Lady of Charade

by St. Clair, Ellie

  “Sometimes, things change,” David said simply.

  “I think I like this Sarah of yours,” Lord Brentford said as he stroked the gray beard that covered his face. “She has brought out a side of you I haven’t seen in many years.”

  David cleared his throat and looked down at his hands for a moment before meeting his father’s eye.

  “I realize that I have not been the son you have likely wished for. I must admit I had my own frustrations with you and Mother, but I do understand your lack of faith in me.”

  “We only wanted you to find happiness and stability in your life, which you certainly weren’t finding at The Red Lion,” his father said, and David slightly cringed. He hadn’t been aware that his father knew exactly where he had been spending much of his time.

  “I do not believe I will be frequenting The Red Lion much more anytime soon,” David said, and his father laughed.

  “That sounds like a wise idea, Son, particularly if you are interested in a happy marriage.”

  “That,” David said resolutely, “I most certainly am.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Sarah blinked back tears as she placed her hand on the arm of her father. Her father. It was amazing how much could change in a few short months. She had spent so long here in England searching for him that she could hardly believe that all she had been searching for had actually come true.

  Despite the Countess’ more than obvious disapproval of her, Lord Torrington had welcomed Sarah into his life, inviting her into his home for dinners and even claiming her as his daughter to any who asked. It was rather astounding, really, David told her, and far from usual for an earl such as Torrington to claim a daughter who had been born outside of marriage.

  But the Earl had clearly always been keen to have a daughter, and so he welcomed Sarah into his life as he would any other child born to him. It was far more than Sarah could have ever asked for, and she had been equally as surprised by David’s parents. They seemed to feel that if she was accepted as the daughter of the Earl of Torrington, then they would accept her just as well as their daughter-in-law.

  Lady Brentford had, perhaps, been a little too exuberant in the wedding plans for Sarah and David, but if that was the largest of Sarah’s worries, then she could accept that. She had finally convinced Lady Brentford to hold the wedding in the small country church of St. Edmond in the village of Hauxton, where her new home was located.

  She had asked that it be a simple affair, with only family and close friends, but it seemed that Lady Brentford had quite a few close friends.

  That, however, didn’t matter. What did matter was that Sarah’s father and her friends were in attendance and that it was David Redmond who stood waiting for her at the end of the church’s aisle.

  “Are you ready?” her father asked, his voice low in her ear, and Sarah nodded as she smiled up at him. She was more than ready. She was dressed in a long, flowing cream gown, a garland of flowers about her head which matched the assortment of violets and sunflowers in the bouquet within her hands.

  Sarah looked up, caught David’s eye, and, with her father beside her, began to take slow yet purposeful steps toward him, her smile growing ever wider as she approached.

  The vicar began the proceedings, and when he came to the line where he asked David, “Wilt though love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?” David smiled at Sarah through the first part, but his expression became hard when someone in the pews let out a laugh at the thought of David forsaking all others.

  David shook his head, mouthing “Lord Hartley,” with an eye roll, but then all of his levity fled. He gripped Sarah’s hands within his own, stared deeply into her eyes, and fiercely claimed, “I will,” which was enough to silence those who watched them.

  Sarah believed him with all of her heart, and that was all that mattered.

  *

  The wedding breakfast following the ceremony was held in their home—their new home. The estate had not been frequented often in the past few years, and the staff seemed thrilled to welcome their new master and mistress.

  David was still becoming used to the idea that this was his. Never in his life had his father mentioned the possibility of any of his properties becoming David’s, and David had always assumed that they would all go to Franklin, who was certainly the man best suited to become the master of all of the estates. But Franklin, apparently, was more than happy with the others he would someday inherit from his father, in addition to the property where he currently lived as well as his townhouse in London.

  The manor had been built some fifty years prior and held more than enough space for David and Sarah’s purposes. She had been most pleased to discover a beautiful wood extending behind the house, and the village was but a short walk away.

  “All who may need me can easily find me,” she said enthusiastically, and David had to laugh, for what other woman would be so eager to have villagers calling upon her at any hour of day or night? But that was Sarah—and it was why he loved her, which he told her so now, and she simply laughed and shook her head.

  “Well, Redmond?” The Duke of Clarence said now, as he stood with David, Lord Berkley, and Eddie Francis in a corner of the drawing room. “Do you now understand why we chose to forsake all for one woman?”

  “I more than understand,” he said with a laugh. “A few months ago, had you told me I would be here, in my own estate with a wife of my own, I would have laughed at you—or cried, perhaps. I’m not entirely sure. But now… now everything has changed.”

  “That’s what happens when you find a good woman,” Berkley said with a bit of a sigh.

  “Or the woman finds you,” added Francis, and they shared a laugh as they looked at the enjoyment in front of them—especially the four women who sat across from them, the women who held their hearts.

