No Decent Gentleman (4 page)

"Too bad we cannot turn back the hands of time," Belladonna said, a wistful tone to her voice. "At my age, though, I'm uncertain if I have the energy for the social whirl."

"You haven't aged a day," Tess said.

"God bless you, darling," Belladonna replied.

Sabrina glanced at Courtney, who rolled her eyes heavenward. Uncle Charles and Adam smiled politely.

"Belladonna, these are my nieces, Sabrina and Courtney," Aunt Tess introduced them.

The Savage sisters curtsied respectfully.

"Why don't you go off by yourselves and catch up on your news?" Uncle Charles suggested to the two women.

"I'll escort you to your bedchamber," Tess said, taking the other woman's arm and guiding her toward the staircase. "It's so nice to have company. Since Henry's wife died ten years ago, I've been too busy helping with the girls to keep in touch with my old friends. I want to hear a decade's worth of gossip."

Belladonna paused, flicked a glance at Adam, and called, "Courtney, darling. Come with us and hear about the old days."

"I can tell what you are thinking by your expression of consternation," Uncle Charles said gently to Sabrina, after the three women had disappeared up the stairs. "My sister meant no offense by not including you. She knew we had business to discuss, and you are the official head of the Savage family."

"Would you care to have our discussion in my father's study?" Sabrina asked.

"Adam will take care of that for me," Uncle Charles said. "I would like to rest awhile. My heart is weak, and all of this excitement has tired me."

Sabrina nodded. "Forbes, please escort His Grace to his bedchamber."

The majordomo stepped forward. "This way, "Your Grace."

Watching her, Adam knew she was feeling awkward. Her gaze was downcast and a high blush colored her cheeks. How long had it been since he'd seen a sincere blush color a woman's cheeks?

"Shall we go to your father's study?" he asked.

She raised her gaze to his and nodded. Adam fell into step beside her as they walked down the long corridor to the earl's study. He stopped short when he heard her say, "This is where we found him hanging from one of the overhead beams."

"You found your father?" Adam asked, staring at her pale face.

"Lord Briggs and Forbes broke into the study through the window. Edgar warned me not to enter until they could cut him down, but I—"

"Would you prefer going to another chamber instead?' ' Gazing down at her, Adam knew what she was going to say before she said it.

Sabrina squared her shoulders, lifted her chin a notch, and shook her head. "I must go into that room again someday. It may as well be now."

"You're certain?"

She gave him a wobbly smile and nodded. Then she led him through the mahogany door into the chamber.

Located in the Tudor section of the mansion with heavy-beamed rafters overhead, the study emphasized a sense of comfort and could very well have been used as a smoking room. Bookshelves, filled to capacity, lined three-quarters of the walls. Portraits of earlier earls and countesses adorned the walls above the bookcases. Chairs and a sofa had been drawn close to a black marble fireplace, but the portrait above its mantel caught Adam's attention. It was Sabrina and Courtney. Opposite the fireplace was the earl's mahogany desk. On it sat a table globe, quill pen, and Sheffield-plate wax jack for melting sealing wax. On the wall to the left of the desk were two floor-to-ceiling windows.

"Your sister and you make a fetching picture in your blue gowns," Adam remarked, his gaze fixed on the portrait over the fireplace.

"Father had that commissioned last year," Sabrina told him. "He said he wanted our images in here so that he could look at us after we were gone."

"Gone where?"

Sabrina blushed. "Married."

"That doesn't sound like a man contemplating suicide," Adam remarked.

"My father would never have taken his own life," Sabrina said vehemently, then added in a more subdued voice, "Would you care to sit in front of the hearth?"

Adam watched her sit down on the sofa and arrange the skirt of her black gown. In spite of her fiery copper hair and emerald eyes, the somber color made her skin appear pale. He sensed her weariness at having to be strong for the sake of her sister and her aunt, and his heart went out to her.

Adam knew etiquette demanded he sit on the chair facing the sofa. He knew she was expecting him to sit there. And he also knew he was about to startle her, but he couldn't help himself. She attracted him as no woman ever had.

