Sabrina stuck out her hand. “How do you do, Charlotte? I’m sorry that the viscount isn’t here. Actually I don’t know where he is. Why are you here? May I assist you with something? Perhaps if you have time, you could give me a lesson in using one’s eyes?”
“Hmmm. I adore those Moorish arches, I always have. I believe a seventeenth-century Mercerault had them built.”
“Oh yes, Dinwitty Manor is one of the strangest houses I’ve ever seen. Phillip told me I might just take one look and double over laughing, but I didn’t. Perhaps it was because I was a mite unhappy, but I don’t think so. The house and grounds are charming. They feel right. I’m sorry, please come into the drawing room. I’m just standing here staring at you, forgetting my manners, because you’re so incredibly beautiful. It’s hard to believe that you’re Rohan’s mother.”
“I know, but it’s true. I understand that my sweet son was Phillip’s best man at your wedding in London?”
“Yes, he was. Unfortunately, his wife couldn’t come. Why didn’t you come, ma’am?”
“I was in Paris, my dear. I just arrived at Mountvale Hall two days ago. Augustus and I have just returned from Moscow, a fascinating place. Fortunately everyone speaks French. Isn’t that odd? There are more people living in that country than you can begin to imagine and yet all the aristocrats and all the royals, of course, speak French.”
“Ho, Mother, are you rolling over poor Sabrina?”
It was Rohan Carrington, smiling brilliantly, coming to stand behind the vision, who surely couldn’t be his mother.
“She is truly your mother, Rohan? I know it must be true in theory, but seeing her, it surely isn’t possible.”
“Yes. Amazing, isn’t it? Toby, he’s my brother-in-law, he swore he believed her to be my younger sister. Now, here’s my own glorious wife, Susannah. Susannah, my love, this is Phillip’s new wife, Sabrina.”
Sabrina, who’d been utterly blinded by Charlotte, had to shake her head. She shook hands with a very pretty young woman who appeared to be just a bit older than herself. She invited everyone into the drawing room.
“Have you gained flesh yet, Sabrina?” Susannah asked, grinning like an unrepentant sinner as she stripped off her gloves.
“So, you’ve been here before then. Oh, goodness, it’s so difficult, isn’t it? Cook took one look at me and vowed I couldn’t leave until she had me bursting out of my gowns.” Suddenly, embarrassed, she stopped talking. Cotter, fond of his new mistress not really because she was sweet and lost and rather pathetic, but fond of her because she would doubtless settle the master, if they would only speak to each other again, was absolutely delighted to see Baron Mountvale and his reinforcements. Things would happen now. He began to rub his hands together.
He stepped forward and assisted their guests with their cloaks, handing them off to two silent footmen who couldn’t take their eyes off Charlotte Carrington. He then said in a very gentle voice, “My lady, would you like Cook to send tea to the drawing room?”
“Oh yes, thank you, Cotter.” She led them into the drawing room. They all sat. Suddenly Sabrina dropped her head. Her shoulders slumped. Then she blurted out to Rohan, “I’m sorry, my lord. Phillip isn’t here. Actually, I don’t know where he is. I don’t know why I’m here, really, but it seemed the only place to come. You see, I ran away from Monmouth Abbey when he arrived there. I’ve been here three days now, but Phillip hasn’t come. Everything is a mess and I don’t know what to do.”
“I thrive on messes,” Rohan said, and kissed her fingers. “Listen, undoubtedly Phillip knows what he’s doing. He usually does.” He turned to his wife. “My dear, how is your belly at this particular moment in time?”
Susannah appeared to consult her innards. “Fine, really. It’s so amazing,” she said to Sabrina. “Rohan had to stop the carriage just an hour ago. I was so ill. That was why I couldn’t come to your wedding. Do forgive me.”
Charlotte, dowager Lady Mountvale, smiled at Sabrina and said, “I believe I must inspect the Tudor wing. It’s been a good half-dozen years since I’ve seen it. Phillip, the dear boy, told me he was going to make some changes.”
“Well, ma’am,” Sabrina said, “I believe Phillip is more interested in the medieval period.”
/> “Ah, yes, his crenelated tower,” Rohan said. “He said it bored him and so he stopped with his plans late last summer, after we all got back from Scotland.”
Charlotte waved at them. “Cotter, bring two of those lovely footmen and take me to the Tudors. The four of us can rattle through those magnificent corridors and avoid Cook’s apple tarts.” She turned to Sabrina. “You and I will become friends. Ah, those eyes of yours. It will be a pleasure to take you in hand.”
“She’s so beautiful,” Sabrina said, staring after her. “It must be difficult to be her daughter-in-law.”
“Yes, it is, particularly when it’s just the two of us and we’re walking together and all the gentlemen stop in their tracks and swoon,” Susannah said. “You know, Charlotte’s never said anything about taking me under her wing. That’s hardly fair.”
“Well, this man only swoons when he sees you. Don’t be jealous of my mother. It’s disheartening. She doesn’t tutor you because she knows it wouldn’t please me if you began to attract the gentlemen like leeches.”
Susannah laughed and poked his arm.
“I’m sorry that Phillip isn’t here, Rohan.”
“Ah well, I suspect that it shouldn’t be too long before he discovers your whereabouts.”
“He might discover where I am, but that doesn’t mean he’ll come here. Trust me.”
Rohan and Susannah Carrington just smiled. As one, they turned toward the open doorway. There, with no warning at all, stood Phillip. He nodded to them, then said easily, “That’s bloody nonsense and you know it, Sabrina. If you hadn’t run away from Monmouth Abbey like a racing cat, then you would have seen me raving around and tearing out my hair because you weren’t there.”
“Phillip!” She jumped to her feet, a hand outstretched toward him. Then she didn’t move. She just stood there, so thin and pale that it smote him.