  *

  Sarah sank back into the soft cushions of the settee. As much as she adored having her friends here with her and welcomed David’s family into their home, she had to admit that she was also looking forward to the time when it would just be the two of them, alone together at last. But for now, she appreciated the opportunity to have some time with her three friends, whom she knew she might not see again for some time.

  “Well, your David Redmond has certainly surprised me,” Elizabeth said from where she sat across from her, and Sarah gave her a somewhat reproachful look. “I’m sorry, Sarah, but from what I knew of him, he was certainly not the type of man to commit to just one woman. Who am I to speak of such things after all that happened with Gabriel in the past, I realize, but still, Mr. Redmond had quite the reputation.”

  “Reputation isn’t everything,” Sarah argued.

  “No, but it can say much about a person, or an institution,” Elizabeth said. “Wouldn’t you agree, Phoebe?”

  “I think fact matters most,” Phoebe said practically. “That is why we report on various issues—so that we can share such information with others, which then allows them to decide for themselves what they may think or feel about an issue.”

  “Fair enough,” Elizabeth said with a bit of a shrug, and Sarah smiled to herself.

  “How do you find life on the road with a little one?” Sarah asked, changing the subject as she looked to Julia, who smiled prettily.

  “Oh, just fine,” she said. “We love being around the horses and the other families for part of the year. Besides that, we often find ourselves in London for most of the year, or if Eddie has not far to go, we stay home. We do like to be together, though, and I must admit that I find it hard to miss a race.”

  “Particularly after you have trained the horse,” Phoebe said pointedly.

  “Exactly,” Julia said. “Will you continue your practice?” she then asked Sarah, who nodded enthusiastically.

  “Absolutely, if the villagers will have me,” she said, tilting her head to the side. “The housek
eeper doesn’t see why they wouldn’t—she said they have been lacking someone who can aid them, and she’s hopeful I would be welcomed, though she thinks they may be unsure about coming to the wife of the Earl’s son for treatment.”

  “I’m sure as soon as the first meets you, all of their worries will be swept away,” Phoebe said confidently, and Sarah smiled at her in thanks.

  “I do hope so,” she said. “How do you fare, with motherhood and the newspaper?”

  “As well as always,” Phoebe said, smiling wide now. “Rhoda, my editor, remains remarkable, which provides me plenty of time to do what I must at home, though I cannot imagine giving up the paper entirely. Which had me thinking—we could freshen up some of our columns. Perhaps, in addition to our column on horse racing, we could use a couple more new items. Elizabeth, we could have one on finances, for there are many women—widows and the like—who are left with financial burdens they must learn to handle, and have no prior knowledge on how to do so. And Sarah, while I realize that we cannot prescribe entire medical knowledge as much is on a case-by-case basis, perhaps you could include some basic remedies or ideas on the treatment of common ailments. What do you think?”

  Even if they did not think her ideas to be grand—which they certainly were—Sarah thought they had no choice but to agree, so enthusiastic was Phoebe about her scheme.

  “I would love to,” Sarah said, “assuming you would do most of the writing portion. I can’t say it is my strongest skill.”

  “Of course,” Phoebe said. “Send on what you come up with and I will work with it.”

  “I would enjoy it as well, I think,” agreed Elizabeth, and Phoebe clapped her hands together, just once, in appreciation.

  “Wonderful!” she said. “Start as soon as you like, and simply post your submission to me as Julia does.”

  As she sat back in the chair, Sarah looked around at her friends with a smile on her face.

  “We are fortunate,” she said, and they turned to look at her to see to what she was referring. “It is not often that a woman has the opportunity to marry a man she truly loves. Even rarer is the chance to follow her passions, to do what she enjoys and be supported by her husband. Look at us—we have all found the man we love while doing what we love. It is rather extraordinary, is it not?”

  They nodded in agreement, and then Julia’s grin somewhat widened.

  “And then there are the children,” she said.

  “Wait until it’s your turn,” Phoebe said with a wink, and Sarah blushed, for she had a feeling that may be coming very, very soon.

  Epilogue

  Sarah had seen many ill people within her lifetime. But never had she seen anyone truly as green as David when the ship pulled into Baltimore’s harbor.

  The poor man had a case of seasickness that even Sarah’s remedies could only offset, not completely prevent. The fact that he had suggested—even insisted—on this trip to America proved how much he truly did love her, for a week in such a state was not one she envied.

  “This really wasn’t necessary,” Sarah said as the two of them stood at the rail, the port becoming ever larger as they approached.

  “But it was,” David said, covering her hand on the rail with his own. “I needed to see where you come from, love. You know all of me—my life, my family, the homes where I grew up. I have seen none of your background. Besides that, I know there are people here you must see again, are there not?”

  She turned to him, her eyes watery.

  “There are. And I thank you.”

  “We also know that our home is in good hands, so there is nothing to worry about.”

  There had been quite the dramatic turn of events shortly before their departure to America. Lady Georgina and her footman had run away and eloped, much to the delight of both David and Sarah. David had hired her husband as a steward within his estate, and the arrangement was working out wonderfully. It was an interesting thing for Lady Georgina to have changed such positions in life, but she was happy, and she and Sarah had gotten on well together.

