by Alec, Joyce
A sudden crash made her jump, startled. Lord Higgs was standing by a smashed mirror, looking hugely embarrassed.
“I did not see it,” he muttered, as the pawn merchant came hurrying out of the back. “I am terribly sorry.”
“Careful now, Miss Weston,” Lord Thorndyke chuckled, taking her towards Mrs. Avis. “It appears Lord Higgs has held up proceedings once again.”
Sarah could not help but smile as Lord Higgs attempted to soothe the upset merchant, promising to pay whatever he wished for the mirror.
“Perhaps we might take a short stroll,” Lord Thorndyke said, looking over at Lord Higgs. “To give you a few minutes to clear all this up.”
Lord Higgs nodded, his face crimson, and Sarah hid her smile as Lord Thorndyke took her arm.
“Will you join us, Mrs. Avis?” Lord Thorndyke asked quietly, as they walked to the door. “Miss Weston has a decent bonnet on that should hide her from Lord Andrew, should he happen to be in town.”
Sarah’s stomach tightened with a sudden fear. “Do you think he will be?”
Lord Thorndyke looked a little uneasy as they stepped outside. “He may very well be, Miss Weston. It is the afternoon, and many of the ton like to be seen out at the shops or in the park. It is a shame that the pawn merchant is right in the heart of London, but there it is.” He looked down at her, his expression one of consideration. “Might you wish to return inside? I am sure we will be quite safe, but if you are uncomfortable then–”
Sarah shook her head. “I think a stroll will suit me. I trust you.”
Her simple words brought a broad smile to his face, his eyes lit with genuine warmth.
“Thank you for that trust,” he said, offering her his arm. “Shall we?”
Mrs. Avis smiled and shooed her away. “I will walk just behind you,” she said, with a knowing look. “I will alert you if I should see anything untoward.”
Sarah, beginning to walk alongside Lord Thorndyke, felt her heart suddenly fill with light and hope. This was how her life was to be now. She would always have Lord Thorndyke by her side. Her future as a married woman, which had seemed so heavy and oppressive only two days prior, now seemed to be a bright and hopeful future.
“I wrote to your brother this morning,” Lord Thorndyke murmured, as they dodged the other passersby. “I am sure we shall receive his return reply within a few days.”
Sarah looked up at him, suddenly excited. “Shall I get to meet him?”
“Soon enough,” Lord Thorndyke replied with a warm smile. “I know you are very keen to meet your brother, but we must continue to take things slowly, using great care and deliberation.” He smiled at her, and Sarah felt herself smile back without hesitation. “We shall marry first and then go to seek your brother out. The only reason we must remain in London is so that I can speak to the archbishop in order to secure a special license.”
“It seems you have everything in hand, Lord Thorndyke,” Sarah murmured, as they rounded a corner. “Thank you.”
He glanced down at her, made to speak, only to freeze in place. Without warning, he grasped Sarah’s arm with both hands and tugged her into a shadowy corner, away from the rest of the crowd.
Then, he stood directly in front of her, shielding her body with his as he fixed his gaze on her. Sarah could not breathe for a moment, fear stealing the air from her lungs as she looked up at him.
“Lord Andrew,” he whispered, his words barely audible. “Have no fear. Just keep looking at me.”
“Mrs. Avis,” Sarah whispered frantically.
“She will have hidden herself or returned to the shop,” he replied firmly. “Look at me, Sarah. Think of nothing else but me.”
Sarah focused all of her attention on Lord Thorndyke, taking in the steadiness in his brown eyes and allowing it to permeate her soul. All she could hear was the roaring in her ears, her heartbeat so fast that her breathing became ragged.
“What are you doing here?”
A harsh, angry voice flooded the alley, making her tense.
“Look at me,” Lord Thorndyke whispered, his hands now resting on her shoulders. “He is not speaking to you, trust me. Do not look past me; do not pull away. Just look at me, Sarah. Trust me.”
Drawing in a deep breath, Sarah continued to hold his gaze, her legs beginning to tremble.
