The Offer (Baron 2)

“Time’s up, Sabrina.” He turned, his brow raised.

She shook her head.

He turned and without a backward glance strode from the room.

He met Charles at the front door and saw that the carriage drawn up outside had no earl’s crest on its door.

“It’s my carriage,” Charles said. “Come into the parlor, Phillip, we have a new and very different problem to deal with now.”

Phillip shut his mouth on an oath and followed Charles into the parlor. “Well? Don’t keep me waiting, Charles. Spit it out.”

“The Earl of Monmouth has had a stroke. The physician will allow no one to see him. He assured me that he would tell the earl that Sabrina was safe and well, but he feared that the old man would not even understand.”

“I see,” Phillip said, and indeed he did see. “Trevor is now the master.”

“Yes, both Trevor and Elizabeth. It would interest you to know that Elizabeth had already called in the men from their search for Sabrina. Actually, I think, from the looks they were giving each other, that the two of them had hoped she was dead. I really have difficulty believing this. Elizabeth was never a particularly likable girl, but now I find her cold and hard.”

“Still, Charlie, why did you bring your carriage?”

“There’s more, Phillip. When I told Elizabeth that Sabrina was safe, she inquired rather urgently, I thought, what Sabrina had told me about her running away. I told her that I didn’t know the details, but that Sabrina had likely spoken to you. I saw her glance meaningfully at her husband. Then the both of them hastened to tell me that Sabrina had left the Abbey because she had tried to seduce Trevor and he had rebuffed her. They were surprised that she’d left, but thought it was because she was too ashamed to stay.” Charles ran a distracted hand through his hair. “You know they’ll be telling everyone in Yorkshire who will listen their version of this wretched affair. In any case, Elizabeth then told me in the coldest voice I’ve ever heard in my life that she would find it difficult to forgive her sister for what she had done. She did offer to take her back, but I realized I couldn’t allow it.”

“And what did Trevor say to this?”

“That was the final nail in the coffin as far as I was concerned. Trevor told me that he had forgiven Sabrina, that indeed he wanted Sabrina back, told me he would care for her himself, that he wanted her well again, that he’d missed her. He assured me that he loved his little sister and he would care for her always. My skin was crawling. I thought Elizabeth would leap on him.”

“To hell with both of them. Surely no one would believe such drivel, particularly if they’ve known Sabrina all her life. Knowing her, no one could think she was anything other than painfully innocent and sweet as a—” He stopped. To Charles’s astonishment, red stained his friend’s cheeks, making his cheekbones more prominent. Phillip got hold of himself. “As I was saying, Sabrina finally told me, after much prodding, that Trevor tried to rape her and her dear sister took his side against her. And that, Charles, was why she ran away. I tell you, I’ve only known Sabrina for five days now, but I know that she wouldn’t lie.”

“And you’re right about the folk hereabouts. Sabrina is known and well liked. No one would believe that she would try to seduce Elizabeth’s husband. Not because they’re all so generous, but because they know that Richard Clarendon wanted to marry her. They would think Trevor versus Richard, and come up with the proper answer.”

“That’s of little consolation,” Phillip said. He raised his eyes to his friend’s face. “Sabrina won’t marry me. I’m not to be allowed to sacrifice myself, in her words. I tried everything. She wouldn’t budge. Odd, you know, Charles, but I forgot my own ill treatment trying to get her to come around.”

“No, I can’t believe that. She won’t have you? Impossible, Phillip. Wait a minute, there’s Clarendon. She would rather have Richard?”

“No, she doesn’t want Richard either. Indeed, she told me she barely knows him. He’s nothing to her. Look, Charlie, I can’t very well beat her. You want to take her to Moreland?”

“Yes. The only problem is that most of my guests are still there. Margaret will be delighted to see Sabrina, of course, and will most likely insist on taking over the care of her. Despite your efficiency, Phillip, once back in civilization, you must relinquish your patient.”

“If we have her there, then it will buy us more time. It will be difficult to break all of this to her.”

“There’s no need.”

Both men whipped about. Sabrina stood in the doorway, her hair streaming about her shoulders and down her back, holding the overlarge dressing gown tightly about her. There were circles beneath her eyes. She was too pale, too thin. She looked like she was teetering on the edge.

“Ah, Sabrina,” Phillip began, and took a quick step toward her, his hands outstretched.

“It’s nice to see you again, Charlie. I’m sorry that the circumstances are so horrid.”

Charles was staring at her, he couldn’t help it. She looked terrible. He felt a knot in his belly. “Sabrina, you’re ill.”

“Will Grandfather recover, Charlie?”

Charles knew he couldn’t lie to her. “His physician doesn’t know, Sabrina. I’m sorry.”

“It’s my fault,” she said more to herself than to either of the two men. “If I hadn’t run away, then he wouldn’t have worried. He thought I was dead. I’m responsible for this, all of it.”

Sabrina looked at Phillip, at his hands, which were still outstretched. She fell where she stood, the dressing gown flaring out about her like an unfurling green fan.

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