Brotherhood 02 - Broken Promise (27 page)

Sweat poured from Austin’s face as he raced down the footpath that angled through London’s St. James’s Park. He ran the same as he had when he’d returned from the French prison more than a year ago, but now he wasn’t running from the nightmares that haunted his past. Now he ran to escape the debilitating heartache that refused to ease. Now he ran to escape the knowledge that he would live the remainder of his life without Sarah as a part of it.

He ran until the ache in his side wouldn’t let him run any longer, then bent at the waist and braced his hands on his thighs. When he looked up, the sky was a mixture of blues and pinks and purples and oranges. If she wasn’t gone by now, she would be shortly. The message the Earl of Penderly sent him said they intended to leave London at first light—in the event that Austin would like to come to say farewell to anyone in particular.

Austin knew who he meant. Penderly meant Sarah. He was giving Austin the opportunity to say his final goodbyes before she walked out of his life forever.

He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t bear to see her ride away from him and not try to stop her.

A fresh wave of pain slammed into him and he groaned a sound of torture. No, he couldn’t bear to watch her leave.

He straightened, then started to run again. As usual, he took the path closest to the lake, then headed toward the west exit. His office was near. After he washed and changed, he’d give some serious consideration to Gabe’s offer. Maybe this time he’d go to the country and manage one of Gabe’s estates like he’d repeatedly begged him to do. Maybe it would be good for him to leave London and live out his life in the peace and quiet of the country. Maybe now he could be content caring for the land while nurturing his memories of Sarah.

Suddenly, that’s where he wanted to be. Somewhere that reminded him of her.

He raced down St. Martin’s Lane to Long Acre, then to his office at 16 Charles Street. He opened the door and stepped inside, then came to a halt. His heart leaped inside his breast when he saw her standing before him. She was the most beautiful creature in all the world.

Oh, she wasn’t beautiful by Society’s standards. Her hair wasn’t golden, nor was she wearing a gown styled in the latest fashion, but none of those adornments added to Sarah’s looks. Her beauty, her
real
beauty came from what she possessed on the inside.

“I thought you would be home preparing to leave,” he said taking a step toward her.

She shook her head and answered his step with one of her own. His heart raced with anticipation.

“You don’t intend to go with Lord Penderly?”

She shook her head.

“Why not?”

“Because I would have had to leave you behind. And I can’t.”

She took another step toward him and his heart pounded like it had never thundered before.

“Do you remember when I told you that the decision I made would be the only one I could live with?” she said.

Austin nodded and closed the distance between them.

“I thought I didn’t have a choice in what I decided. I’d given my word. I’d promised Lady Fledgemont that I would always take care of Jonathan. That I would always make sure he was safe.”

Sarah lifted her gaze and looked at him.

“I thought that meant that I had to personally take care of Jonathan. That if I didn’t go with him it meant I was breaking the promise I’d given her. But I realized it wouldn’t have meant that at all.

“Jonathan belongs to Lord and Lady Penderly. He doesn’t belong to me. I can’t break a promise I had no right making.”

“Ah, Sarah.” Austin wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

“I can’t leave you, Austin. I love you too much to live my life without you.”

“And I love you.”

Every inch where they were connected burned with a fiery heat.

“I tried to imagine a life without you in it,” she said, “and couldn’t. I wouldn’t be living. I would only exist. I need you to live.”

“As I need you.”

He pulled her close. Her flesh was soft and she smelled of lilacs and roses. He slowly lowered his head and touched his lips to hers.

Their kiss was warm and tender, a mating of lovers who’d given the other their soul. When he ended the kiss, he looked down on her and caught her gaze in his. He drowned in her near-perfection, in the glimmer of her ebony eyes.

“You can trust me to always take care of you, Sarah.”

She smiled. “I’ve trusted you with my heart, Austin. Everything else matters little to me. As long as I have your love, I won’t ask for anything more.”

“Then we will both be content. For you will always have my love. That is a promise I will never break.”