Duel of Hearts (11 page)

I thought you were fixed in Norfolk,” Edward said when they'd sufficiently pommeled one another.

“And I thought you
hated
London.”

Edward laughed. “I haven't the time to explain now, I'm afraid. I've been putting up at the Fenton, which is deucedly uncomfortable, so I've finally made an appointment with a rental agent to see about renting some rooms. I'm late now. I shall leave the explanations to Miss Stanborough, who is completely familiar with my situation. Stop by the Fenton later, old fellow. We have a great deal of catching-up to do.”

They pounded each other's backs once more, and Edward ran off. Lord Fitz and Sarah continued their walk toward her home, Sarah telling Fitz about Edward's mission in London as guardian of his Lincolnshire neighbor, and Fitz telling her of his long-standing friendship with the Squire from Lincolnshire. They'd met at school, where they'd become inseparable friends, and although they'd seen each other only infrequently since, they'd kept in touch by the exchange of warm if only occasional letters. “He was to have been best man at my wedding,” Fitz explained, “but his mother took ill just at that time and died a week afterward. Well, perhaps not a week, but shortly thereafter.”

Sarah, who had been Clara's maid of honor, murmured, “Then I might have met him six years ago,” without realizing she'd said the words aloud.

Fitz cast her a quick look. Was there something between Sarah and his friend? He would have a great deal to write to his Clara that evening. “Ned's the best of good fellows, and I can't tell you how glad I am that he's in town. Don't know why he had to run off to rent rooms … he can stay with
me
. Who is the young woman he's in charge of? A relation of yours?”

“Yes, my cousin. She's the daughter of my uncle, the Earl of Daynwood, whose lands, I understand, adjoin your friend's. Her name is Corianne Lindsay. If you have time to stop in, you'll meet her in a moment.”

“Corianne Lindsay? A little blonde beauty with shockingly deep blue eyes?”

“What? Have you met her already? Really, Fitz, I shall have to write to Clara to order you home. You are getting about much too quickly.”

But Fitz was not listening to her quip. His brow knit, and his expression clouded over. “Yes,” he said absently, “I met her last night.”

Sarah looked at him sharply. “What is it, Fitz? Is there something troubling you?”

Fitz's step faltered, and he glanced over at Sarah in some embarrassment. “The girl is under Ned's guardianship, you say?”

“Yes, in a way. She is staying with
us
, you know. But Mr. Middleton is here to keep an eye on her—for her father's peace of mind.”

“I see. I suppose, then, that I ought to tell you…”

“Tell me what, Fitz?”

“I don't know how to say it, really. Perhaps you'll think it quite repugnant that
I
was there … my first night away from my Clara, too. But you see, I'd gone to my club where I ran into North—”

Sarah whitened. She could almost anticipate what would follow.

“—and he insisted so tenaciously that I go with him … saying that everyone would think me henpecked and unmanly if I refused … so … I went.”

“To Mrs. Saxon's?” Sarah asked frankly.

He raised his brows in surprise, and then he nodded glumly. “I felt like a fool and a cad all evening, and, believe me, I left within an hour despite all North's devilish ragging.” He looked at her shamefacedly, his eyes almost pleading for her understanding.

Sarah smiled at him wanly and squeezed his hand. “I know,” she said quietly. “Lord North can sometimes be … a problem. But, Fitz … were you going to say that
Corianne
was there?”

“Yes, she was. North introduced me. Can't believe that Lady Stanborough would think that's the proper place for a girl like that.”

“I assure you, Fitz, that Mama knows nothing about it,” Sarah confessed, deeply troubled.

A sudden change in the wind caused them to hurry their steps. They walked on for a moment in thoughtful silence. “I suppose I ought to … well, perhaps not, but … do you think I should tell Ned?” Lord Fitz asked.

Sarah considered for a moment. The first time Cory had gone to Mrs. Saxon's
salon
, the girl had been ignorant of the significance. But
this
time, she'd gone with the full knowledge of the danger. The matter was therefore a great deal more serious than before. “No, Fitz. Thank you, but I think this is a subject which I'd better discuss with Mr. Middleton myself. And soon.”