Adam sat down on the sofa beside her, so close, the side of his breeches brushed the skirt of her gown. He smiled when she quickly turned toward him with a horrified expression on her face.

In an instant, Sabrina bolted to her feet and announced in an insulted tone of voice, ''Though customs may have changed in London, we in the countryside still adhere to rules of propriety. Sitting so close beside me is improper, especially in view of the fact that we are practically strangers." With those words, she sat down on the chair facing the sofa.

"I apologize for my boldness," Adam said, with an unrepentant smile. He knew from her expression that she realized his apology was insincere. "As you may know, I own many businesses." He spoke up quickly before she could scold him again. "My major holding is in shipping. I can never completely escape my responsibilities. Too many men depend upon me for their living. Would you mind if I used this room to conduct my business while I am in residence?"

"You are very welcome to use this chamber," Sabrina said, appearing to relax.

"As my uncle intimated, he and I have no secrets from each other," Adam went on, reaching into his coat pocket to produce a paper. He passed it to her, saying, "This is the message your father sent my uncle."

Sabrina perused it and then looked up, saying, "Yes, its tone is urgent, but I have no idea what it concerns. The date it was written—"

"What about the date?" Adam prodded her.

"I believe the date is the same day my father rejected Edgar's offer to marry me," she said, "but I'm positive this note has nothing to do with that."

"How did the baron react to the bad news?" Adam asked.

Sabrina shrugged. "Edgar believed my father would change his mind."

"And he wasn't upset about it?"

She turned and looked at him. His question had obviously surprised her. "You can't really believe that Edgar—?"

"If I am going to help clear your father's name, I must know something about the day he died," Adam explained, and smiled at her reassuringly "Are you up to this conversation or should we delay it?"

Sabrina nodded. "What do you need to know?"

"Your father died by—"

"Hanging," Sabrina told him. "He was hanging from that rafter over there."

Adam felt like applauding her courage. "Was there a chair nearby?" he asked.

She made a sweeping gesture to the chamber, saying, "The room is filled with chairs."

"I meant, near his body."

"The desk chair lay on its side near him," Sabrina answered.

"Was there anything else unusual about the way you found your father?" he asked.

"He'd locked himself inside this room," she admitted. "As I said earlier, Edgar and Forbes needed to break the window. We're still waiting to have it repaired," she said, indicating the boarded-up section of the window.

"But there was no suicide note?"

Sabrina shook her head.

"Uncle Charles and I will do whatever we can," Adam assured her. "However, the chair and the locked door indicate suicide."

"My father did
not
commit suicide," Sabrina insisted, her emerald eyes flashing.

"Uncle Charles sent a message to Prince Adolphus asking for his help," Adam said, ignoring her outburst. "We'll know the status of the Savage estates in a few days."

"I am very grateful," Sabrina said more calmly. Then, in a voice tinged with doubt, she asked, "You don't actually believe my father would commit suicide, do you?"

Adam decided to be honest. "Everything you say points to one thing; your father's death was no accident."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Only time will tell us the answers we seek, Princess."

She gave him a wobbly smile. "I am no princess."

"You are lovely enough to be one," Adam said in a husky voice.

Sabrina lost her smile. She bolted off the chair and said, "I do not appreciate your boldness. Your previous apology doesn't give you the right to do it again."

Adam inclined his head.

Without another word, Sabrina turned and walked across the chamber to the door. She used every ounce of inner strength she possessed to keep from slamming it behind her.

Though he was undoubtedly one of the handsomest men she'd ever seen, the marquess was impossible, Sabrina decided as she marched down the length of corridor toward the foyer. He didn't behave as a marquess should. His sitting beside her on the sofa had been a shocking breach of etiquette, especially since they'd been alone in the study. No decent gentleman would place a lady in such a precarious position.

Sabrina slowed her pace, and smiled grudgingly as her anger melted. No man except Edgar had ever complimented her so boldly. Yes, the marquess had no right to speak intimately, but her father would have had no death knell if it hadn't been for him. She should be grateful. Adam St. Aubyn had defended her against the vicar's wrath. Edgar Briggs had not.

