by Gayle Buck
And so Sarah, sensible, clever Sarah, had resisted temptation and thrown away her one chance of happiness. Or so she had thought when she had thrown herself across her bed and given way to despair.
It was a queer thing about weeping until one could weep no more. Emotion was spent and there was just the mind left. When Sarah stopped crying, she had started thinking. It was true that she was no longer bound by sisterly devotion. It was also true that more than anything else she desired Lord Eustace to offer for her because he loved her and only her. But there was only one way that she would ever know whether Lord Eustace could ever love her.
Sarah made up her mind to try to win Lord Eustace’s affection for herself. Whether he was ensnared by love for her sister or by memories of his former betrothed, Sarah thought that she would surely regret it if she did not make a push to discover if his heart could be changed.
Sarah was worldly enough to realize that she could not launch a campaign for the gentleman’s heart without advice. She went at once to find her grandmother. Of course, the first hurdle to get over was to inform Lady Alverley of Margaret’s flight. Sarah did not relish that task at all, but she knew that it had to be done.
Lady Alverley was in her own apartments. The dresser opened the door to Sarah’s knock, but the tiring woman was reluctant to let her come in. Sarah could hear the unmistakable sounds of breaking glass. She almost felt relief. Obviously Lady Alverley had already heard the news. She would not have to be the one to break it to her grandmother. She quietly insisted to be allowed in. “I shall try to calm her ladyship,” she said.
The dresser widened the door and stepped aside. “If you can do that, miss, I am sure I’d be most grateful,” said the woman in a low voice.
When Sarah entered the dressing room, another fragile object was being hurled against the wall. It splintered, a thousand crystal pieces tinkling to the floor. Overpowering scent filled the air. Obviously Lady Alverley had sacrificed a glass scent jar.
Sarah saw that her entrance had not been noticed by her grandmother. “Grandmama, I wish to talk to you.”
Lady Alverley whirled. The sight of her eldest granddaughter did not appear to gratify her ladyship. Instead, Lady Alverley’s mottled face grew darker. She waved a parchment crushed between her boney fingers. “Did you know anything of this? Did you? Speak! No! So she pulled the wool over your eyes, as well! Ungrateful girl! Viper in my bosom!”
Lady Alverley ranted on about Margaret. It was difficult for Sarah to listen to the diatribe against her sister, but she was shrewd enough to understand that it would be impossible for her to stem the flow. A deep well of bitterness and hurt had been torn open in Lady Alverley that had never been addressed. Now the dam had burst and old, ugly emotions roiled out. Sarah thought that all she could do was to wait until her grandmother’s tantrum had tired her. Then she might be able to speak what was on her mind and be assured at least of a hearing.
Suddenly Lady Alverley collapsed into a chair. Her hands worked on the chair arms. She stared at Sarah. Her eyes were cold and hard. “I suppose that you, too, will go the same way! So be it! I wash my hands of the pair of you, just as I did your mother!”
It was not the most opportune moment, but Sarah chose it. “Grandmama, I have decided that I want to wed Lord Eustace!”
Lady Alverley was stunned to speechlessness. She stared at Sarah with almost a blank expression. Recovering, she said, “What did you say?”
“I said that I wish to wed Lord Eustace,” said Sarah, more quietly. Though she was quivering inside from the magnitude of her temerity, she said firmly, “I have come to ask your advice and help in animating his interest in me.”
“My dear Sarah!” Lady Alverley’s high color faded and her enraged expression was replaced by a wreath of smile. She seated herself on a settee and held out her hand. “Dearest girl, pray come sit down with me. I want to hear all about you and Lord Eustace.”
Sarah obediently joined her grandmother on the settee. “There is nothing between myself and Lord Eustace but friendship. I have not previously put myself forward because of his obvious infatuation for my sister. But Margaret has made her choice in quite another direction. I feel myself to be entirely freed of all constraint against following my own inclinations.”
“Quite right, too,” said Lady Alverley, nodding. “You need think only of yourself, my dear.”
Sarah ignored her grandmother’s interjection. She didn’t want to think about the selfishness of her motives. “However, at this point in time Lord Eustace is, I think, completely indifferent toward me. I have wondered, too, whether he is not still harboring fond memories of Miss Vivian Leander. Can you advise me, ma’am?”
