Page 47 of Lady of Charade
“Well,” he said, his charming smile returned, “Yours are beautiful.”
“I would hardly call them such, but they tell a story, if nothing else,” she said with a smile.
He leaned over her, reaching out to trace the scars on her shoulder with two fingers, then moved to the scar on her thumb, and finally to that over her hip. He followed his fingers with his lips, kissing his way over them, and Sarah nearly arched off the bed toward him.
He finally returned to her lips, the kiss beginning gently but then gradually building to one of need, demanding more — a demand which she eagerly returned.
It was as though they had known one another for years instead of just one occurrence, and when he found her, he easily entered her. They moved together as one, and when they each found their release, Sarah could have cried for the perfection that it was.
Only afterward, when they lay together, did she allow the tears to fall from her eyes, catching them before they hit his chest. She could stay like this, with him, forever, and yetforeverwas far from a reality for them.
How she was ever supposed to go back to life as it was before him, she had no idea.
CHAPTER20
Their time at Berkley’s estate passed far too quickly for David’s liking. He was enjoying the brief respite from life within London. It caused him to sorely wish that he had a home of his own to which he could retreat. His father had more than one, of course, but none were truly home for David — just empty estates for David to pace around feeling as though he was imposing.
If he had the opportunity to take other people to such a home — one person in particular, as it happened — would it make all the difference?
After his night with Sarah, he had returned to her the next night, and she had been as eager as he was to be with one another once again. David had mixed emotions. She was the type of woman he felt it was wrong to take such actions with unless there was a promise of more between them, and yet he was unsure of how to put into words just what he was feeling — and would she be accepting of him? He hoped so, and he planned to tell her of all that was in his mind and in his heart once they returned to London.
Once he mounted his horse, Clarence joined him as they began the ride.
“Enjoy yourself, Redmond?” he asked, the quirk in his eyebrow indicating that he likely knew far more than he would ever put into words.
David simply nodded. He would not speak of his time with Sarah with anyone else — even a friend as good as Clarence. “I did.”
“A respite from the city is always welcome. In fact, Elizabeth and I will be leaving for the country for a time. Which makes it all the more imperative that we come to some conclusion regarding Miss Jones’ dilemma. I know my wife is of a mind to resolve what she can for the woman.”
“As am I.”
“Very good. Have you told her of our suspicions as of yet?”
“No,” David shook his head. “She asked that I would keep her informed, and I must admit, I do feel a bit of a bounder not doing so, but what is the use in raising her hopes and expectations if it comes to nothing, and we determine that there is no chance of Torrington being named her father? Besides that, the man has a wife… how do you think he might react to claims of a potential illegitimate daughter? Sarah says that her mother and father were in love, and while I know she believes that to be the case, of course that is the story a mother would tell her child, would she not?”
“I agree with you,” Clarence said. “Though I did discuss this with Elizabeth, and she is of the opinion that Miss Jones should know all that we do. However, further to our suspicions, I had a discussion with Lord St. Albans.”
Julia’s father had been among the guests who had joined them for a few days. He was a jovial gentleman, one who had been far more accepting of a son-in-law such as Eddie Francis than most in his position would have been.
“St. Albans and Torrington are near to the same age,” Clarence continued. “The man also assured me he would keep my inquiries to himself, and I do believe him. There are few that would do so. But I digress. Placing Miss Jones’ age at just around twenty, at the time shortly before her birth, Torrington was not married and was, in fact, living at home with his family and spending much time at their country estate. In all actuality, he could have very well become connected with a woman from the area. St. Albans also recalls a falling out between Torrington and his father around that time, and shortly afterward the man moved to London, where he spent all of his time until the death of his father. One would have to make inquiries around Torrington’s country seat, which is near Salisbury, but it is seemingly far more likely that he could be the man you are looking for.”
David let out a long, low whistle, startling his horse, who he had to quickly reassure to regain control.
“Torrington. I wonder what he would think of learning of a daughter.”
“I suppose it depends on how close he was with the mother — whether he did actually want to remain with her, or if those are imaginings from a woman attempting to placate her child with a story of love,” Clarence said, a sentiment with which David agreed.
“I suppose the best thing to do might be to simply talk to Torrington himself,” David said. “He is a reasonable man, and I am sure with a few simple questions I can determine whether or not he is who we would be searching for. Once we are back in London, I will seek him out. And soon, well, soon we will know the truth.”
The moment he said it, David was actually surprised by the panic that coursed through him at the thought of doing so. He should welcome the idea, for determining the identity of Sarah’s father would bring a resolution to their search, one which had been following her around for far too long now.
But when her quest was finished, there was a very good chance that she would leave London, leave England, leave — him. He attempted to imagine his life without her now, of going back to nights spent at seedy establishments, with women who meant nothing but company and a warm body. For he realized now why he had lived the way he had — he was seeking companionship, a connection that always remained out of his grasp due to his inability to commit to any one woman.
How very foolish he had been.
* * *
Despite his confliction,David resolutely walked up the steps of the Earl of Torrington’s London manor that evening. While it was not exactly the hour for social callers, David knew that he couldn’t go to Sarah once more this evening without answers, or a promise of what he had done in order to aid her. The moment they had returned to London, he had only briefly refreshed himself before calling his carriage to be ready for his visit.
