Page 35 of The Seduction of Lord Sin
Delilah moved to walk on the other side of Lord Sinclair, Lady Serena beside Charlotte. “Your Grace, you mentioned you were heading back to London tomorrow. Mother and I thought we would head to town to see my father. Perhaps we could travel in a convoy. I’d feel so much safer.”
So that is what their hurried conversation between the two women had been about. Charlotte wanted to laugh out loud at Lord Sinclair’s expression, so she bit her lip instead.
Before he had time to answer, a high-pitched scream filled the air. They all stopped in their tracks.
“Dharma,” she cried out. She picked up her skirts and took off running clumsily through the sand, back toward the picnic area, thankful when she saw Lord Sinclair run past her. He’d get there faster with his long strides and without skirts to hamper him.
ChapterTwelve
Charlotte arrived to where everyone had gathered, a few moments behind Sin. She saw Devlin appear over the rocks, carrying Dharma in his arms. Her throat almost closed up, but she saw Dharma was talking and gesturing so she couldn’t be badly hurt.
She was trying to catch her breath when Sin asked, “We heard a scream.”
“Are you all right, Dharma,” she finally panted out.
“She’s twisted her ankle,” Devlin replied. At the same time, Dharma said, “I’m fine. And you can put me down now,” the young lady’s face flushed with color. However, Devlin carried Dharma toward a chair and placed her in it.
Charlotte knelt to access Dharma’s injury, pushing a wet, sandy, but concerned Bella away. “It must be bad if you screamed in pain.”
“I didn’t scream because of my ankle.” Dharma raised her eyes to Devlin.
Dharma shivered. “We found Toobury dead at the bottom of a pile of rocks. His horse was grazing at the top of the cliff. His neck is broken. Looks like his horse threw him and he fell down the rocky slope.”
Charlotte almost missed the look Devlin sent Sin. She rose to her feet, wringing her hands. “This is dreadful. This is my fault. He only came because—”
Flora stepped forward, stopping her from saying more with Lady Serena and Lady Delilah present. “I think we should return home. James, can you send for the magistrate and the rest of the men can oversee what must be done?” The servants jumped to work, gathering up items, while Flora said to Lady Serena, “Apologies for this incident. Perhaps this week is not the time for a call. Lady Charlotte will send word once—once this terrible accident has been sorted.” Flora pushed Charlotte towards a carriage, with Dharma helped by her lady’s maid, limping along behind. Bella squeezed in on the floor at their feet.
Once the carriage began to move, Dharma spoke of what they had all been thinking. “I’m so sorry for Toobury’s family. How old is the youngest?”
Charlotte couldn’t hold back her tears. “Not quite two months old. This is my fault. He’s only here because of me. This week was such a bad idea. What have I done?” That those children were now orphans made her stomach riot, and she fought not to cast up her accounts.
Flora hugged her tight. “You’re in shock. You didn’t force the man to come. It’s simply a terrible accident.”
“His children. They are orphans. What a mess.” Charlotte buried her head in her hands. “I’m sending everyone home tonight. We cannot continue with this week’s activities, just ignoring a man’s death.”
Flora nodded. “It would seem that is the case.” Her friend didn’t sound upset at the idea of her week being ruined.
He’s leaving…By cancelling the house party, Lord Sinclair would leave and she would never see him again. She hated that this was what she was most upset about when a fine, upstanding man was dead. A good man. A man she might well have married. It was so foolish to feel this way because even if Sin had stayed… What a mess.
“At least you have the arrangement with Lord Devlin in place. If he is unwed by Christmas, you will marry him.”
“How can I think about things like that at this time? A man’s dead. Wait,” shocked, Charlotte whispered, “He told you of our conversation?”
Flora flushed. “He told James.”
“I beg your pardon?” Dharma asked, her face going a milky shade of pale.
Charlotte bit her bottom lip. Dharma hated the idea of accepting a man who needed money, even if it was Lord Devlin. “We talked this morning in the carriage. He has until Christmas to keep the bailiffs at bay. I promised I would save his family by marriage if the worst should happen.”
“And what would the worst be?” Dharma asked.
“That he cannot find a rich wife by December.”
“And he agreed to wed you if he didn’t?”
She looked at Flora. “Actually, I don’t know. I’d already alighted and did not hear his reply.” Had the temperature in their carriage just dropped? “He has to save his family.”
“Of course, I don’t want his family to suffer. But—"