“Dearest Sarah.” Lady Alverley reached over to give a quick squeeze to her hand. “I could not hope for better news than this. Lord Eustace is perfect for you. You have made a delightful choice. Of course, I will help you.”
“Then what must I do?” asked Sarah. She felt that she was plunging into a heavy current.
“Leave everything to me. I shall see to it that Lord Eustace sees you constantly. He will be invited to all of our entertainments, of course, and I will make certain that you are invited anywhere he might conceivably be. I would not worry overmuch about Vivian Leander. She is long dead. The man would be a fool to prefer fading memories to a flesh-and-blood woman. You have only to display yourself to good effect and encourage him a little. You are already friends, so that should not be too difficult. Do not be anxious, my dear! We shall have his lordship making an offer in a trice,” said Lady Alverley.
Sarah had not meant to reveal to her grandmother what had transpired belowstairs earlier between herself and Lord Eustace. However, now she thought it wise that Lady Alverley should be told. Her ladyship needed to know precisely in what case the matter stood.
Sarah took a deep breath, wondering if she was about to trigger another show of temper. “Grandmama, I have something to tell you that you will not like.”
Lady Alverley’s face tightened. “Yes, my dear?”
“Lord Eustace is aware of Margaret’s elopement. He was shown into the sitting room just as I finished reading her note. I had dropped it to the carpet and he picked it up. He-he was terribly upset,” said Sarah.
“So I should imagine! It was a blow to him, naturally,” said Lady Alverley, nodding. “It was an indiscretion on your part, certainly, Sarah, but it could not be helped. Pray rest easy, my dear. I am not angry with you.” She patted Sarah’s hand reassuringly. Her lips twisted suddenly. “It does not matter greatly, in any event. Everyone will know of it soon enough! News such as this does not long remain in the dark.”
“Grandmama, that is not all. Lord Eustace made me an offer. I refused him because I could see that he had only done so out of bruised pride,” said Sarah. She looked at her grandmother. “I hope that you are not too angry with me, ma’am.”
Lady Alverley stared at her for a long moment, several emotions chasing across her face. She made a swift recovery. “Naturally I would have liked you to have accepted his lordship’s offer at once, for I do not believe Lord Eustace made it without some underlying feeling for you. However, I understand your reasoning, Sarah. You are a sensible girl. A gentleman who makes an offer so rashly will have second thoughts later.”
“That’s what I thought,” said Sarah. She was relieved that her grandmother was taking things so well. “I could see that he was already regretting what he had said even as he said it.”
“Then you did quite right. Lord Eustace might not have followed through with it, since the offer was made in private directly to you. He could very well have drawn back before ever a proper announcement could be made,” said Lady Alverley.
“That did not occur to me,” said Sarah. She wondered if Lord Eustace would have abandoned his declaration once he had had time for reflection. She decided that he would not have. He was a gentleman of honor. No matter how much he felt himself to be at a disadvantage later, he would have stood by hi
s word. Unfortunately, he would probably have come to resent the fact that he had trapped himself.
“What we want from his lordship is a formal offer, one well thought out and firm of purpose. And it should be made to me since I am responsible for you,” said Lady Alverley. She frowned a little. “Indeed, I am rather surprised that Lord Eustace forgot that tenet. He knows very well that he should have applied to me first before he addressed himself to you.”
“I believe that Lord Eustace was so overset he did not know what he was saying,” said Sarah.
“No doubt,” said Lady Alverley, accepting it. “Regardless, a gentleman who harbors resentment and feels that he has been trapped, even if it is by his own words, is very resistant to making agreeable bridal settlements. I trust that Lord Eustace will be in a more amenable frame of mind when he repeats his offer for your hand, Sarah.”
“I hope so, ma’am,” said Sarah quietly. Her grandmother had merely confirmed her own instincts. She hoped that Lady Alverley was as knowledgeable in her assumption that Lord Eustace would indeed repeat his offer.
Lady Alverley looked at her granddaughter with the faintest lift of her brows. “It occurs to me that you once stated you would wed only where you felt affection. Have you changed fronts, my dear, or do you nourish feelings for Lord Eustace?”