As if her thoughts had conjured the baron, Sabrina saw him stepping into the mansion just as she reached the foyer. Suddenly, Edgar Briggs with his blond hair and hazel eyes didn't seem attractive to her any longer. Was that because of his failure to defend her against the vicar the preceding evening? Or was she comparing him to the Marquess of Stonehurst and his dark good looks?

Instead of greeting him, Sabrina turned first to the majordomo, saying, "Forbes, please brew a cup of my special hawthorne tea and bring it to me here. Don't forget to put a few of my lemon cookies on the tray too."

"Yes, my lady." The majordomo disappeared down the corridor.

"Good afternoon, Edgar," Sabrina said, turning to the baron.

"Sweetheart, I want to apologize for failing you last night," Edgar said, lifting her hand to his lips. "I realize now that I should have taken your side against the vicar."

"Why didn't you?"

He seemed at a momentary loss for words. "Well, I suppose because I've been taught from birth to respect and obey the clergy."

"I forgive you," Sabrina said, managing a faint smile for him.

"Have your guests arrived?" he asked.

"Yes, they are settling in." Then, for some unknown reason, she lied to him. "I'm going to spend the remainder of the afternoon in my chamber."

"Has your father's will been read?" Edgar asked.

"His Grace wasn't feeling well so we are going to do that tomorrow," Sabrina answered.

Edgar gave her a reassuring smile. "Even if the Crown auctions your lands, I will purchase them back for you."

"Only if you can meet the price," Sabrina said, unable to keep the worry out of her voice.

"You should trust in me, sweetheart," Edgar said, raising her hands to his lips. "No one will bid as high as I will for your lands."

"How do you know?"

Edgar grinned. "The land is not as valuable to anyone else as it is to me because I own the adjacent property."

Sabrina nodded in understanding. "With Uncle Charles's connections, the Savage lands may not be auctioned, but I am grateful for your concern. Why don't you return here for dinner the day after tomorrow?"

"The day
after
tomorrow?" Edgar echoed, clearly surprised by her halfhearted invitation. "Are you still angry with me?"

"His Grace will probably pass the remainder of the day resting," Sabrina explained, feeling a bit guilty about putting him off. "Tomorrow he will read my father's will and the codicil. So—"

"So I should be present for that," he interrupted.

"That is for the family only," she told him.

"I am practically family," he argued.

Sabrina suddenly felt irritated at her longtime friend. He was making this difficult time even more difficult for her.

"Practically family is not family," Sabrina told him. "Besides, my father refused your suit."

"Why are you pushing me out of your life?" Edgar asked, his voice filled with hurt and disappointment.

"Please, let me grieve for my father in my own way and in my own time," Sabrina said, a catch of raw emotion in her voice.

The baron remained silent, but then inclined his head.

"Return to Abingdon Manor the day after tomorrow," Sabrina said, touching his arm. "If I need you before then, I'll send for you."

Clearly unhappy, Edgar Briggs walked out of the mansion. Watching him, Sabrina felt unexpectedly relieved at the thought of not seeing him for a while.

"My lady?"

Sabrina turned around at the sound of the major-domo's voice. "I'll take that," she said, lifting the tray out of his hands and crossing the foyer to the stairs. She knew Edgar's curiosity about her father's will stemmed from his concern for her welfare, but his possessive-ness was annoying her.

When she reached the third floor, Sabrina walked the length of the corridor and stopped at the duke's bedchamber. She cocked her head to one side against the door, trying to gauge whether he was asleep or not, and then knocked. She couldn't bear to wait another moment to ask him her questions.

"Yes?" she heard the duke call.

"It's Sabrina."

"Come in, child."

Balancing the tray on one arm, Sabrina opened the door and stepped inside. She smiled when she spied him sitting in one of the upholstered chairs in front of the hearth. After placing the tray on the table next to him, she sat in the chair opposite his.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Much better. Come the morning, I'll be fine."

"I've brought you my special hawthorne tea, which strengthens the heart," Sabrina told him. "You should drink one cup of hawthorne tea each day."

"It will strengthen my heart?" he asked skeptically.