Page 56 of Lady Audacious
‘Seemingly not.’
But Sarah knew very well that hehadseen them. His gaze had briefly clashed with hers before he turned away again, using some miserable dog as an excuse to concentrate on his driving. She was furious at the slight, but also encouraged by the fact that he didn’t want to introduce the audacious Miss Aspen to his mother. He had not lost sight of propriety to that extent, which was a blessing, of sorts.
‘Who is the lady with him?’ the countess asked. ‘I do not recognise her. And what is he doing driving a lady on her own for that matter?’ She looked momentarily confused. ‘Do you suppose…’
The countess, never the most discreet of people, clearly recalled that she supported Sarah’s interest in her eldest son, and abruptly stopped speaking.
‘I believe that is our new neighbour, Miss Aspen.’ Sarah somehow managed to speak without her excessive anger hardening her tone.
‘I see. But should he be driving her without a chaperone? People will make assumptions.’
‘I am told that she is a teacher in a young ladies’ academy,’ Sarah said. ‘Respectable but very middle-class, so the rules that govern our set do not apply in her case. I dare say she needs Reuben’s advice on the restoration of her property and he feels duty bound to help her.’
‘Well yes, he is always so very obliging; I expect that’s all it is and that there is nothing for us to worry about.’
‘Very likely not.’ Sarah managed to keep her tone light and unconcerned. Somehow.
‘You have quite set my mind at rest, Sarah dear. Standards must be maintained.’
‘Indeed they must.’
Sarah kept her temper in check and the red mist at bay for the rest of the morning. She exercised patience whilst the countess dawdled over her purchases, changing her mind several times and constantly breaking off to exchange pleasantries with ladies of her acquaintance.
Sarah’s mind wandered. Had Miss Aspen told Reuben of her visit yesterday, reiterating the wild claims she had made and now regretted? If so, then her efforts had been in vain all these months and Reuben would definitely decide against her. For reasons that baffled Sarah, he seemed to enjoy Miss Aspen’s company. Facts needed to be faced, she thought, glowering when a small child chasing a ball barged into her legs and then scampered off again without bothering to apologise. If Miss Aspen required guidance, Reuben’s estate manager could provide that service, and Reuben himself need not waste his time on such an inconsequential nobody if he would prefer not to.
Eventually the countess completed her purchases to her satisfaction and they were driven back to Amberley Hall. Sarah assumed that Reuben would be there ahead of them, but there was no sign in his coach house of the curricle that he had been driving earlier. Damn it, where was he? Jealousy curdled her insides but she was obliged to keep it hidden as she took tea and made idle conversation with the countess and her daughters.
An interminable amount of time later, still with no sign of Reuben, Sarah was able to escape to her room.
‘What news?’ she asked Nelly, who had been charged with discovering what Miss Aspen’s maid had observed.
Nelly looked out of breath and windswept. ‘I just got back from meeting with Doris. I cut across the gardens and went across the stream on the stepping stones you told me about. Almost got caught an’ all. The earl and Miss Aspen came out of the house and I had to duck out of sight. Anyway, he got into his curricle but he kissed the inside of her wrist before taking his leave.’
‘He did what?’ Sarah was ready to burst with anger, fuelled by the jealousy that ate away at her insides, causing her actual physical pain.
‘Saw it as plain as day. He’s smitten with the chit, I’m afraid, but it’ll pass. He respects his mother too much to lower the tone by introducing her here. Or worse.’
Perhaps that was true. It would explain why he hadn’t acknowledged them that morning. If he had done so it would have required him to stop the conveyance and introduce the doxy to his mother.
‘We have to break them up,’ Sarah said, pacing the length of the room in a state of considerable agitation.
‘How? What on earth can you do about it? You said yourself that perhaps visiting Miss Aspen yesterday hadn’t been wise, just as I told you it would not be.’
Sarah looked out the window and saw Reuben pull his curricle into the stables. ‘He’s here.’ Sarah stood in front of the mirror and patted her hair into place, even though it was perfectly tidy. Unlike the sloppy Miss Aspen, Sarah was always presentable and appropriately dressed. She took pride in her appearance, as any lady worthy of the name had a duty to. Therein, she thought, lay the difference between her and Miss Aspen. Class would always tell. ‘Did Miss Aspen tell Reuben that I visited her yesterday, that is the question? If her need for his assistance is as innocent as I have told the countess that it must be, then there is no reason why she should not have done.’
‘If she has tattled then it will make the earl furious at you for interfering in his affairs, and for making untrue claims about his affections.’
‘They are not untrue.’ Sarah rippled her shoulders indignantly. ‘I simply put into words what he himself does not yet realise. Anyway,’ she added, grinning maliciously, ‘Ifshe has told him then it will make things awkward but my instincts tell me that she hasn’t mentioned anything, which means she really does want him for herself.’
‘Oh, for the love of God, what does it matter if she does?’ Nelly threw up her hands, clearly all out of patience. ‘You said yourself that he will never marry her. Let him have his fun and get it out of his system.’
‘I wish I knew why itdoesmatter to me quite so much,’ Sarah said wistfully, unwilling to admit that her pride had taken a near fatal denting and that the desire for revenge was eating away at her despite her best efforts to rise above it. ‘I desperately want to know why I feel so threatened. But the fact remains that I do and I have learned to trust my instincts over the years.’
‘Even so, lamb…’
‘I have to find a way to spike her guns. Anyway, first things first. I shall make sure that my path crosses Reuben’s during the course of the afternoon, and if he treats me with civility then I shall know that the strumpet has not said anything.’
Nelly shrugged. ‘Have it your way.’
