Page 73 of Lady of Charade

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She could hardly believe it. In fact, she had wondered if it was too good to be true, if she should be worried that something was amiss. David assured her, however, that Torrington, while a man who had certainly made mistakes, as many had, was still a “decent fellow.” And that would have to be enough for her.

Sarah had been staying at Phoebe’s London home while Phoebe and her family were at their estate for the summer. She had decided to write to her friends before leaving Plymouth, so they would be aware of her current situation. She explained all that had happened in as few words as she could, though it had still taken quite a bit of her coin to purchase the pages that had been required to tell her story.

Phoebe had immediately offered her home once more, for which Sarah was grateful, as her rooms had not been held for her after she had told the landlord she was leaving, and it didn’t make sense to find anywhere else to stay for she and David hoped to marry as soon as possible. She had felt rather awkward arriving at Phoebe’s home with none of the family about, but the servants had been gracious and Sarah had appreciated their welcome.

David told her he would love nothing more than for her to stay with him, but women were not allowed at the Albany. Besides that, despite the fact that they had basically breached every aspect of propriety there could be, that seemed a line that she shouldn’t cross. When he had been at her own lodging, no one had made the association between her as Miss Jones, the woman who attended societal events, and Miss Jones, the healer who lived within. Besides, most of the noble classes didn’t spend much time frequenting Cheapside anyway, apart from visits to various establishments, such as the one David had patronized the very night he had been deposited upon Sarah’s doorstep.

But people were aware that David was the son of Lord Redmond, and it would be quite obvious if there was a woman staying within.

The Earl had not wanted to meet within his own home, where his wife would be aware and present, and so they decided to meet at the home of Phoebe and Lord Berkley. Phoebe had urged Sarah to avail herself of her wardrobe — as well as her staff — and though Sarah had been hesitant, she had taken up Phoebe’s offer today, wanting to appear at her very best. She knew it was slightly silly, for her appearance wasn’t likely to change anything, but when she had opened Phoebe’s wardrobe and saw the beautiful blue gown at the front of it flowing down from where it hung, she couldn’t help herself. It was a slight bit too long, but Sarah didn’t think anyone would notice.

There was a knock at the door, and Sarah looked over to David, who gave her a reassuring nod. Everything would be all right, she told herself, as she had for the past hour or so, though the knot within her stomach grew tighter and she could hear her heart beating within her ears. They had told the servants not to worry about callers or tea for the next hour or so, in order for them to be entirely alone for this first time they met.

Sarah stood as David opened the door, her hands clasped in front of her as David greeted the man. She couldn’t see him, not past David’s frame, but then David stepped away and held out an arm, pointing within. Sarah and Lord Torrington each just stood there, staring at one another for a moment, taking in all that was before them, before he took a hesitant step forward into the room.

Sarah had no idea what to say, nor what she should do. It was not as though she could run up into his arms, but a curtsy also seemed far too formal.

Fortunately, David, who, despite often blundering his way through various situations, seemed to know how to properly introduce new people to one another, stepped in.

“Lord Torrington, I would like you to meet Miss Sarah Jones. Sarah, Lord Torrington. As we have all discussed, we believe, Lord Torrington, that Sarah is your daughter.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Sarah finally said, and Lord Torrington took a few more steps into the room, finally reaching out to take one of her hands, which he clasped within both of his.

“A daughter,” he said, his voice just above a whisper, slightly incredulous.

“I— I believe so,” said Sarah, as she pulled out the ring that David had returned to her. “I know David showed you the ring my mother always carried, and from what he tells me you have to say about her and the timing… I can only think it could be true.”

The Earl blinked rapidly a few times, clearly attempting to hold back emotion, which nearly brought tears to Sarah’s own eyes.

“Perhaps we might sit down,” she said, his vulnerability bringing out the caregiver in her.

He followed her to the sofa. David nodded at her as though telling her all was well and he began toward the door, but Sarah called to him.

“David? Please stay. You are now as much a part of this as anyone.”

“If you’d like,” he said, and Sarah appreciated the fact that he was willing to do whatever most pleased her in this situation. She would tell him all of this following their encounter anyway, so what did it matter if he were here? She would never have found the Earl without him.

“You look just like your mother,” Lord Torrington said, and Sarah returned her attention to him.

“Yet she has your eyes,” David noted, and Sarah turned to look at the Earl, whose eyes were, indeed, the very same brown she saw in her reflection.

“My mother had blue eyes,” Sarah said softly, and Lord Torrington nodded.

“They were the color of the sky, and they danced when she laughed,” he said whimsically. “She laughed often. And loud. That was part of what I loved about her.”

“You loved her?”

To hear him say such a thing warmed Sarah to her very soul. Her mother had always told her it had been such a way between the two of them, but Sarah had never been entirely sure whether it was infatuation or true love on the Earl’s part.

“Indeed. I loved her very much — I just didn't realizehowmuch until it was too late,” he said. “But I was hesitant — too caught up with what I knew was right and what I had been told was right. She knew that if I married her, I would give up all that I had known, including my family, my homes, and the earldom. I told her that I had to make the choice, and I didn’t commit to her when I should have. I didn’t tell her that I loved her, that I needed her in my life. Instead, I asked her to wait. It was a mistake.”

His head fell to stare at his shoes, and it pained Sarah to see him so miserable. She reached out and covered his clenched hands with hers.

“I believe she was worried that if you gave up all for her, you would resent her for the rest of your lives together.”

“Never,” he said vehemently. “I would have been all the happier for it. Like your man here.”

They both looked up at David, who returned the Earl’s gaze with a shrewd, knowing smile.