No Decent Gentleman (6 page)

"I do not consider church services a pleasure under any circumstances," Sabrina said with a rueful smile. "Dancing is another activity which requires a partner. I can't think of anything else. Can you?"

"I can think of several others," Adam said in a husky voice as they walked into the dining room.

"Such as?" she asked in innocence.

"I'll tell you another day," he answered with laughter lurking in his blue eyes.

"Are these activities disreputable?" Sabrina asked.

"Exceedingly."

Adam sat at the head of the table, and Sabrina sat on his right side. The dining room seemed so large with only the two of them and the majordomo.

Standing near the sideboard, Forbes served them himself. There were baked salmon steaks enlivened with onion relish and vinaigrette, stewed tomatoes, stuffed mushrooms, saffron buns with butter, and Madeira wine.

Catching her eye, Adam raised his wine goblet in salute. Familiar with this dinner custom, Sabrina raised her own goblet to return his salute.

God shield me
, Sabrina thought, staring down at her plate.
I forget how to eat
.

She felt awkward to be dining alone with a man. Suddenly, moving a forkful of food from her plate to her mouth became the most difficult task in the world.

"The salmon tastes delicious," Adam remarked. "Did you—?"

"The accolades belong to the cook," Sabrina told him. "However, I did prepare the dessert."

"And what would that be?"

"Cherry syllabub, nougat, and Turkish delight."

"Nougat and Turkish delight?" Adam echoed, a boyish smile lighting his whole expression.

"I see that you adore sweets."

"Nougats taste like French sunshine in summer," Adam said. "Those rose-scented Turkish delights remind me of faraway places and exotic indulgences."

"You sound dreamy, my lord," Sabrina said, charmed by his words.

"I would never describe myself as dreamy," Adam replied, giving her an amused look. "I am a well-traveled owner of shipping lines."

"Tell me about your travels," Sabrina said, glad to have found a suitable topic for conversation.

"I've seen most of Europe," Adam told her. "I've even sailed to New York once."

"You sailed to America?" Sabrina echoed, sweeping him a flirtatious look from beneath the thick fringe of her coppery lashes. "How very impressive. What was New York like?"

Adam shrugged. "People are basically the same all over the world," he answered. "Only the climate and the customs change."

"How did you become involved in the shipping business?" she asked.

"I decided to make use of connections I had in the East," Adam answered. "The business grew, and now my ships sail all over the world."

"What connections?" Sabrina asked.

Adam gave her a boyishly charming smile and then said, "A successful businessman never divulges his connections lest he lose them."

"What about your family?" she asked.

"Uncle Charles and Aunt Belladonna are the only family I have left," Adam told her. "My parents and my brother are dead."

"I'm so sorry," Sabrina gushed, placing her hand over his, her heart wrenching at the thought of his losing everyone he loved. "How did they—?"

"Speaking about my loss is painful," Adam interrupted.

"I understand," Sabrina said sympathetically. Then she changed the subject, asking, "What are the chances that Prince Adolphus will help my sister and me retain control of the Savage estates?"

"I predict Prince Adolphus will be successful in circumventing that ridiculous law," Adam assured her. "That one is as bad as bastards being unable to inherit."

Cringing inwardly at the word
bastard
, Sabrina dropped her gaze to her plate and lost her appetite. She despised that particular word and all that it implied about her less than respectable origins.

"Would you care to walk outside instead of retiring to the drawing room?" Adam asked, as if sensing that she was upset.

Sabrina lifted her gaze to his but saw no pity or superiority in his eyes. "I'd like that," she said.

After retrieving their cloaks in the foyer, Adam and Sabrina stepped out of the front door and began strolling down the lane that led to the public road. Though the unusually warm weather had held, there was a crispness in the air.

Sabrina gazed up at the night sky. Again, no moon shone overhead, only hundreds of tiny, distant stars.

"Tell me about yourself," Sabrina said, trying to make conversation.

"There is nothing to tell."

"I know you are a successful businessman and a peer of the realm," Sabrina said.

Adam nodded. "That much is true. As you know, my mother was the duke's sister, and my father hailed from another country."

