Page 54 of One Waltz with the Viscount

‘I think it is time for you to take your leave, Miss Shepherd,’ Lady Kingsley said firmly.

‘You will allow Selina’s letters to reach me,’ Sarah demanded.

Lady Kingsley hesitated, glancing at her husband.

‘Do you promise to write nothing of our relationship?’ Sir William asked.

‘I promise.’

‘Then your letters can be sent to your sister.’

‘Thank you.’

Sarah leaned in, embracing Selina long and hard, hating that she did not know when she would see her again.

‘I love you,’ she murmured.

‘I love you too.’

It was hard to walk away, and she felt a sense of doom as the door closed behind them, leaving just her and Lord Routledge out on the street.

Chapter Sixteen

Miss Shepherd was quiet as they began the walk back to her lodgings, her head bent and a worried expression on her face.

‘I shouldn’t have left her there, in that den of vipers,’ she said suddenly, glancing back over her shoulder.

‘They were not the most pleasant people in the world, but your sister has already survived a good few weeks in their company. Perhaps you underestimate her.’

‘Perhaps I do.’ She sighed and shook her head. ‘I am relieved we found her. I cannot believe they stopped her letters from getting to me.’

‘I am not altogether surprised. As I said before, I do not know Sir William personally, but I do know his reputation.’

‘His wife seemed equally as bad.’

‘Yes. Let us hope the daughter is kinder, or your sister is living with three of them who are highly unpleasant.’

Miss Shepherd simply nodded, falling silent. They walked a little further without saying anything. He found it difficult to work out what she was thinking as her bonnet was pulled down low on her head, shielding half her face.

‘Thank you for all your help,’ she said after a few minutes. ‘I do not think I would have found Selina without you. I know they would have had to let her out at some point, or she might have managed to slip a letter past them, but I would have been ever so worried whilst I waited.’

‘I am glad to have been of assistance.’ He should feel pleased that he had managed to see this through to the end, and that it was a satisfactory ending, even if not an entirely happy one. Yet all he could think about was that Miss Shepherd now had no reason to linger in London. Her employers were waiting for her and she must hurry away to them. Tomorrow, or at the latest the day after, she would leave the capital and begin her journey to Kent.

‘You are free now, my lord. You can go about your business without having to worry about me.’

If they hadn’t been in a busy street, he would have caught hold of her arm and had it out with her there and then. He wanted to tell her how much he was going to miss her, which sounded ridiculous—they had only known one another for a very short time.

He noticed a tear glistening on her cheek before she surreptitiously brushed it away, her head still bowed.

‘Stop,’ he said, coming to an immediate halt. He drew irritated looks from the people around them, who had to sidestep suddenly, but he found he did not care.

Miss Shepherd stopped and looked up at him.

‘Why is this so hard?’ he asked, his voice barely audible above the din of the London streets.

She shook her head, and he got the sense she was unable to speak, the emotions getting the better of her.

‘I barely know you, Miss Shepherd. I accept we have spent a lot of time in one another’s company these last few days, but it hasn’t been enough for me to be feeling this.’ He gripped hold of her arms, forgetting they were out in public. ‘I should be celebrating that we found your sister, yet all I can think about is that I will never see you again. And that hurts. It shouldn’t hurt.’