescue her. I’m not about to explain it all to you. Lucy can if she wishes.”
Sarah put her hands to her face. “But that’s horrible. Is Lucy all right?”
“Yes, she appears to have recovered well from her ordeal.”
Sarah twisted the cameo ring on her finger, her eyes distraught. “I must go and see her.”
“Of course. But not for a few days, Sarah. She is very tired.”
“What did that nasty individual want with her?”
“He had some absurd plan to marry her and benefit financially from her father’s inheritance.” He shrugged. “Completely mad.”
“How terrifying for Lucy.” Sarah gasped. “Oh, I forgot, Hugh. I am sorry.”
Hugh turned back to her again, with a heavy sigh. “For what, Sarah?”
“Tomorrow is Saturday. The day of Miss Ashton’s wedding.”
He smiled. “I hadn’t forgotten. I’ll see you at dinner.”
Hugh entered the library and shut the door. The candles were ablaze, and a small fire had been lit waiting his return. He went to the drinks tray, poured a glass of brandy, and took his favorite wing chair. Stretching his legs out toward the heat, he wondered how Lucy fared after the nightmare Rattray had inflicted on her. She was stronger than she looked, thank God. And after tomorrow, he planned to see the couple off at the docks on Sunday. If they were there. Because the wedding was held in Canterbury, and he’d been advised not to attend it, he had hoped to receive a letter of confirmation from Sir Phillip. If things went as he hoped, he would invite Lucy to join them in Hyde Park at the Great Fair, where they could speak of their wedding and the future. He knew they would be happy together. There had always been something strong between them. It wasn’t merely attraction, or desire he felt, although there was certainly that. Whenever they were together, it felt so right to be with her. Was it foolish to believe she was his soul mate? Yet he believed it so. He needed a lifetime to discover all those things about Lucy he did not yet know. To love her and have the absolute pleasure in making her happy. Once they were betrothed, he would quash any rumors about Lucy before they hurt his mother and sister.
When he sifted through his mail, he found a letter from Isabel. Slightly unnerved, he snatched up the letter opener from his desk. Slitting the paper, he read it while standing.
Isabel wrote that her father had suffered a change of heart. Hugh tensed and read on. Sir Phillip had offered Isabel an alternative. She could go away into the country with her mother until the birth. A good home would be found for the babe. Then she would return and enjoy life as a free woman. Isabel’s tears smudged the page.As if I could part with my baby! But we can’t be married without Papa’s consent, she wrote. Smudged ink spots blotted the page.I am underage, as you know. I remain hopeful Papa will support us. Should Michael and I marry as planned, we will set sail from London docks the following day, Sunday, on the evening tide. If you could come and see us off, we would love to see you.
Hugh groaned, profoundly sorry for Isabel as he sat in the chair, his drink untouched. Might Lady Ashton hold out some hope he and Isabel would still marry in the future? If so, she would be disappointed and should instead allow her daughter to marry the man she loves. As would he. Hugh firmed his jaw. There was no way he’d allow anyone to stand between him and Lucy. He’d go to the docks on Sunday to see if Isabel and Mr. Benson were about to sail. He’d wave them off to their new life with the hope that it would treat Isabel well.
The door opened and his mother peeked in. “Well, here you are at last, Hugh. Where have you been?”
“It’s a long story, Mama.”
She stepped inside and he saw she was dressed in a lavender evening gown with diamonds at her throat. “Tell me tomorrow. I am dining with the Constables.”
He smiled, delighted with how much brighter she seemed. “You look ravishing.”
She laughed. “Every woman should have a son to compliment her.”
The door closed again and left Hugh with his uneasy thoughts.
Chapter Nineteen