"You are only half English," Sabrina said. "Where did your father come from?"

"Near the Mediterranean."

Sabrina suppressed the feeling that he was hedging on the truth. "The south of France?" she persisted.

Adam seemed to hesitate, but then inclined his head.

"Did you always live in England?" she asked.

"I was ten years old when my father died," he answered. "My mother sent me to be educated in England. Then she passed out of my life too."

"So young to be orphaned," Sabrina said. Glancing sidelong at him, she asked, "Why do you carry the St. Aubyn name instead of your father's?"

"My uncle adopted me when he made me his heir," Adam answered. "Uncle Charles's wife died miscarrying his child, and he never remarried."

"How sad for both of you," Sabrina replied. "I'm glad that you have each other. How did you—"

Adam stopped walking and turned to her, saying, "You are very curious, Princess."

"I apologize for prying," Sabrina said, flustered by his intense gaze.

"Ask me anything."

"Where did you get that scar?"

"Eton," he answered, touching the trace of scar that ran from the corner of his mouth to his right cheekbone.

Ask him anything, Sabrina thought, but he won't give me a straight answer. "How did you get it?" she asked.

"I was involved in a fight." Adam stepped closer and gazed down at her. In a husky voice he asked, "Where did you get those disarming green eyes?"

Sabrina blushed furiously. She could feel the heat emanating from her cheeks and hoped the darkness would cover her embarrassment.

Without warning, Adam reached out and gently placed the palm of his hand against her cheek. "Why are you blushing?" he asked. "I hope I'm not making you feel uncomfortable."

If possible, Sabrina felt her blush deepening. Redheads were absolutely the worst blushers in the world.

"I spent an hour in your father's study just staring at your portrait," Adam said in a husky voice. "You have the most arresting face and eyes."

How should she reply to that? Sabrina wondered, feeling awkward. She dropped her gaze to the ground between them. Somehow, his staring at her portrait made her feel vulnerable. No man had ever spoken so intimately to her.

"Look at me," Adam said quietly.

Sabrina raised her gaze to his chest.

"A little higher, please," he added with laughter lurking in his voice.

Sabrina lifted her gaze to his and became mesmerized by his penetrating blue eyes. When he dipped his head closer to her face, his clean, spicy bay scent intoxicated her senses and her heartbeat quickened. His lips were periously close to claiming hers.

"The past few days have been difficult," Sabrina said, stepping back a pace. "I would like to retire now."

Adam inclined his head. "Run along inside. I want to steal a few more minutes before facing my business ledgers."

The short distance to the front door seemed like a million miles away. Forcing herself to walk with slow dignity, Sabrina felt his gaze on her every step of the way and berated herself for retreating from what would have been her first kiss.

When she entered the foyer, Forbes was there to take her cloak. "His lordship will be returning shortly to work on his ledgers," she told the majordomo. "Set a tray of nougats, Turkish delights, and port in the study."

"Yes, my lady."

Taking a night candle in hand, Sabrina climbed the stairs to the third floor where her bedchamber was located. She set the candle on the dresser, but instead of changing into her nightshift, she crossed the room to the window.

Sabrina gently drew the curtain aside and peered into the night. In the drive below her window, she spied the telltale glow of the marquess's cigar. The glow seemed like a lonely firefly trying in vain to brighten the night.

The sight of that solitary pinpoint of light made her feel strangely sad. Sabrina had the feeling that, in spite of his immense wealth and title, the marquess was as lonely as she.

Sabrina smiled at herself. What foolishness was this? The Marquess of Stonehurst was exactly what he appeared to be—a worldly aristocrat who had never known a moment of insecurity in his life.

"Here she comes now," Aunt Tess said.

Walking into the drawing room the next afternoon at teatime, Sabrina sat down beside her sister on the sofa. Across from them sat Aunt Tess and Lady DeFaye. Uncle Charles looked comfortable in the upholstered chair near the sofa, while Adam stood near the hearth.

A platter of cucumber sandwiches and a plum cake sat on the rectangular table perched between the two sofas. Forbes poured tea into porcelain cups from the service's matching teapot.

