Part 7 (1/2)

aHowever, let me add, that if forced, I would make a formidable enemy, as would my friends.a Head spoken so very quietly that it took her a moment to take in what head said.

She rose and took several stalking steps about the room. aYou donat understand, young man. My friends are already well aware of my feelings. They sympathize with me. They have commingled their tears with mine. They would continue to sympathize. They would stick by me. They would continue to hold me in high esteem.a Both of them knew, naturally, that a true friend was as scarce as a sunny day in January and that the likelihood was that her dear friends were probably sn.i.g.g.e.ring behind their hands, just out of her hearing. aWhy donat you do this: inform your friends that new facts have come to light and your niece is quite innocent. Indeed, she has been much maligned, and you, because you are her aunt and a fair and just woman, wish to be the first to right all the wrongs done to her. This should start a fresh spate of tears among your friends, donat you think?a aBut a wedding on Sat.u.r.day, itas impossible.a aIt can be done. Do you agree?a He thought he heard her curse under her breath. He merely waited. He looked down at his fingernails. Finally, she said, aVery well, I will do it, but it wonat be easy. If she isnat accepted, you will have no one to blame but yourself.a aShe will be accepted. I count on your striving your best to see that it happens. Now, would you like to have my secretaryas services?a She shook her head absently, and Phillip knew that she was already planning the necessary arrangements. He nodded. aIall bring Sabrina to you tomorrow morning. Remember, if her two days with you arenat pleasant, you will answer to me. Ah, when circ.u.mstances dictate, maaam, I can be a formidable enemy. Please donat forget that.a As he turned to take his leave, Lady Barresford said, aI hope you wonat regret your chivalry, my lord.a He merely nodded. She stared at him a moment, then said, aWhat makes you so certain that the girl is telling the truth about Trevor?a aI know Sabrina. I might also add that Iave made the acquaintance of Trevor Eversleigh. I fear for the future of the Eversleigh name. He brings new meaning to the word revolting. Please donat forget that Sabrina is now in my care. I bid you good day, my lady.a

29.

aNo one would ever believe you were a bride if it werenat for that expensive gown the viscount provided for you.a Sabrina turned away from the mirror. She looked worse than she had just the day before. aPhillip didnat buy the gown, Aunt, I did.a aItas all one and the same for you now,a Lady Barresford said, fingering her own exquisitely fas.h.i.+oned silk gown. aThe moment the vicar says youare his wife, you wonat have a farthing. Since your dear grandfather is still too ill to be approached in the matter, I, of course, had my solicitors draw up a marriage contract. Your dowry is even larger than I had thought. As for you, all you have now is a husband, and one, I might add, who has many pleasant demands on his time.a Sabrina was thinking about the shakily written letter a footman had delivered the previous evening from her grandfather. He had a.s.sured her that he would be well enough to greet her and her new husband in but a short time. He had not mentioned any of the less pleasant circ.u.mstances surrounding her sudden marriage. She wondered how much of it he knew. Her pleasure at his letter had carried her through until now. She turned at her auntas words. aWhen you speak of the viscountas pleasant demands, youare referring to his mistress?a Lady Barresford snorted, not an edifying sound. aIf indeed he has only one mistress, which is doubtful.a aIt doesnat matter. Iave given him his freedom to do whatever he pleases.a aHe doesnat need your permission, my girl, to do anything he pleases. Let me tell you that Phillip Mercerault hasnat led anything like a celibate life. It will be interesting to see if he parades his mistresses in front of your nose.a Sabrina tugged at the itchy Brussels lace at her throat. aPhillip is very kind. He would never do such a thing.a aHa. Heas a man and men do whatever it pleases them to do. If he chooses to ignore you, then he will. If he chooses to humiliate you, then he will. However, in all truth, the viscount has a good reputation. He is known as an honorable man. We will see. I will say that Iam shocked that you managed to fool him. I had not taken him for such a blockhead.a Not for the first time in the last three days, Sabrina wished she could smack her aunt. Just one little smack, right in the middle of all those ridiculous crimped gray curls. aHe isnat a blockhead,a she said, swallowing her anger. Soon she would be out of her auntas house. Soon she wouldnat have to see her at all. Well, perhaps once every six months. That would be more than enough. She straightened, then turned. aI believe itas time to go downstairs, maaam.a aYes, itas time. For G.o.das sake, girl, pinch your cheeks. You look like Iave abused you when itas been the other way around. The good Lord knows how much Iave had to deal with, between you and your sister. But you, bringing scandal into my house and lyinga”a She broke off. Sabrina just might tell the viscount something less than truthful, and the truth was that she had treated Sabrina better than anyone could possibly expect, given what the girl had done to her. Lady Barresford turned on her heel and walked toward the door, not looking back.