“How dare you try to leave me!” she heard Lord Andrew shout, her skin crawling with fear. “I have been all over London looking for you.”
There was the sound of a slap, then a pleading voice begging for Lord Andrew to let go, only for there to come a blissful, calming silence.
“It is over,” Lord Thorndyke whispered, still remaining exactly where he was. “I think he is gone.”
Sarah swallowed hard, closing her eyes and resting her head back against the wall of the alleyway.
“Look over my shoulder,” Lord Thorndyke whispered, his hands running down her arms. “Can you see him?”
Standing on tiptoe, Sarah let her eyes peek over Lord Thorndyke’s broad shoulder, only to see that, apart from a stray cat, there was no one else about. Heaving a huge sigh of relief, she dropped to her heels and nodded.
“He is gone,” she whispered, realizing that she had no idea what Lord Andrew looked like. “Are you sure it was him?”
Lord Thorndyke nodded, his features grim. “Yes, it was him, no doubt about it.” He shook his head. “We should have remained in the shop.”
Seeing the regret and the guilt in his face, Sarah tentatively put one hand on Lord Thorndyke’s chest. His head sprang up at once, his eyes fixing on hers.
“It was not your fault,” she murmured quietly, feeling her fear slowly fading away and being replaced with an altogether different sensation. “It was not something you could have foreseen.”
He swallowed but said nothing, his body still close to hers. Sarah felt her very heart begin to tremble, as she let her hand slide around his neck, her whole body bursting into flame. This was not something she had ever experienced before, her eyes drawn to Lord Thorndyke’s gaze. She could not look away, seeing the intensity there that drew her into him.
“We should return to Lord Higgs,” he breathed, one finger gently running down the length of her cheek and curving around her chin. “He will be waiting for us.”
Unable to speak, Sarah remained exactly as she was, feeling as though her skin was being seared by his touch, as though she were being branded by Lord Thorndyke’s presence.
“Sarah,” he whispered, his head beginning to lower. “I–”
She did not know what he meant to say, seeing him stumble to a halt as his eyes flitted to her mouth. She realized that she wanted this; she wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to know what it felt like to be held in a tender embrace, to have a gentleman show his affection in such an intimate way.
When his lips touched hers, it was nothing like Sarah had expected. Her breath left her entirely, her hands making their own way around his neck as he settled his own hands around her waist. She melded to him, tipping her head up towards him.
It was gentle and sweet, and yet it sent fire into her veins. Her heart filled with some unspoken emotion as the sounds of the carriages from around the corner began to fade away. There was only Lord Thorndyke.
When he broke the kiss, Sarah felt it such a sweet agony that she wanted to cry; she wanted to hold onto him and remain exactly where they were. She did not want to return to the shop; she did not want to find out about the locket. For a few moments, she was filled with nothing but a desire for Lord Thorndyke and his kiss.
“Miss Weston,” Lord Thorndyke said quietly, stepping back as she let her hands fall from his neck. “I-I apologize. That was inappropriate.”
She stared at him, feeling as though she had been slapped hard across the face.
“Not that I mean I did not wish to do so,” he continued hastily, evidently seeing her horror-struck expression. “It is just that perhaps now is not the most appropriate time.”
That brought
a smidgen of relief to Sarah’s tumultuous thoughts, even more so when he took her hand and brought it to his lips.
“I do not want to ever take advantage of you,” he said softly, his eyes telling her more than he could ever say. “I will confess that I find your nearness to be somewhat overwhelming. I do believe that, in time, we will have an affection in our marriage together.”
That made Sarah smile, her eyes looking up into his, as he looped her hand under his own. “I think so, too, Lord Thorndyke,” she replied quietly. “And perhaps, now that we have shared such an intimacy, you might think of calling me by my Christian name when we are in private.”
“It is an offer I cannot refuse,” he smiled, his fingers resting on her own. “Thank you, Sarah.”
