Part 6 (1/2)
”But I knowed the mistress'd never have me back. 'Sides, I couldn't face Billy arter leaving him like that. I wanted to thank Adam and I on'y knowed one way to do it. First off, he wouldn't have me. I thought I weren't good enow for him and I got downright mopish and he were comforting me, like, and ... well, a man ain't a stone. Oh, miss, he were that kind and gentle. I never knowed it could be like that.”
Sarah felt a blush stealing up her cheeks, but not for the world would she stop the flow of artless confidences. She murmured a word of encouragement.
”The best of 'em,” Peggy went on, ”the ones that don't hurt you, they don't care how you feel just so's they feel good. Adam's different. He reely cares if you enjoy it. When I was living in Chelsea, I talked to some of the other girls. There's lots of gentlemen have villas in Chelsea for their convenients. I reckon there's not one in a hundred like Adam, as tries to make you feel good. Course, a respectable lady like you wouldn't understand, miss. A gentleman don't expect his wife to get any pleasure from it. 'Twouldn't be proper.”
If Sarah's face had grown any hotter, it would have burst into flame. She attempted to change the subject.
”Billy must love you greatly to have kept searching till he found you.”
”D'you think so, miss? I know I oughta marry Billy, if he'll have me, but he's a simple fellow. He won't try to please me, nor won't know how.”
”Could you not teach him?”
”Like as not he wouldn't listen.”
Sarah found herself back at the same subject. It was not one she could broach with Billy.
”I'll see if the vicar will talk to him,” she suggested doubtfully. She was afraid that Jonathan's knowledge
might be as meagre as her own. ”Is that the only objection you have to marrying him?”
”I want to stay wi' Adam!”
”Lord Cheverell intends to take a bride soon.”
”That won't make a ha'p'orth o' difference,” said Peggy cynically.
”He says it will. He told me he does not mean to keep a mistress once he is wed.”
The girl's face fell and she bit her lip. ”Well, he's not like the others, so maybe he won't. Is he going to
marry you, miss?”
With great difficulty, Sarah kept her countenance. ”He is to choose among several young ladies visiting Cheve House. I fear you must face the fact that his a.s.sociation with you is at an end, my dear. He will
make fair provision for you if you will not have Billy, or give you a dowry if you will. Which is it to be? It is useless for me to try to persuade Billy to forgive you if you do not mean to accept him.”
”You reely think he loves me?”
”Can you think of any other reason for a servant to risk transportation by attacking a peer?”
”He's a plucky lad a' right, ain't he?” Peggy was convinced. ”I'll wed him if he'll have me. On'y I wisht I
was a grand young lady, fit for his lords.h.i.+p's bride.” She sighed.
”I am sure you have made the right decision. Now, you had best spend the night with Nellie, and in the
morning we shall consider what is to be done next.”
”You're as kind as he is, miss. There's plenty o' ladies wouldn't even let me speak to their maids.”
”I rely on you to persuade her that running away to London is not a good idea. Off you go, now, and tell
Mrs. Hicks I wish to see Billy as soon as he returns.”
Sarah hoped for a few minutes alone to decide on her approach to the young groom, but he came in
almost at once.
”You were very quick,” she said.
”'Tain't fur, and I were in a hurry to see where his lords.h.i.+p lives. 'Tis a mighty fancy house. No wonder
he won over my Peggy wi' his fine gifts and promises.”
”That is not at all what happened,” Sarah a.s.sured him. She fixed her eyes on her clasped hands and somehow managed not to blush as she repeated to the young man the shocking story she had heard from Adam and Peggy.
”She told me as he rescued her,” he said doubtfully. ”I thought she were just trying to protect him.”
”I am certain it is true.”
”If you says that's how it were, miss, I'll believe it. You're a fine lady, and a kind one, too. Anyone c'n
see as you're not the sort to lead a man astray. Told me she loved me, she did, then run off to London.” ”She suffered greatly for her foolishness.” ”Why di'n't she come back home, then, arter his lords.h.i.+p saved her?” ”She thought you would not want her. She had nowhere to go, so his lords.h.i.+p took her under his protection.” ”Fine words, miss, but what he done was make her his harlot, begging your pardon. I s'll knock him down agin wi' pleasure, make no doubt.” ”Pray do not, Billy! He tried to persuade her to go home. She told me so herself. She chose to stay with him.” ”Then what am I to do, miss?” Bewilderment succeeded anger in the poor fellow's eyes. ”I wanted to make an honest woman o' her, but I won't take an unwilling wife.”
Sarah wondered how to break it to him that Peggy was now willing to return, but only because Adam was leaving her. To her relief, she heard Jonathan's voice in the hall. ”The vicar is back at last,” she said. ”Wait here while I explain the situation to him, and then we shall see what he has to suggest.” She hurried out. Jonathan had just set his hat and gloves on the hall table. He turned at her step. ”Sarah! What is going on? You look f.a.gged to death, my dear, and Mrs. Hicks is muttering dire predictions.” He folded her in his arms, and she clung to him wordlessly for a moment before she pulled away. ”Come into the parlour and sit down while I tell you. You must be tired, too, after driving all that way and listening to the Bishop for hours on end.”
With Billy waiting in the study, she told her brother only his and Peggy's part of the story, reserving the rest of the day's happenings for later. ”So you see,” she ended, ”he may not be ready to marry her after all if he knows she will only have him because she cannot have Adam. And he may regard the offer of a marriage settlement as bribery, though I know it is just Adam's kindness. He said he will provide for Peggy whether she marries Billy or no. I do believe, though, that I have persuaded Billy not to attack Adam on sight.”
”I shall sort it out,” said her brother, unruffled. ”He is in the study?”