The Offer (Baron 2)

“Richard also is an honorable man. He told me the truth. By the time he’d finished, I felt as if I knew your husband. I can’t tell you how relieved I was, Sabrina, that you didn’t fall into the hands of another rotter, like Trevor.”

“Oh no, Phillip isn’t a rotter by any stretch of the imagination. So now you know what sort of man he is.” She paused a moment, looking at the dancing flames in the fireplace. She said slowly, “It’s just that London, all that fine society, it’s very different, Grandfather. I didn’t do well there. Actually, I did until it came out that I’d spent the five days with Phillip and everyone called me a trollop. No, it’s the rules there. I don’t understand them. I couldn’t live with them.”

“What rules?”

“Phillip wanted his freedom. He has a mistress. Her name is Martine. He makes no secret of it. I just couldn’t accept it.”

“I see.”

“Only if Phillip hadn’t damaged me. Can you believe that word, Grandfather? Damaged. As if I were something that could be torn apart, like a bundle. It’s difficult to accept that people think like that, but they do. Not just men, but women as well.”

She stared down at the faded pattern in the carpet. “Phillip is generous, Grandfather, and as I said, he’s kind and honorable.”

The earl nodded for her to continue.

“We fought. I never thought anyone could rival your temper, but Phillip does.”

“You fought about his mistress?”

“Among other things. It wasn’t well done of me. You see, when I made him an offer to marry me, I told him he could have his freedom.”

The old earl would have choked if he’d been drinking anything. “You told this young man that he could continue bedding women who weren’t his wife?”

“Yes. He rudely told me that he already had his freedom, that he’d do just as he pleased. And he did.”

“And that’s why you left him?”

She was so transparent, she thought, looking down at her short, blunt fingernails. “Actually, I love him. He doesn’t love me. He is responsible for me. He protects me, but he doesn’t love me. Oh, Grandfather, I did the most terrible thing to him, and yet, I know that I would do it again. That’s why I had to leave. I knew I could never accept the other women.”

“What did you do? Something outrageous and worthy of an Eversleigh?”

She smiled, but it quickly turned into a moan. She buried her face in his dressing gown. “I went to his mistress’s rooms and found them together. No, he wasn’t actually in bed with her nor was he naked. She was, or very nearly. I went mad. I kicked him in the groin, Grandfather, then I ran back home. He found me there. He didn’t retaliate, didn’t hurt me at all, regardless of what I’d done to him. But I knew at that moment that it was all over.”

“Oh, my God,” the old earl said. “You kicked him? There?”

“Yes, I brought him low. I didn’t realize that it would be so awful for a man to be kicked there.”

“There is no worse a place to be kicked.”

“After he left me at home, I knew I couldn’t remain. Everything was in a shambles. There was no hope, else I would have stayed. So I left the next morning. I hired a carriage and came here.”

The earl looked thoughtfully into her violet eyes, Camilla’s eyes. He thought it likely upon brief reflection that his ferociously loyal and loving wife would have done the same to him had he been inclined to take a mistress, which had never even occurred to him to do.

The earl leaned forward in his chair and took one of her hands into his. “You love him, with all your heart? You would give your life for him? You would do your best to protect him, no matter the cost?”

“Yes.”

He laughed. “Is he a blockhead then? Hasn’t he the brains to see clearly and deeply into things? Into people? Surely a wifely kick in the groin should have convinced him of your feelings.” He wished that he’d actually met the viscount. He stroked her rich auburn hair, now tumbled down her back. “Well, I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.” He looked into the orange flames in the fireplace and saw another face, so like Sabrina’s, from a past that had long since turned to ashes and memories. “I’ve told you this before. You are Camilla’s granddaughter. Believe me, Sabrina, no man who knew her would have ever willingly let her go. Once I saw her, once I really saw her, I never did.”

41

Ribble pulled open the front doors and stared at the gentleman in front of him. He grinned. He laughed. He held out his hand, surely not what a butler should do, but he didn’t think, just did it.

Phillip didn’t hesitate. He shook the man’s hand. “It’s good to see you again, Ribble.”

“Thank you, my lord. Oh, dear, this is passing strange and yet wonderful, don’t misunderstand me. Her ladyship will be so very happy to see you. She didn’t tell us precisely when to expect you. But you have come so quickly. Do come in, my lord. Yes, let me take your greatcoat and your gloves. Yes, this is a happy day.”

“You’re right. Her ladyship will doubtless be very surprised to see me.” Phillip looked around the huge entrance hall. He saw a door open, heard the rustling of silk. There was Elizabeth. She didn’t say a word until she stood a foot from him.