  Her own stomach lurched, and she gripped the rail ever harder.

  “Are you all right?” David asked, and she nodded. “Seasickness?”

  “No,” she said with a shake of her head, but she wasn’t quite ready to tell him just exactly what it was that was causing her stomach to roil in pain. Not with all of the passengers around, nor with the ship just beginning to dock.

  When it finally bumped to a stop, Sarah heard David let out his breath, as though he had been holding it since they had left England. She smothered a smile as they reached land, and she thought he might nearly collapse upon it.

  “The village you call home…” David said, clearly trying to hide his wariness regarding more travel. “How far would you say it is?”

  Sarah nearly laughed but held it in for his expense. It wasn’t that she found his illness to be humorous—it was more the desolate expression that covered his face.

  “It is a few hours away,” she said, “But if you would prefer, we could hire horses instead?”

  “Yes, please,” he said, sighing in apparent relief, and this time she did laugh. He managed a rueful chuckle. “Is it that obvious?”

  “Your displeasure in travel of nearly any sort? Yes, absolutely. But it is entirely understandable.”

  Riding, however, seemed to revive his spirits, and by the time they arrived in the village where Sarah had grown up, he was back to his usual self.

  “Sarah…” he said as they rode through the greenery that lined the road, which became more of a path the closer they came. “This is beautiful.”

  The familiar path brought a sense of peacefulness that settled deep in Sarah’s soul. As she glanced over at David, however, she realized that while this would always be the most special of places to her, where she had grown and spent so many days of happiness with her mother, it was no longer home. For home was now wherever David was.

  “This is the village,” she explained. “We took a shortcut around the town. Each has been growing, though it seems even the village has expanded since I have been gone.”

  She could hardly believe her eyes. The village that had been but a few homes when she left had grown from one road to a square of houses.

  “Sarah?” She turned to see a woman running toward her from one of the houses on the edges of the village. “Sarah, do not tell me that is you?”

  Sarah dismounted and ran toward the woman, the two of them embracing for a long while.

  “Mabel!” she said. “It is ever so good to see you.”

  It truly was wonderful to see her—as well as the other villagers, those she knew greeting her warmly. Sarah had missed these people, her home, but she had to admit she was somewhat relieved. She had been worried that when she returned, she would feel that this was her true home, one she had left behind to be with David, but now that she was here… she knew that this would always hold a most special place in her heart, but life was not complete by living here. It was completed by the man whom she was with, and she had never felt so lucky as to have David by her side.

  She had been shocked to find her little cabin nearly as she had left it, though many of her supplies had been disturbed at some point in time.

  “This was home,” she said to David. “But it doesn’t feel that way any longer.”

  “No?” he asked, raising his eyebrows as she turned to him.

  “No,” she shook her head as she walked over to him, lifting her hands to lay them on his chest. “Home is with you. With our family. Our growing family.”

  She met his eyes then, waiting for the moment when her words registered with him.

  “Our growing… do you mean, Sarah? You are… we are…”

  She laughed at his inability to put into words what he thought and felt, yet she knew all the same the sense of both shock and amazement that was coursing through him, for it was likely quite near to what she had felt herself when she first suspected.

  “We are
having a baby,” she said, her words just above a whisper, and David’s arms came around her and held her close. He finally drew back away from her to look into her eyes once more, and she smiled when she saw that his shone with tears. Sarah wasn’t sure how long they would have stayed like that, holding one another and reveling in what was to come, but they turned when they heard a knock at the door.

  “Sarah?”

  “Abigail? Is that you?”

  Sarah could hardly believe her eyes. Abigail, who had been but a girl when she left two years ago, had grown into a young woman. She had often followed Sarah around, interested in her treatments, picking herbs, and creating remedies for all that ailed the villagers.

  “It’s me,” she said, a shy smile crossing her face. “I came to apologize.”

  “Whatever for?”

  “I took some of your supplies. After you left, whenever the villagers needed help and the town was too far away, I did what I could. I have not nearly the knowledge that you do, but… well, I have done what I can.”

  Sarah’s heart was full of both admiration for the girl, as well as a slight bit of regret that she hadn’t sooner recognized Abigail’s interest and trained her better. But she had seemed so young, and Sarah hadn’t wanted to place such a burden upon her. But, apparently, she had anyway, purposefully or not.

  “Tell you what,” Sarah said. “We are here for a week or so. I promise to devote my time to providing you with any knowledge I can—and maybe you can teach me a few things. I know it’s not a lot of time but—”

  “Oh, that would be so wonderful,” Abigail said, grasping Sarah’s hands. “I will take all of the expertise you can offer me.”

  Sarah smiled at her, then noted the bundle Abigail had left at the door.

  Following her gaze, Abigail smiled shyly.

  “Fresh blankets, as I figured yours could use some airing,” she said. “If you and your…”