Page 35 of Lady of Charade
For now that he had a taste of her, he didn’t think he would ever be satisfied with anything else. Though a part of him was aware that a woman like Sarah would expect more than a simple tryst between the two of them.
Could he make that leap? He had never thought it so before. But, perhaps, with her — perhaps he could.
* * *
Sarah remained where she was,trapped in her current position as she had no wish to reveal herself in the light of day, as she watched David walk out the door with one last glance over his shoulder toward her. She forced a smile onto her face and gave him a little wave to reassure him that she would be fine until his return.
The moment he shut the door and his footsteps retreated beyond it, she threw herself backward on the bed and flung an arm over her eyes.
What had she done?
She had made love with Mr. David Redmond, the greatest rake in all of England, according to most within the noble set. If that had been all, however, she might not be so worried. For the fact was, it was the most indescribable, enjoyable moment of her life.
No, the problem was much more than that they had physically come together. It was that the connection she had been beginning to feel for him, the deep attachment that she had been determined to avoid, was now tightening, pulling them even closer together.
Sarah felt tears begin to prick her eyes at the hopelessness of the situation. What was she to do now? Continue to allow him into her bed, to the point where she would fall hopelessly in love with him? And then what? For surely she was not the type of woman he would ever marry. A man like David Redmond may not hold a title, but he remained the son of the Earl of Brentford, and was the closest of friends with a duke and a marquess, for goodness sake. He would not marry the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman, who had grown up in the wilds of America.
Besides that, even if he did go against what would surely be his parents’ wishes, how was she ever to trust him? He may be committed to her for now, but at some point, once he felt he had returned the favor of saving his life, he would find something new — perhaps evensomeonenew — to catch his interest, and she would truly be left alone once more.
When he came back tonight, would he expect the same from her once more? At the thought of it, Sarah felt a shiver run through her, and instead of it being one of chagrin, it was actually the thrill of anticipation. She must remember, however, that besides all of that, she had no wish to remain here, in London, for any longer than she had to. And if she were to stay here for David, then this would become her home. And that thought made her feel like one of the caged animals she had once seen when a strange act had made its way through London.
She must give up on all of this, she determined, and leave any thoughts of her father or David behind while she returned home. If David found nothing came of the crest upon the ring — and she truly didn’t believe anything would — then she would be gone. It was the only way she could survive.
* * *
Sarah’s idea toreturn as soon as possible, however, was soon thwarted by one simple invitation.
She was walking through Hyde Park with her friends, a circumstance that had now become rather rare, though at one point in time had been a familiar weekly occurrence.
Despite the fact that these women were the closest people in the world to her, Sarah’s heart was beating quickly as she continued to review the words in her mind — the words that would allow them to know that while she appreciated their friendship so very, very much, and would cherish it for the rest of her life, she was returning home. To America. To the familiar. And escaping all that London held.
Just as she took a breath, however, Phoebe began to speak.
“With the Season now coming to a close, we will be returning to the country,” she said, which at first strengthened Sarah’s resolve to leave. If her friends were no longer within London, as they had their own lives and their own schedules, then they truly would hardly even miss her. “We would love nothing more than for all of you to join us for a week!”
Sarah honed in on her words as Elizabeth and Julia enthusiastically agreed.
“It is the one weekend of the entire racing season that I do not believe we are otherwise occupied,” Julia said. “We would love to join you, I am sure, though I will speak with Eddie first.”
“As would we,” Elizabeth said with a warm smile. “In fact, I believe this is the first time in a long while that the four of us might be able to find time to be together, what with our schedules and time with the children.”
Sarah continued to look forward, her denial prepared, but it wouldn’t seem to cross her lips.
“Sarah, you will come, will you not?” Phoebe asked once more, and Sarah played with the ribbon that was tied around the waist of her dress.
“I…” she looked around at the three of them, at the expectant smiles on their faces and thought of the promise of a wonderful time together ahead. “Very well,” she replied in a rush, considering that perhaps she could have one more enjoyable weekend with them. “For a short time.”
“Any time that works for you,” Phoebe said, and Sarah swallowed. She should have said no, should have left England completely, but at the very least they would be heading out to the country, where the air was cleaner and the surroundings, while likely perfectly manicured landscapes, might offer a sense of home.
Sarah nodded, and Phoebe clapped her hands together once excitedly.
“Very good,” she said. “I shall see you all there in a week’s time.”
What she was to do until then, Sarah had no idea.
CHAPTER16
David’s horse trotted along beside those of the three other men — Clarence, Berkley, and Eddie Francis, the jockey who had captured Lady Julia’s heart. Their coming together had been quite the unusual situation, but then, it had all seemed to work out well for them and even Julia’s parents hadn’t seemed particularly displeased by their daughter’s marriage.
