The Offer (Baron 2)

“It’s very simple, Elizabeth. Both you and Trevor know that Phillip would kill him without hesitation if he so much as laid a hand on me, or even thought about it.”

“Since it never happened, neither of us need to worry, do we?”

“Good God, what have we here? If it isn’t my little sister. What an unexpected surprise.”

Sabrina saw Elizabeth go rigid at her husband’s voice. She turned to watch him come down the stairs, his walk lazy, the expression on his too-pretty face filled with rich humor. He never looked away from her face.

“Yes, it is I, Trevor. I have come back to see Grandfather.”

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs, making no move toward her. “And where is your marvelously fierce husband?”

Elizabeth said, “The viscount is still in London. He will arrive shortly. As she said, she’s here to visit Grandfather.”

“How delighted the old gentleman will be. His precious little Sabrina, returned to the fold. You will find him sadly changed, little sister, but quite alive.”

“Yes. Both Phillip and Richard Clarendon assured me that Grandfather would continue to improve in his health, that you would see to it, Trevor.”

“How could one not see to that dear old man? Is he not my great-uncle? I have all the loyalty and tender feelings of a grandson. Yes, the old man will live until the next century.”

Sabrina merely nodded and said to Elizabeth, “If you wouldn’t mind, Elizabeth, I would like to visit Grandfather now. I shall be quite content with a tray, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble for Cook.”

“Perhaps there is something remaining.”

“But, my dear Elizabeth,” Trevor said, “have you forgotten? Why, we haven’t dined yet. Surely there will be a veritable feast of food, some of which we can share with your dear little sister. Perhaps I can even bring a tray to her myself. Perhaps she’d like me to remain with her and chat while she eats.”

Sabrina didn’t feel the numbing fear she’d felt before. It was odd, but she was strong now, and it wasn’t simply because she knew Trevor was afraid of Phillip. No, she knew that she’d kill the bastard if he came near her. Why not tell him so? Then she saw her sister’s face. No, if he dared to come near her, then she’d tell him.

She said, “Since I’ll be with Grandfather, Trevor, he will doubtless entertain me.” She nodded to both of them, then walked up the stairs, her back straight.

Trevor called up after her, “Do ask the old gentleman if he would like to see either Elizabeth or me. It’s been a while since he’s enjoyed our company.”

“I can believe that,” Sabrina said over her shoulder. Neither of them said anything as she kept walking.

Trevor walked to his wife. He smiled down at her, raised his fingers, and lightly stroked them over her cheek. Then he drew her hand through his arm. “Of course, your sister is pleased to see me again, don’t you think? It will give us an excellent opportunity to become better friends, don’t you agree, Elizabeth?”

Elizabeth stared at the toes of her slippers that were peeping out from beneath the hem of her gown. She nodded numbly.

“I believe I asked you a question, Elizabeth.”

Sabrina had turned at the sound of Trevor’s voice, all low and oily. She felt the blood pound at her temples as she watched Trevor slide his fingers to the soft skin on the inside of Elizabeth’s arm and pinch her. She couldn’t help herself. She raced down the stairs, yelling, “Don’t you touch her, you filthy bastard! Don’t you dare hurt her.”

Elizabeth said calmly, “Be quiet, Sabrina. Go on your way. Visit with Grandfather. Leave us alone.” Then she smiled up at her husband. “As you say, Trevor, that’s perfectly true.”

“Perhaps,” Trevor said, “just perhaps, Sabrina, after Elizabeth has retired, you and I can have tea. Would you like that?”

“I’d like for you to change into a human being, but that is unlikely to happen, isn’t it?” She turned on her heel and walked back up the stairs.

“Until tomorrow then, little sister,” Trevor called after her; something in his voice would have scared her to her toes, regardless of Phillip’s threat to Trevor, if she hadn’t stolen Phillip’s derringer and had it in her reticule at this very moment.

40

Jesperson, the earl’s valet, opened the door to the vast bedchamber and sitting room. “Oh, my, it’s you, Lady Sabrina. Welcome home. Ah, this is a wonderful surprise for all of us.” Jesperson, normally quite solemn in the presence of any member of the family, was actually smiling at her, lightly touching his fingers to her shoulder. “Let me tell his lordship that you’re here. Oh, he’ll be so pleased. You can dine with him.”

She took his large hand between hers. “Thank you, Jesperson, for taking care of him, for protecting him.”

A flash of deep emotion crossed his face, then he was calm again. “This way, my lady.”

Childhood memories stirred as Sabrina followed Jesperson through the sitting room to the long, rectangular bedchamber beyond. The small treasures she’d collected in her younger days and presented proudly to her grandfather were still displayed atop a huge mahogany desk: colored rocks from the streambed, polished by the rushing water to a smooth surface; a string of amber beads left her by her mother; a tattered kite whose long cloth tail lay wrapped limply about it.