Sarah felt her face grow warm. “I have not changed my views, Grandmama.”
“How sensible of you to feel a regard for an eligible parti, Sarah,” said Lady Alverley. “I could wish that Margaret had as much wit! But I will say no more on that head. I have washed my hands of that affair.”
“But will you not try to send after Margaret?” asked Sarah, startled.
Lady Alverley leaned back against the cushions. There was again a cold look in her eyes and a thin smile played about her mouth. “My dear, you forget that I have been this road before. Like her mother before her, Margaret has made her bed. Perhaps she will be as happy as you say that your mother was. I do not know. Nor do I care overmuch. It will suit me not to see Margaret again, for I do not intend to embroil myself in her affairs any longer. Instead, I shall turn all of my resources to bringing about a favorable outcome to your own worthy endeavor.”
“Grandmama, I think that you should know. Lord Eustace said that he was going after Margaret. You may have to deal with the situation whether you wish it or not,” said Sarah. She was angered. Her grandmother’s callousness dismayed and disgusted her. Apparently there was little depth of love or loyalty to be found in her ladyship. It occurred to Sarah that it would be wise to remember that for her own sake.
“Pray, what do you mean?” asked Lady Alverley sharply. “I’ll not have that young woman back here after this! What could you be thinking of, Sarah, to send Lord Eustace off after her? Of all people, too! It is absurd! He has no obligation to our family.”
“I could hardly stop him, my lady. He, at least, feels some responsibility toward my sister!” exclaimed Sarah. “He thinks enough of her to wish that nothing evil befalls her!”
“Be careful, miss! I’ll not tolerate impertinence, even from you!”
“I am sorry, ma’am, if I displease you. However, I shall speak my feelings plainly,” said Sarah hastily. “Margaret is my sister. She has made a grave error in judgment and it is your responsibility as her guardian to make a push to save her from the consequences of her actions!”
“I have already told you! I wash my hands of her! She has made her choice, as her mother did before her. I’ll have nothing more to do with it!” said Lady Alverley.
“What will you write to my father, ma’am? That you made not the least push to bring Margaret back? That you deliberately allowed scandal to break over her head?” demanded Sarah. “I know nothing of your objectives, ma’am, but I do know it will not suit me to have my sister’s name bandied about by every malicious tongue!”
For a long moment, Lady Alverley regarded Sarah with narrowed eyes. Abruptly, she nodded. “Very well! I shall do what I can. You are quite right. We must see to it that any scandal is hushed up, for it will not reflect well on your own reputation. If Lord Eustace cannot be brought up to scratch, we do not want to scuttle any other chances you might have at a decent offer.”
“That was not my motive, ma’am,” said Sarah shortly.
“I know it was not. You are a good, sensible girl, Sarah. I have always said so,” said Lady Alverley. She patted her granddaughter’s arm. “Now go call Marie to me. I must make plans and I need her.”
Sarah rose obediently. On impulse, she bent down and kissed Lady Alverley’s wrinkled cheek.
Lady Alverley did not look up. “Thank you, my dear.”
Sarah crossed the floor. Just before she left the dressing room, she looked back. Lady Alverley had walked over to her vanity glass. But she did not seem to be looking at her reflection. There was a queer blindness in her ladyship’s eyes. Slow tears trickled down Lady Alverley’s cheeks. Quite distinctly, Sarah overheard her ladyship murmur to herself. “Drat the girl. Drat her.”
Without a word, Sarah exited.
* * *
Chapter 22
Several hours later Lord Eustace returned to inform Sarah and Lady Alverley that he had been unsuccessful in locating any clue to the whereabouts of the runaways. “If they fled to Gretna Greene, they were amazingly adept at escaping attention on the North Road,” he said, frowning.
Lady Alverley stiffly thanked him for his efforts. “I appreciate the trouble that you have taken on our behalf, my lord, especially when we have no claim on you.”
Lord Eustace bowed. “Pray disregard it, my lady. I was glad to be of service. It is my regret that I have not been able to bring you better tidings.”
Lady Alverley held her hand out to him. “You have done your best, my lord. Now it is time for me to do my best. I know that you will understand.”
