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“Ah, I see.” Percy’s eyes glimmered with amusement as they flicked between them.
“It wasn’t like that!” she laughed, forgetting her embarrassment.
“Indeed, I’m sure it was quite harrowing. How did you manage to get away?”
The rest of the tale came pouring out. As she spoke, she watched Percy’s face darken.
“Murdering bastard!” he spat. “Hanging is too quick and merciful for the likes of him—he ought to be burned at the stake so that his suffering might be prolonged before he goes to the devil! Thank God I brought Raquel here yesterday. At least here, I know she’ll be safe.”
“How is she?” asked Henry.
“Her wounds are healing, but it’ll be several weeks before she’s fit for any real travel. I intend to take her back to her family in France as soon as possible and make arrangements for her care.”
“You’re going with her?” Sabrina asked at the same time as Henry.
“She’s only a child, and she needs a guardian to look after her,” he snapped, as though daring them to contradict him. “She’s had enough of pain and tragedy in her short life. I’m going to purchase a house and pay for her education so that she will be able to earn a living without—” His eyes darted to her face and he stopped short.
“You needn’t say more,” she told him softly. He truly was a gentleman and would make an excellent husband someday—for someone else. “If I can be of any help, you must tell me.”
“Thank you,” he said, clearly flustered. “Now, you both require a bath and something…else to wear before traveling to Pembroke,” he continued, again looking at their clothes with frank distaste. “Mrs. Latham will find something suitable for you, I’m sure. I doubt anything of mine will fit you, Henry, but we may still have something of my father’s.”
“Thank you,” replied Henry.
Two hours later, Sabrina descended the stair and was shown to a parlor where the gentlemen awaited. Her borrowed gown was a bit short and fit a trifle snugly in a few places, but not so much as to be uncomfortable. It felt delicious to be back in lawn and silks again.
“We were discussing how to deal with Fairford,” Henry informed her. “I could call him out, but if he dies, there’ll be hell to pay with the king.”
“I’ll call him out,” said Percy, his voice chill.
“You can’t,” said Henry. “You don’t have just cause.”
“No one knows I broke off the engagement,” Percy replied, looking at Sabrina. “I can always say he abducted my fiancée. That is cause enough.”
“And how do you propose to explain the fact that I went after her and came back married, while you stayed here?” asked Henry. “You’d have to call me out, too, in order to make it plausible.”
Here, Sabrina spoke up. “Not if you say you married me in order to prevent my ruination. Percy could say he thought I’d been taken somewhere in London, and so stayed here to look for me, while you were sent north at my mother’s bidding. Everyone would think it was just the luck of the draw that you were the one to find me.”
Henry shook his head. “No. I’d rather not have anyone know what really happened. Married or not, you would be ruined if anyone found out about you running off with Fairford in the fir
st place. Percy told me your mother has been saying you’ve been ill these last several days, in order to prevent any awkward questions.”
“How do we explain our marriage, then?” she asked. “As you said, according to London, I’m still engaged to Percy.”
Henry looked at Percy apologetically. “I’m afraid you’ll have to throw him over and marry me. Again. Publicly. I obtained a special license before coming to see you the day you fled. Your mother kept it for me when I came after you. We can have a quiet ceremony as soon as arrangements can be made. No one need ever know about Scotland.”
“You’d let him get away with it?” asked Percy angrily.
Henry shook his head, his smile turning vicious. “Once he realizes we’ve not told anyone of his perfidy—and we won’t—I’ve no doubt he’ll attempt some treachery. If and when he forces a confrontation, people will think he’s lost his senses in a fit of jealous rage. I’ll let him publicly provoke me so that when I kill him, his death will be on his own head.”
“And what of the servants?” she interjected. “I’m sure half of London already knows we’re—”
Percy held up a hand. “My entire household is sworn to secrecy regarding all matters occurring beneath this roof, on pain of being dismissed without wages and turned out into the street. Lady Aylesford has recently taken similar measures regarding your ‘illness.’”
“A message has been sent asking her to come here, incidentally,” added Henry. “You shall return to Aylesford with her in the guise of a servant. If anyone asks her about coming here today, she will say she came to deliver the news of your decision to marry me. I shall arrive at Aylesford shortly afterward to renew my suit.”
“Is it safe for her to venture out like that, with Fairford back in town?” she asked, too worried to acknowledge the twinkle in his eye.
“I warned her to come prepared,” said Henry.