Sabrina closed her thumb and forefinger about her cheek and pinched herself. Her maid, Hickles, emerged suddenly from the corner of the bedchamber where shead conveniently withdrawn into the shadows. Sabrina jumped. She was certain Hickles had been eavesdropping. aWill you need anything else, my lady?a Hickles asked, her voice trembling with excitement.

aYes,a Sabrina said quietly, turning. aI never want to see your face again, Hickles. You truly are irritating.a She swept up the train of her gown and walked from the room, without a backward glance at her maid.

aSabrina was a lovely bride. Perhaps a trifle pale, but hardly a wooden doll.a Margaret Drakemore turned away from Madeleine Bingly, her hands clenched at her sides.

Lady Bingly raised a painted eyebrow. aI do believe that youare taking loyalty a bit too far, Margaret. Do finish with that flounce, you stupid girl,a she said to the maid who was kneeling before her mending a torn ruffle in her gown.

Lady Dorchester said from her seat before a mirror, aNow, Madeleine, surely itas time for some Christian charity.a Particularly, she thought with a small grimace, since her spouse, Lord Dorchester, was a good friend of the groomas and Rohan Carringtonas. She, for one, wouldnat gossip about the new viscountess, which was surely a pitya”it would have meant many pleasurable hours.

Lady Bingly did a small pirouette. aThere, no one could tell that Colonel Sandavar put his foot through the flounce, clumsy man.a She waved away the maid and turned to Margaret. aI believe I hear a waltz striking up. Shouldnat we go back into the ballroom before our husbands think we have run away from them? Ah, to run away after being wicked and still manage to finish off your adventure being married to Phillip Mercerault, that is more than luck. That would require cunning and planning. It quite makes me gnash my teeth with envy that she managed it.a Margaret, who wished suddenly that she and Lady Bingly were at the top of the stairs and she could shove her down, rose to her full height and said, aI have told you the facts of the entire matter, Madeleine. It is really quite mean-spirited of you to continue these silly lies.a Lady Dorchester rose from her seat and gave a final pat to her dark hair. aMargaret is right, Madeleine. Whatas done is done. Itas over.a As she swept from the dressing room, she said over her bare shoulder, unable to help herself, aAt least the viscount will not have a shrinking bride on his hands tonight. How perfectly quaint that the wedding should follow the wedding night.a Her laughter rang out. Lady Bingly moved to follow her from the ladies with drawing room. She called out, aOr was it a wedding week, my dear Lady Dorchester? With the viscountas winning manners, it must have been an exquisite experience for the, er, child.a ab.i.t.c.hes,a Margaret said under her breath. She heard Madeleine call out, aI do wonder if the viscountess is breeding. An excellent reason for placing a gold band so quickly on her finger.a Margaret heard the carrying words, as, she suspected, she was meant to. At least, she thought, her spirits rising a bit, most of the guests were behaving as they should, with no overt nastiness toward Sabrina. The small wedding, held in the drawing room of Lady Barresfordas town house, had gone off without a hitch, her brother, Charles, having acted in the stead of Sabrinaas family. Rohan Carrington had been Phillipas best man. She wished that the wedding dinner and ball had been kept similarly small, but Phillip had insisted. aNo, Sabrina will dance her wedding waltz with me before as many people as I can squeeze into the ballroom. This will be no fly-by-night wedding.a Naturally everyone had come.

Perhaps, Margaret thought, Phillip had been right. But it didnat help that Sabrina looked so white and drawn. Margaret dismissed the maids and walked slowly back down the oak staircase to the ballroom.

Sabrina shrank back into the shadows until Margaret disappeared from her view down the winding stairs. She hadnat been meant to hear the cutting words, but she had. What had she expected? Indeed, what could she expect? She drew a long sigh. At least it was nearly over. She forgot the thick braid that was coming loose and made her way quickly back downstairs.