12
That was a little too close for my liking, James thought, as he hurried Sarah back through the streets of London. He had known there was a chance that Lord Andrew might be in town but had not truly believed they would come across him in the five minutes they intended to be outside. Glancing down at Sarah as they walked, James felt a sensation he had never expected so early in his acquaintance with the lady.
Happiness.
He felt true happiness at the thought of marrying Sarah. She was beautiful, yes, but he had felt a connection with her the moment he had seen her sitting in his drawing room. It was not that there was just a sympathy for her, which, of course, he could not deny, but there was also a gentle fondness for her. He had been honest when he had told her he was certain there would be affection in their marriage, given time. There was certainly an undeniable attraction between them, given that he had just kissed her and given how eagerly she had responded.
“Where have you been?” Lord Higgs blustered, the moment they stepped into the shop. “This man has been waiting. And I had to pay for the locket as well as the mirror since I was certain Miss Weston would want it back.”
James chuckled, feeling Sarah’s fingers tighten on his arm. “Thank you, Higgs.” He turned his attention to the pawn merchant, who had a somewhat smug look on his face. “I presume you have the information?”
“I do,” the man replied with a grin. “Here, you can see it for yourself if you wish.”
James turned to Sarah and gestured for her to go ahead of him, seeing her quick smile as she silently thanked him. He watched as she leaned over the book, reading carefully where the pawn merchant showed her.
Her frame tightened, dismay beginning to curl in James’s heart.
“What is it?” he asked, walking over to her. “Who handed it in?”
She looked up at him, fear in her eyes. “Lord Andrew Fairley.”
The news stunned him. “Lord Andrew?” he repeated, looking down at the page where she pointed. “That cannot be so.”
It was undeniable, written there in ink. The description of the pendant, the date, the name, and signature of the man who had brought it in.
“That does not make any sense,” he said slowly, looking back up at Sarah and seeing the paleness in her cheeks. “Why would he retrieve it only to put it under your pillow in Little Mybster?”
She swallowed and shook her head, looking up at him helplessly. “I have no idea.”
Lord Higgs cleared his throat, drawing James’s attention that the pawn merchant was watching them with interest.
“Perhaps we should discuss this back at the house,” he said calmly, offering his arm to Sarah again. “Thank you very much for your help.” He turned to go, only for Sarah to remain exactly where she was. Looking back at her, he saw her frown.
“Where is Mrs. Avis?” she asked, her voice filled with confusion. “I thought she would have made her way back here by now.”
“Mrs. Avis?” Lord Higgs repeated, looking at James in puzzlement. “I thought she was with you. I thought perhaps you had left her in the carriage, knowing that we would only be a few minutes in here.”
Sarah went sheet white, both hands now wrapped around James’s arm. “Oh, no,” she whispered, her eyes widening. “Do you remember what we heard in the alley?”
James swallowed hard, thinking quickly. “That could not have been her,” he breathed, hardly able to comprehend it. “How would she know Lord Andrew?”
“You are not talking about the older woman who came in behind you, are you?” the pawn merchant asked, almost lazily.
James rounded on him at once, anger bursting through him at his own foolishness, his own lack of thought. “Do you know her?”
The man shrugged. “I know who Lord Andrew Fairley is. I mean, who doesn’t, given his reputation?” His smile spread across his face—in stark contrast to the anger and frustration that was building in James’s heart. “That man was often in this place, giving me this and that so that I would pay out. He kept coming back here since he knew I would give him a decent price. What he did not know was that I used his reputation to sell off his things at twice the price. You would be surprised the number of gentlemen that want to purchase something of a man who has fallen as far as Lord Andrew has.”
James thumped the counter hard, startling Miss Weston. “Get to the point, man. How do you know Mrs. Avis?”
The man’s smile faded, his expression hardening. “I do not,” he said with a slight shrug. “I do not know her. All I know is that she was in here with him very often, although she was always forced to stand at the back by the door. Lord Andrew sold off lots of things that I was sure did not belong to him.”
“What kind of things?” Miss Weston asked, her voice thin and pained.