Chapter Eight

M
ARTIN
, E
DWARD'S HEAD GROOM
, had been impressed into service as Edward's “man” for the London trip. He acted as valet, butler, groom, confidante and companion and still had not enough to do. It was therefore good news to him that the Squire was moving out of the Fenton. For Mr. Middleton had informed him that he was going to share a suite of rooms on Curzon Street with Lord Fitzsimmons. It was a large apartment which Lord Fitz kept for his convenience on trips to town. Martin was quite pleased—or as pleased as he could be away from his horses and the green hills of Lincolnshire. The past few weeks had been unbearably dull for both master and man. Mr. Middleton had no acquaintance in town except for the family at Stanborough House, and therefore there had been little to do. Lately, some invitations had begun to arrive for the Squire from some of the people he'd met while escorting Miss Corianne, but he'd turned down most of them unless he'd undertaken to accompany her. Now, however, with Lord Fitz to keep him company, Martin had little doubt that the pattern of their days would be much more active.

As he packed the clothes, Martin whistled happily, glancing occasionally across at the Squire who sat at the window reading the morning
Times
. “When shall I take out the carriage, sir?” he asked, eager to be gone from the staid Fenton. “In about an hour?”

“No, don't hurry, Martin,” Middleton responded. “Fitz won't be home until later this afternoon. He's seeing his solicitor this morning.”

There was a tap at the door. Martin opened it to find the hotel footman standing there, a look of restrained disapproval on his face. “There's a lydy downstairs says she wants to see Mr. Middleton,” he said coldly.

“A lady?” Martin echoed in surprise.

“A lydy. Alone. Sittin' in the lobby waitin' for 'im.”

Edward, puzzled, threw his paper aside. “Did she give a name?” he asked, coming to the door.

“No, sir, she didn't.”

“I see. Well, tell her I'll be down directly.”

He put on his coat quickly and went downstairs. Sarah was sitting primly on one of a number of Sheraton drawing room chairs which lined the walls of the ornate lobby. She looked elegantly graceful in a plum-colored velvet pelisse and a fetching bonnet of natural straw trimmed with purple ribbons. A number of passers-by cast sidelong looks at her. Perhaps, like the footman, they disapproved of a young lady who permitted herself to make an appearance in a public room without escort. But Edward thought their glances were more likely of admiration than of censure. No one with an ounce of sense, he thought, would find anything to criticize in a creature who carried herself with such an air of serene composure.

But Sarah felt anything but composed. She had taken upon herself a most unpleasant mission, and she was not at all sure that she would be thanked for her pains. Nevertheless, she looked up at Edward with a smile to match his welcoming one, feeling comforted by the warmth of his expression. “I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Mr. Middleton,” she said, rising, “but I have a matter of some urgency to bring to your attention. Is there … somewhere we can go … somewhere private…?”

Edward hesitated. He could scarcely invite her to his room. “The only place I can think of is a small writing room just across the lobby that is usually deserted,” he said. “Shall we try it?”

She nodded and preceded him across the lobby. Fortunately, the room was unoccupied. Edward led her to a chair placed before the writing table, the top of which was inlaid with squares of polished leather. He pulled a chair from another desk and set it across the table from her. While he did so, she looked around the room with approval. “This is a lovely hotel, is it not? I hope you are comfortable here, Mr. Middleton.”

He grinned. “I suspect it was designed more for the comfort and pleasure of ladies than for the likes of me. The furniture is all too small. My feet hang over the end of the bed, you know. But I've been comfortable enough. However, I move away this afternoon. You've caught me in the nick of time, Miss Stanborough.”

Sarah's heart seemed to stop. “Move away? Not … you're not going back to L-Lincolnshire?” she managed.

“Oh, no. I'm moving in with Fitz. He says his accommodations will be more to my liking. Since we intend to spend a good deal of time in each other's company, he says the new arrangement will be more convenient.”

“What a good scheme,” she said in relief. She looked at him closely. “I'm afraid that my mother and I have been thoughtless, Mr. Middleton. You must have been very lonely here. We should have made an effort to entertain you more frequently.”