aHold still, Sabrina, and Iall fix your hair.a aPhillip,a she said, praying he hadnat overheard the women. He stood two steps below her, a slight smile playing about his mouth. She realized with a start that shead been so closed into herself for the entire day and evening that she had scarce even been aware of him. She looked at him now, devastatingly handsome in his severe black evening clothes. aYou look beautiful,a she said. aI hadnat really seen you today. Iam sorry. Youave done so much for me and this is the first time Iam really seeing you. You have eyelashes thick as a girlas, only most girls Iave seen donat have thick lashes either.a The smile became a wide grin. aWell, eyelashes is a good place to start. You really think Iam beautiful? Iam just a man, Sabrina. Beautiful?a aNow youare showing your conceit. You want me to rea.s.sure you all the while youare jesting with me. Very well, yes, itas true. You are beautiful. Does that please your vanity?a aYes. I trust that my thick eyelashes are all that a girl would want. Come here, Sabrina, before your hair falls into your face.a She obeyed, her steps slow and careful, for she feared tripping on the hem of her wedding gown. She felt his long fingers move deftly to draw the sagging braid back to where it belonged. She felt him slide in the pin to anchor it securely.

aThere, now youare the perfect viscountess.a She stared up at him. aGoodness, youare right. Thatas what I am now. But I donat feel like a viscountess. All of thisa”a she waved her hand around hera”ait all seems like a dream, like Iam not really me, that itas someone else whoas done all this.a He hooked his thumb beneath her chin. aItas real, Sabrina. Youare real, as am I. Weare married now. Itas done. What was the dream was all the nastiness before today. Itas over and done with now.a She thought of the malicious words of the women just moments before, but she forced a smile. aYes, itas almost all over now. Thank you, Phillip, for all youave done for me.a He hated her grat.i.tude, and thus said without thinking, aItas your money thatas paying for all of it. Thank yourself as much as me.a aMoney,a she said, anger deep in her voice now, amoney is one thing, but what you, Phillip Mercerault, have done is quite another.a That was true, he thought, pleased. He found himself wondering what she was thinking, for her eyes were vague now, and she was looking away from him. Shead said so little during the day, just the vows required during the ceremony, nothing more. She looked too pale. but he would change that soon enough. aThereas just one more waltz you must dance with me. Then, Sabrina, you may retire.a Lady Dorchesteras words flashed through her mind. She shuddered, unable to prevent it. aNo, I really donat want to retire. I want to remain down here, with you, with our guests.a She saw that he was frowning at her and added in a strained voice, aNo, I want to stay right here.a He saw her furtive glance back up the stairs. It occurred to him then that she was thinking about s.e.x. s.e.x with him, her husband. The thought of it scared her to her very toes.

He wanted to tell her again that she had nothing to fear from him, that he wasnat about to force himself on her, but not now. Now wasnat the time for such a discussion. He held out his hand as the strains of a waltz floated to his ears. aMy dance, Sabrina.a He drew her hand through the crook of his arm.

aKeep your chin up. Try to smile. Donat forget, this is supposed to be the happiest day of your life.a He gave her a huge smile. aItas my happiest day.a aYou must be jesting with me,a she said, but she did manage a small smile.

aPerhaps I am,a he said, and led her into the waltz.

The colorfully attired group of ladies and gentlemen obligingly parted their ranks as Phillip whirled Sabrina around the dance floor.

She saw Lady Dorchester from the corner of her eye and missed a step. She felt Phillipas arm tighten about her waist.

He gave her another dazzling smile, even laughed with those white teeth of his as he said, aShow the world how delirious you are to have me.a aIt is possible that I am delirious.a aNot good enough. Think about my glorious eyelashes.a That brought a giggle. aExcellent,a he said, dipped down his head, and lightly kissed her ear. aJust excellent.a

30.

As the waltz drew to a close, he said, aAre you convinced now that your grandfather is on the mend?a A genuine smile lit up her face. aOh yes, Phillip. But his handwriting isnat as firm as it used to be. That frightens me.a aHis handwriting will recover fully, just as the rest of him will.a The music stopped and Phillip drew her into his arms and kissed her lightly on her mouth. aWell done. Itas over.a He kissed her hair amid applause and laughter from the ladies and gentlemen. He realized for the first time just how short she was. The top of her head barely came to his neck. Naturally he hadnat realized it before. Most of the time shead been flat on her back in bed.

He also realized that she was now hisa”his responsibility and the future mother of his children. Now that was a thought to make a man pause.

He drew her forward to stand at his side to receive their guestsa parting congratulations. A few were genuinely kind. More were cold, but polite. Some of the gentlemen gave her looks that if Phillip had seen, would have angered him. But for the most part, all had gone well.

One of the last guests to leave was Lady Barresford. She paused at Sabrinaas side. aYouave managed to carry this off quite well, niece. You are more than fortunate that the viscount is an honorable man.a aYes, that is quite true. Thank you, Aunt.a She kept her eyes fastened to a mirror just behind her auntas right shoulder.

