“I know you’re a proud man, Phillip, and that’s as it should be. I ask that in your pride you will not feel yourself honorbound to come after me. I’ve thought hard about this. It’s the only thing to do. It’s what I want. Good-bye. I’m truly sorry for all the misery I brought into your life. You didn’t deserve it.”
Sabrina glanced one last time about her bedchamber, pulled her cloak closely about her, and made her way downstairs.
She stopped right in front of Greybar and said in her coldest voice, “Is my hired carriage here?”
Greybar was wringing his hands. “Wouldn’t you prefer to wait for his lordship to return? He should be back shortly. It shouldn’t be long now. Surely he wouldn’t want you to travel in a hired carriage. A viscountess shouldn’t ever travel in a hired carriage with hired horses. It isn’t safe. Please, my lady, just wait a moment longer, perhaps just ten minutes. All right?”
“Good-bye, Greybar. You’ve been kind to me. But I must go now. Surely you understand that.”
She carried her own portmanteau out the front door, leaving Greybar to stare after her, still wringing his hands.
She walked quickly from the house into the cold morning. She stepped into the carriage and waved her gloved hand to the butler, who stood shivering and uncertain on the front steps, still wringing his hands.
The horses started forward and she was tossed back onto the squabs. She drew a carriage blanket over her legs and sat there, staring out at nothing at all.
The weary horses pulled to a steaming halt in front of Monmouth Abbey early four evenings later. Sabrina looked at the great weathered stone building, half castle, half manor house, its jagged surfaces worn smooth through the centuries. Smoke billowed from the massive fireplaces that towered twenty feet above the slate roof. Sharp points of candlelight dotted the latticed windows.
It was very cold but at least it wasn’t snowing. It was quite dark, a quarter moon lighting the sky.
She paused a moment before the great oak doors, her stomach knotting at the thought of facing down Trevor. But she could do it. She would face him down. She would, quite simply, kill him if he ever tried to touch her again. She pounded hard on the huge brass griffin knocker.
Ribble opened the massive doors. He just stared at her, then shouted, “Lady Sabrina! Oh, my dear child, you’re home. Do come in. Oh, gracious, it’s wonderful to see you again.”
He hugged her against him and she nearly burst into tears. “It’s so good to see you again, Ribble. You’re looking well. Is Grandfather all right? It’s been almost a week since I’ve heard anything. Please tell me he’s all right.”
“Yes, he improves every day, I promise you.” Ribble set her away from him. She looked disheveled, thin, pale. He wanted to wrap her in three blankets, set her in front of a fireplace, and feed her. Instead, because he knew her, he said, “No, it’s all right. Everything will be fine. You’re home and we’ll all take care of you. Now, where is his lordship? Is he behind you?”
“He isn’t with me,” Sabrina said simply, and walked into the large flagstone entrance hall.
“Sabrina!”
She looked up to see Elizabeth clutching the railing at the bottom of the staircase.
“Hello, Elizabeth. Just a moment, please.” She turned back to Ribble. “Please see to my coachman and have my portmanteau brought in. Thank you.”
She was aware of Ribble giving instructions to two footmen who were gawking at the returned prodigal. What had everyone been told? What did they believe?
She walked to where her sister still stood, staring at her as if she were a ghost, that or something depraved that had wandered by accident into her view. “You’re looking very well, Elizabeth. I hope you are feeling just the thing.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? I didn’t run away and get caught in a snowstorm and nearly die.”
To think she’d nearly held out her arms to her sister. “No, I expect you’re just fine. Your gown is very stylish.” Actually, the gown was lovely, but it seemed that Elizabeth had lost flesh. The gown hung off her thin shoulders. But her glorious fair hair was full and thick in braids around her face, wisps dangling down her neck. Sabrina tried to smile. She knew she had to be conciliating.
Elizabeth took the last step and stood not a foot from her sister. “What are you doing here? I don’t recall asking you to come back. I know that Grandfather hasn’t. Well, maybe the old fool has written to ask you to come. I don’t know since he won’t allow either Trevor or me to read his letters.”
“No, Grandfather didn’t ask me to come. I came on my own. I would like to stay with you for a while.”
Elizabeth said coldly, “Now that you’re here, standing right in front of me, I suppose I can’t send you away, at least tonight. Where is your husband?”
“He’s still in London. I wanted to se
e Grandfather, Elizabeth. I’ve felt so helpless not being here with him.”
“Doubtless he will want to see you. You nearly caused his death, Sabrina. I hope this time you’ll behave as you should, as a lady should.”
“Ah, conduct myself as a lady should. Now what does that mean? I wonder. Does it mean that a lady would simply lie helplessly in her bed to wait for her brother-in-law to come and rape her? Is that what you mean? You say nothing. Listen to me. Please don’t distort the truth now, at least not to yourself.”
To her surprise, Elizabeth stared her down. Sabrina blinked, looked away. Elizabeth grabbed her sleeve and brought her close. “You little slut, don’t you try to preach at me.” Then she released Sabrina and laughed. “If you were guilty of nothing, sister, how is it that you are so very brave now? With your husband still in London, you have no protection from Trevor—if it is protection you need.”