“Not at all. This trip was designed for Cory's entertainment, not mine, and I'm most grateful for all you're doing for her. I assume, however, that you didn't come here to inquire after
me
. Is something wrong with Cory?” His face clouded over with sudden anxiety. “She hasn't taken ill, has she?”

“No, no, her health is excellent. It's … something else entirely.” She met his worried, questioning eyes and lowered hers in some embarrassment. “It's something I find a little awkward to discuss.”

“Please, Miss Stanborough, don't stand on points with me,” he urged. “I'd be thankful if you just came out with it … whatever it is.”

A quick study of his face convinced her that a direct approach was the most suitable for so straightforward a man. “Well, then, sir, without roundaboutation, I must tell you that Corianne has taken to associating with people of … questionable reputation. Although these associations can lead to dangerous consequences in themselves, I don't mean to imply that Cory's behavior has ever been less than ladylike—”

“Good God!” Edward burst out, wincing. “I certainly
hope
not!”

“But even if she'd behaved in an
exemplary
fashion, the stain of such companionship is bound to rub off on her. I know I sound like a veritable prig, Mr. Middleton, but the gossips of London—and I assure you that there are many of those, even in the highest circles—are bound to learn of this before long, and they will sully her name beyond repair.” Quickly she outlined the details of what she knew of Corianne's two visits to Mrs. Saxon's in Ingalls' company.

Edward stared at her for a long moment and then swore under his breath. “Damnation! I
knew
—” He checked himself and slapped an angry hand on the table. “I beg your pardon, Miss Stanborough, but where has your mother
been
all this time? Does she have no control over the girl?”

Sarah colored, bit her lip and lowered her head. “My mother is not very … I mean, she really is rather inexperienced in … that is—”

Edward, hardly hearing her, got up and began to pace about the small room with angry strides. “Of
course
she's inexperienced. This is just the sort of thing I warned Lord Lindsay about. Cory is too lively and impetuous to be left in the care of a woman who's never had to cope with the sort of problems that she can generate. I'm sure
your
conduct never gave your mother a moment's concern.”

Sarah felt a sting of irritated pain. Was he implying that she was too dull and conventional ever to have flouted authority? He was so foolishly besotted over the spoiled, coquettish Corianne that he found even her
scrapes and excesses
to be merely a result of her overwhelming charm! “I will take that as a compliment,” she couldn't help retorting coldly, “even though it suggests I lack your beloved charge's … er …
joie de vivre
.”

“
Joie de vivre!
” he repeated in disgust. “I don't see how you can call Cory's behavior the result of
joie de vivre
. My beloved charge, as you call her, is a spoiled little chit who should be given a good hiding and hauled back home!”

Sarah gazed at him with sudden compassion. The poor fellow was so completely immersed in his tormented feelings for the girl that he missed entirely the exposure Sarah had made of her own wounds. “Yes, you
can
haul her back home,” she said thoughtfully, scarcely realizing that she spoke aloud, “so that she'll be properly shielded from temptation and will eventually marry
you
.”

Edward stopped in his tracks, whitened, and stared at her. “
What
did you say?”

Sarah's hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, I'm
sorry
! I didn't mean … I
never
should have—!”

Edward dropped into his chair. “No, don't apologize. I appreciate a little frankness. What makes you think I want to marry Cory?”

“Don't you?”

“No, I don't.”

Sarah shot him a challenging glance. “I thought you wanted to be frank. It's plain as pikestaff you're in love with her.”

Edward, confounded, looked at her in alarm. “Is it so plain to everyone as all that?”

“Not to everyone. Not to anyone but me, as far as I know,” Sarah said kindly.

“How did you—?”

She smiled. “It's in your eyes when you look at her. A sharp observer can usually tell.”

“I see.” He put his elbows on the table and propped his chin up with his hands, studying Sarah with new appreciation. “You're an unusual young lady, Miss Stanborough. And, I think, a wise one. But although your sharp observations may be correct, and I may love Cory as you say, I assure you I have no intentions of marrying her.”