The pawn merchant looked at her, and James saw the way his hard expression softened just a touch. “Lady’s things,” he replied quietly. “Pearls, earrings, that kind of thing.”
“The pendant?”
The pawn merchant nodded. “I was surprised she did not come forward herself to tell you that she was present when I bought that from Lord Andrew. Not that it is my business, which is why I did not say anything.”
James felt his heart still in his chest. “Mrs. Avis was present when Lord Andrew gave you that pendant?”
The man nodded, his lips thin. “Lord Andrew was in some state that day, I can tell you. Staggering about all over the place. It is a wonder he managed to sign his own name. He had to lean on the lady, as he made his way out of the shop.”
“He was drunk?”
The pawn merchant’s eyes flickered to Lord Higgs. “Yes, just as I said. Now, is that all you want to know? I got business to see to.”
“Do you know anything more about her?” Sarah begged, reaching for the man’s hand. “Please, she is a very dear friend of mine. Anything you can tell me would be a great deal of help.”
Holding his breath, James saw the pawn merchant look down at the way Miss Weston had clutched his fingers, his instincts telling him that this man knew a little more than he was saying.
“I will make it worth your while,” he murmured, pulling some notes from his pocket. “Please do not hold anything back.”
The pawn merchant’s greedy eyes flickered to the notes in James’s hand before returning to Miss Weston.
“There is only one more thing I know,” he said, as she released his hand. “Lord Andrew never referred to her as Mrs. Avis.”
Sarah stared at him, holding his gaze. “Then what was her title?”
He shrugged. “I only ever heard him refer to her as ‘my dear’ or some other kind of affectionate term. The kind a man might use to refer to his wife.”
James sucked in a breath at the very moment he heard Miss Weston gasp with shock.
“Thank you,” he managed to say, wrapping one arm around Sarah’s waist and pulling her to him, as tears began to trickle down her cheeks. “You have been very helpful.”
Not caring how much he gave the man, James threw down the pile of notes, and gesturing to Lord Higgs to hurry ahead of them to the door, he helped Sarah to walk to the door.
“We must return home to discuss this,” he whispered in her ear, as her head dropped forward
in despair. “Come to the carriage, my dear. Lean on me if you need to.”
* * *
Within the hour, they had made it back to the townhouse and were now sitting quietly by the fire that crackled in the grate. It was not usual for James to have a fire lit in the middle of the day, but given how pale Miss Weston appeared to be, he had thought it best.
His mind spun with questions, his heart thundering with guilt and pain, as he cursed himself repeatedly for never once assuming that Lord Andrew was talking to Mrs. Avis.
“Do not blame yourself,” Lord Higgs said, the moment the maid left the room, leaving the tea tray in front of Miss Weston. “None of this is your fault, Thorndyke, nor yours, Miss Weston.”
“Sarah, please,” she said in a broken voice. “I cannot be dealing with titles now, not when everything else is so very confusing.”
“Sarah, then,” Lord Higgs replied kindly. “You must not take any blame onto your own shoulders.”
“I was there,” Sarah whispered, hoarsely, looking up at them both with pain written in her eyes. “I could have seen him; I could have tried to stop him.”
“And put yourself in danger?” James interrupted, shaking his head. “No. I would never have allowed you to.”
Sarah looked at him steadily, her lips trembling just a little. “But he was not there for me,” she said slowly. “Remember? He said something about looking all over London for Mrs. Avis. It is she he has been searching for, not I.”
James leaned forward, his head in his hands. “It does not make sense,” he muttered, his thoughts dark and clouded. “I cannot understand what any of this means.”
There was nothing but silence for a long time, each one occupied with their own thoughts. Try as he might, James could not let go of the fact that Lord Andrew still posed a threat to Sarah, unable to believe that it was just Mrs. Avis the man had been searching for.
“She is Lord Andrew’s wife,” Sarah said, her voice breaking the quiet that had settled over the room. “That is the hardest thing to believe. Why did she never say anything? Why set herself up as my companion, knowing that she was the wife to the man I was trying to avoid?”