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“He is a gentleman of property, and Miss Moran is a fine young lady.” Kenver was certain of the latter, at least. And her parents had looked prosperous. This was more of a deduction than a lie. “I offered for her before a crowd of people,” he added, in hopes of ending the argument. “Everyone heard.”
“No, this can’t be happening,” moaned his mother.
“We forbid it,” declared his father.
“I am of age,” Kenver said. They both glared at him.
Kenver’s upbringing had emphasized obedience above all other values. He’d begun to notice that more as he grew older, particularly after being away for a time on a visit to his uncle in London. Recently he’d suspected this focus had something to do with the disappearance of his older sister. He’d been a small child when that occurred, and he didn’t really understand the circumstances. He knew only that her name was never to be mentioned.
The few times he’d tried to fight his mother and father, it had been extremely unpleasant. The truth was, he was just a little…not afraid of them. Not that. Wary perhaps. No, careful, that was the word. He didn’t enjoy disputes.
Now, his mother looked grim. “You cannot expect us to welcome an…interloper,” she said.
“No, indeed,” said his father. He always agreed with Mama.
“You must forget all about this rash impulse,” she added.
Kenver bent his head. The best thing to do when they scolded was diversion. After they met Sarah Moran… Well, somehow they’d all make it right. “I believe I cracked a rib in the fall,” he said.
This worked, as he’d known it would. His mother fluttered around him. “What? Why didn’t you say so? We must send for the doctor.”
Kenver decided that was not a bad idea as it ended this conversation. He left her to send the messenger and retreated to his room to finally shed his wet, sandy clothes.
Two
The Moran family’s drive home was nearly silent, and very awkward. The houseguests riding with them—a pleasant couple, friends of Sarah’s mother from Devon—seemed not to know what to say. They did not spare the sidelong glances, however. Sarah saw that she had become an object of pitying curiosity. And this was from friends. What would strangers think? The older four were also exhausted after a night spent searching the crags of Tintagel. Everyone simply wanted to be home.
Sarah fled to her bedchamber as soon as they reached the house and was met by a horrifying image in the long cheval glass. Her gown was torn and filthy, literally encrusted with dirt. It clung to her body most improperly. Her undergarments showed through one long tear. There were streaks of green algae in her hair, on her face, and down the back of one arm. The thought of Kenver Pendrennon seeing her this way was horrifying. Drowned rat was a charitable description. She looked like something that had crawled out of the sea to die.
A knock on the door revealed that her mother had ordered her a bath. Sarah had never been more grateful.
It would have been lovely to fall into bed when she was clean, but Sarah didn’t feel that she could. Instead, freshly dressed and coiffed, she went to find her parents. “You mustn’t try to force Mr. Pendrennon to marry me,” she said when she found them with their heads together in her father’s study. They looked at her and then back at each other.
“He offered freely,” said her mother.
Sarah didn’t see it that way. He had been chivalrous, not willing. How could he be when she’d looked like a dripping gargoyle? The memory made her shudder again.
“How do you expect to weather the scandal?” asked her father, in the tone he used with stubborn, unreasonable people.
“Perhaps it won’t be such a…”
“Mrs. Chine was there,” interrupted her mother.
Sarah’s heart sank. Mrs. Chine was known for spreading stories full of sly innuendo. What she didn’t know for certain, she made up. And she never stopped.
“She’d heard you were missing, somehow.”
“And rushed to discover what was happening,” said her father.
“So quickly.” Sarah hadn’t thought the tale would spread so fast. “Well, I daresay people will forget all about it very soon.”
“Talk will die down eventually,” agreed her father. “But no one will forget.”
“Certainly no eligible marriage prospects,” said her mother.
Sarah gazed at her parents. They looked solemnly back.
“You are our only child,” her father said. As if she didn’t know. “We made sure you went to a fine school. Very well thought of.”