Lady Barresford nodded toward the viscount. aI bid you good evening, my lord. I leave you to your blus.h.i.+ng bride.a Phillip took Sabrinaas hand, raised it to his lips, and lightly kissed her knuckles. aSabrina is too tired to blush, maaam, though Iam certain that she would be inclined to do so at the tasteless comments sheas been forced to endure this evening.a aThatas as may be,a Lady Barresford said, and drew herself up.

Sabrina saw with relief that Greybar was hovering beside Lady Barresford, her ermine wrap on his arm. aThank you, Greybar. Her ladys.h.i.+p is on the point of leaving. Good night, Aunt.a Lady Barresford gave her a look that promised more spiteful words, then allowed Greybar to a.s.sist her into her wrap. aWell, niece, youave made your bed, and now you may lie in it.a It was a good shot, she knew it, but Sabrina just stared at her, her head c.o.c.ked to one side. One thick braid looked in danger of falling. aMen adore innocence,a Lady Barresford added, then turned on her heel, whipped the ermine wrap over her shoulder, and marched out the front door.

Phillip turned to Sabrina. aIgnore her. Ignore all of them. Are you ready to sleep now, Sabrina?a She gazed up at him uncertainly.

He smiled down at her as he said, aYouare not to worry about a thing. Trust me, Sabrina.a He wasnat a randy boy with no control. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her witless. Head said enough. Head give her time to settle in, time to get to know him.

He supposed he needed time as well. Head never had a wife before. He couldnat begin to imagine the adjustment that he would have to make in his very pleasant life. aGreybar told me that horrible maid, Hickles, is well and truly gone. He said Doris would suit you very well. Iall send her to you.a He patted her hand and turned away.

aIave never seen an angel with beautiful red hair like yours, my lady,a Doris said. aEven the pictures Iave seen in books, all the angels are the loveliest little blond girls, with huge blue eyes. But I think a red-haired angel would be a nice change. Shead look just like you.a If only you werenat so pale and lifeless, she thought as she twitched a beautifully embroidered batiste nightgown into place. She pictured his lords.h.i.+p in her mind and imagined herself swooning in his arms. Now there was a gentleman to please a lady. Such charm he had, such wicked eyes and manners, not that shead ever had them turned on her. But she wasnat his wife. This little one who looked more frightened than a rabbit in the sight of a hunteras gun was the new viscountess. She didnat look like a loose girl whoad lost her virginity to the viscount and been lucky enough to have him marry her. She looked rather pathetic, except for all that lovely red hair and those strange eyes that probably would have gotten her burned at the stake in another time and place. No, she didnat look like the viscount could charm her out of her chemise.

Sabrina nodded abstractedly, and Doris smiled to herself. She couldnat imagine any lady not having a really fine time in bed with his lords.h.i.+p, even this pale little creature. She laid down the hairbrush and stepped back. aCan I be getting you anything else, my lady?a aNo, thank you, Doris.a Doris curtsied and quietly closed the door behind her.

Sabrina turned slowly from the mirror and let her eyes rove again over the large bedchamber. It was severe and masculine, not at all unlike its master, she thought. She looked at the huge bed, a carved oak affair set on a dais in the middle of the bedchamber, with no hangings to soften its stark presence. She picked up a branch of candles, carried it to the bed, and set it on the bedside table. Phillip had told her that carpenters would be at her disposal to redo the adjoining bedchamber that had been his motheras. Head been sorry but there hadnat been time to make it right in time for her. So she had to sleep in this bed tonight.

With him. Shead never slept with a man before. Well, she had, when shead been fevered and head held her, but that wasnat real, that wasnat something that shead actually chosen to be a party to, something shead experienced as she was sure she would experience this.

She was married. Shead even offered herself to him as part of the bargain. She didnat remember that head been very enthusiastic.

Sabrina slipped in between the sheets and drew the covers up to her chin. She stared up at the dark oak beams that crisscrossed the length of the ceiling. She strained to hear Phillipas footsteps. She felt the nightgown slide over her skin as she drew her knees up to her chest.

Phillip would be kind. There was no reason for him not to be kind. He wouldnat maul her. Not like Trevor had. Head told her to trust him, and she would.

The room was so silent. She couldnat bear it. She began humming, hummed and hummed until her throat hurt.

He didnat come.

At least she knew her husband a lot better than every other girl knew her bridegroom. Head given her a bath. Head told her many of his adventures. Head cooked for her. Shead tried to escape him that one miserable night but his d.a.m.ned horse wouldnat budge. And the other, her womanas monthly flow. He even knew about things like that. Head even helped her. She squeezed her eyes closed.

Yes, she knew Phillip. Or, moreas the truth, he knew her, inside and out.