Page 72 of Lady of Charade
“Nothing, love,” he said. “Go to sleep.”
“You’re worried,” she said, as perceptive as ever, and he held her close to him. “What is it?”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me — please?”
He sighed. He’d never be able to hide anything from her, he realized, but he supposed he was all right with that.
“I’m only thinking of our future. I know, in my heart, that anything is possible for the two of us together and yet… I’ve never had to actually support myself before, and the thought of not being able to provide for you nearly rips me in two. I need to find a way to make a living — I’m just not quite sure how to do so as of yet.”
“I’ve always provided for myself, as a healer. I can do the same for the two of us. You can help me, I’m sure — it would be useful to have a man who could move people around, set broken bones,” she said, and he knew she was trying to be helpful, but the thought of assisting his wife in her practice didn’t quite sit right with him. He had no issue with her continuing to treat others, but he couldn’t allow her to provide for him — it simply wasn’t done.
“We’ll figure something out,” he said to reassure her, kissing her on the head. “I’m sure of it.”
She nodded and drifted into sleep, but David’s mind continued to race. His words had been a bit of a lie — for he really had no idea what was in store.
CHAPTER31
Sarah could have stayed in bed with David in the Plymouth Inn for days. Perhaps no one would be looking for them yet, but were living on limited funds. Thankfully, Lady Alexander had been more than generous with her offering, but they now had to pay for the two of them to travel back to London — and support them along the way.
“Are you ready for the journey home, love?” he asked.
Sarah looked him over, remembering how green he had become on the ship to Plymouth. He was putting on a brave face, but it was him she was most worried about.
“I am ready for anything,” she said, taking his hand. “But are you?”
“Well, I would far prefer to be riding my own horse, that is for certain,” he said, a pained expression upon his face. “But, of course, I will brave it. I do not suppose you could come up with a remedy for me?”
Sarah nodded.
“I absolutely can do so, but I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about my herbal concoction.”
“I trust you.”
“Very well, then,” she said, reopening her small bag, happy that she had used the precious space for most of her herbs rather than dresses she hadn’t thought she would wear again — although she was now remaining in England with hardly a wardrobe to call her own.
She mixed him a drink, and despite the face he made at his first sip, he managed to gulp it down quickly before passing it back to her.
“The stagecoach it is, then,” he said, looking sick already, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the thought of the journey or just how fast he had finished his drink.
“At least you can ride up top,” she said, biting her lip. “I do hate being stuck inside for hours on end.”
“It will be quick,” he said and then they looked at one another with some conviction that yes, they could get through this — together. “We will likely have much more to face once we return to London and our perspective fathers.”
“Yes, that is of what I was thinking,” she said. “But even if we receive nothing from them, and are turned away…” she shrugged. “We will be fine.”
“We will,” he said, though even in the light of day, she could tell his worries hadn’t dissipated. Sarah could admit that she too felt, of course, a slight bit of unease at all that awaited them. The anxiety of meeting her own father remained, but the outcome of that meeting no longer had as great of a bearing on her future as it once did. For now she had David, and a life ahead of her that she knew would be full of love, no matter what her father had to say about it.
Of course, much more would actually be affected by the reaction of David’s parents. For their lives would be greatly changed if his father decided to no longer provide him any support. Sarah had a bit more faith than David, however. While she questioned whether or not they could ever accept a woman like her, a woman born out of wedlock to a nobleman and a healer from a village, she had faith that they wouldn’t completely abandon their own son, despite the decision he made.
And if they did, well, they would determine a way forward together. Of that, she was sure.
David clutched Sarah’s hand, and she hoped she could impart the same strength to him as he did to her.
* * *
Sarah sat nervouslyon the sofa, tapping her slipper upon the floor as she waited for her father to arrive. Her father. She could hardly believe the words. David had sent the promised note to the Earl of Torrington the moment they had arrived in London, and she had been shocked when the man had responded immediately with the words that he was looking forward to meeting her.