“I do, perfectly. And you may rest assured that I will not speak about this matter to anyone,” said Lord Eustace.
He was turning to take his leave of Sarah when the door to the drawing room opened. The butler showed in Mrs. Jeffries, who came in with a rush. The lady was pale and she clutched a smelling salt in her hand. “My lady! You must believe me! I came at once when I discovered—” She saw suddenly that Lady Alverley was not alone and swift color rose into her face.
Lord Eustace exchanged glances with Sarah. He addressed Lady Alverley. “I shall take my leave now, my lady.”
“Yes, no doubt that will be best.” Lady Alverley nodded. She waited until Lord Eustace had exited and the door had been closed behind him before she turned her gaze on Mrs. Jeffries. Her voice was cold. “Well, Elizabeth?”
Sarah rose hastily and went over to Mrs. Jeffries. She put a friendly arm around the distraught lady’s waist and urged her toward a wingback. “Come sit down, Elizabeth. I can see that you are operating under grave distress.”
Mrs. Jeffries threw a grateful look up at Sarah as she sank into the chair. “Thank you, Sarah!” She turned again to meet Lady Alverley’s hard stare and her smile fled. “My lady, I came to you at once when I discovered a note from my brother-in-law. You may guess at its contents.”
“Indeed?” Lady Alverley’s demeanor was not at all encouraging.
Mrs. Jeffries’s countenance whitened even more. In a suffocated voice, she cried, “Lady Alverley! I did not know! I swear I did not know!” She dissolved into tears and searched wildly for her handkerchief. “I didn’t know that Henry and Margaret— Oh, it is too terrible!”
“Had you no clue that your brother-in-law was making himself indispensible to my granddaughter?”
“None, my lady! None!” gasped Mrs. Jeffries. She looked up suddenly. “Oh, my lady, pray do not lay this at my door! I could not bear it if you did so!”
Sarah was moved to compassion. “Elizabeth! Of course it was not your fault, which my grandmother very well knows. Isn’t that right, ma’am?”
Mrs. Jeffries was unheeding as her gaze remained riveted upon Lady Alverley�
�s stiff countenance. “My lady, I beg of you. Do not blame me. Do not bring grief down upon my head. You know of my circumstances. If you were to say anything—! In short, my position would be blasted beyond recovery. Lady Alverley, pray say that you do not blame me!”
It dawned on Sarah that Mrs. Jeffries’s distress was not for the runaways, but was being exercised for herself. Sarah realized that Mrs. Jeffries feared losing Lady Alverley’s favorable patronage. She was sparing little or no thought for the plight of her brother and Margaret Sommers and the scandal they must face.
Sarah was disappointed and disillusioned in one whom she had thought to be a close friend to both herself and to her sister. She had considered Mrs. Jeffries to be one of her best friends in London, but the lady’s fear of social ostracism had revealed a shallowness of character that Sarah found to be sorrowing. “Oh, Elizabeth. I thought you actually cared for Margaret,” she murmured.
Mrs. Jeffries’s green eyes flashed. “I do! She was like a younger sister to me. And as for Henry, why, we were always close. I don’t know how I shall bear the humiliation and betrayal. But such it was! He never breathed a word to me. Not one suspicion crossed my mind, I assure you! Dear Lady Alverley, you must believe me. I had nothing to do with this horrible elopement.”
Lady Alverley nodded. “Of course, I must believe you if that is what you tell me, Elizabeth.”
“Oh, I am telling you the truth!” cried Mrs. Jeffries passionately.
“I am glad of it. Or otherwise I would have to be very angry with you. Very angry, indeed!” said Lady Alverley harshly. “I hope that I may count on you now, Elizabeth.”
Mrs. Jeffries shuddered. “I shall do anything, my lady.”
“Good. Then this is what I wish you to do,” said Lady Alverley. “You must tell everyone that your brother-in-law received a sudden termination of his leave. He was required to return to duty at once. He did not even delay to fulfill the remainder of his obligations because of the urgency of his orders. You may be as overset as you please, but do not say another word about your brother’s movements than what I have told you to say. Do you understand, Elizabeth?”