Sabrina glanced at the marquess. His attention was on Forbes. Without a word, Adam caught the major-domo's eye and gave him a pointed look. Forbes left the drawing room and closed the door behind him.

Sabrina thought that was odd. In her memory, nobody had ever closed the door during teatime.

The Duke of Kingston peered over his shoulder as if verifying that the door was closed. Then he turned his full attention on Sabrina and Courtney.

"Rather than boring you with all of those tedious legal terms, I decided to tell you in my own words what your father's last will and codicil states," the duke began. "Of course, you are welcome to read it yourselves if you wish. I hope you have no objection to Belladonna and Adam listening since they will be indirectly involved in this matter."

Adam St. Aubyn involved in her father's last will? Sabrina thought in surprise. Uncle Charles probably meant receivership of the Savage properties.

"Sabrina?"

"I have no objection," she said, focusing on him.

"Your father designated Tess and me as guardians until you wed or reach the age of twenty-one," the Duke of Kingston informed her, smiling fondly at her aunt. "In the event that we die before that time, Prince Adolphus will become your guardian."

"Prince Adolphus will be our guardian?" Courtney echoed in excited surprise.

"Only if both Aunt Tess and Uncle Charles die," Sabrina said, touching her sister's hand. "We wouldn't want that to happen."

"Oh, no," Courtney said. "I only meant—"

"We know what you meant," Sabrina said. "Please continue, Uncle Charles."

"Your father wanted stipends for Courtney and Tess placed in trust with Adam," the duke continued. "I suppose he judged that a successful businessman would be wise enough to make those stipends grow through investments. The remainder of the Savage assets are bequeathed to you, Sabrina, because you are the oldest child. With Prince Adolphus's assistance, your father managed to obtain royal permission to pass his title to you rather than let it die with him. Child, you are now the Countess of Abingdon."

Sabrina was so surprised by this turn of events she didn't know what to say. Courtney giggled. "Must we curtsey to you?" she asked her sister.

Sabrina gave her an unamused look.

"Does this mean you'll never cook for us again?" Courtney asked.

"I will always cook and bake for you," Sabrina answered with a smile. "How could I not when you are so flatteringly appreciative?"

"Tell them about the codicil." Aunt Tess spoke for the first time.

"Your father believed that life must always move forward," the duke told them. "His codicil states that he did not want his death to interfere with the living. In other words, he wanted his daughters' coming-outs, betrothals, and weddings to go on as planned without waiting the usual year of mourning."

"Meeting the codicil's terms will be easy," Sabrina said. "Courtney and I have no plans to do any of those things."

"You are wrong, Princess," Adam spoke up.

"What do you mean?" Sabrina asked, meeting his gaze.

"Courtney and you will come out in the spring," Belladonna explained, drawing their attention. "We'll need to leave for London after the first of the year, though. Both of you need a completely new wardrobe."

"I am not going to London," Sabrina stated. "I am in mourning."

"So am I," Courtney agreed.

"Would you ignore Henry's last wishes?" Aunt Tess asked.

"No, but—"

"I agree with Tess," Uncle Charles announced. "You honor your father's memory by doing what he wished for you."

"In London you will have the opportunity to meet Prince Adolphus," Belladonna pointed out. "The prince is an influential man with the power to declare your father's death an accident. You do want his body moved to hallowed ground?"

"I want to prove my father did not commit suicide," Sabrina said.

"Discovering the truth may take some time," Aunt Tess reminded her.

"You will help Sabrina, won't you, Adam?" Belladonna asked.

"I've already promised to do what I can," Adam answered, his blue gaze fixed on Sabrina.

"Then everything is settled," Belladonna announced, taking charge. "Tess and the girls will take up residence with me in London. Charles, you can move in with Adam."

"That sounds reasonable if Adam doesn't mind," the duke replied.

Adam smiled at his uncle. "You are welcome to be my guest for as long as you like."

Sabrina stared at her hands folded in her lap. Within the short span of one week, her entire world had gone spinning out of control. And then an unpleasant thought occurred to her.

"Eventually, London society will learn that we are not who they think we are," Sabrina said, beginning to wring her hands in her lap. "Being on the receiving end of a social cut would be too humiliating to endure."