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And expensive, Sarah knew. She’d loved it.
“We wanted you to have a season in London. You enjoyed that, I think?”
She had, even though she’d attracted no special attention among thehaut ton. Certainly nothing approaching an offer of marriage. She’d known that the cost was a stretch for her family. Her father had carefully put money aside to provide her season. There would not be another.
“We had thought to take some time to consider your future,” he went on. “But matters have been taken out of our hands.”
It wasn’t fair. A slip on a rocky cliff should not overturn her entire life. “I’m happy here at home,” she said. But this was only partly true. Sarah hadn’t spent a full year at home since she was thirteen. And during the weeks she’d been back, she’d begun to feel its limitations. There were hardly any books here, for one thing. At school, she’d had shelves and shelves to browse through, and London had offered a circulating library. Here at home, she had only a few volumes from childhood, which she’d read over and over. She could purchase new books now and then. But they were a luxury. She missed libraries terribly, as she also missed her school friends.
“This estate will come to you,” her father said.
Sarah made a gesture of protest. Her father was very healthy.
“But you are not interested in running it,” he added.
It was true. Though Sarah loved to learn about all sorts of topics, and she didn’t doubt her own intelligence, crop yield percentages and return on investment and tenancy agreements did not inspire her. They jumbled together in her head after a while. Her father had offered her many opportunities to join him in his work on the estate, but this had not gone well. Her mind had wandered. She’d wished to be elsewhere, preferably with a new book, and hadn’t always been able to hide it. Her father had been disappointed, and that had hurt them both. Sarah knew that Papa had inherited a small, run-down estate and then worked all his life to improve and expand it. With great success. He was very proud of his achievements—and rightly so. She was too. He wanted to put his legacy into competent hands, which hers…actually were not, difficult as it was to admit this.
“So I don’t think you would wish to retreat here and avoid all society,” he continued.
Of course she didn’t wish to do that. Some of her happiest times had been with her circle of school friends.
“A good husband and a happy marriage are best for you,” said her mother.
It was actually what she wanted.
“And now a prospect has…come along,” said her father. “Not as I would have wished, but…”
“You didn’t seem to dislike him,” interrupted her mother. “Whatever may have passed between you.” Both her parents looked away.
Even they, eventhey, believed that something improper had happened in that sea cave, Sarah thought. Her heart sank. She felt as if a trap was closing on her. “He only offered out of obligation,” she murmured. “He didn’t want to.” No man could have, after a mere few hours in dire circumstances.
“He didn’t seem soveryreluctant,” said her mother.
Sarah heard doubt in her tone. So Mama couldn’t really believe it either.
There was a short silence as the Moran family contemplated the situation.
“As I said, it is not as I would have wished,” said her father. “The situation is unfortunate. But the match is acceptable.”
“Outstanding, in fact,” said her mother.
“What?” Sarah didn’t see how they could know anything about this.
Her parents gazed at her. “The Pendrennons are one of the most prominent families in this part of the country,” her father said.
“His father is the Earl of Trestan,” added her mother.
“What?” repeated Sarah, trying to take this in.
“We’ve never met the family,” her father went on. “A bit too far away for visiting. But we knew the name, of course.”
Why had Sarah not recognized it? Because she didn’t pay attention to such things, of course. Because she navigated society like a wide-eyed tourist rather than a canny sophisticate, or so her friend Charlotte always said.
A blush scalded Sarah’s cheeks. Last night’s companion was the son of an earl! Someone, probably Mrs. Chine, would certainly claim that Sarah had set out to entrap him. She’d have Sarah lying in wait like a hunting cat, ready to pounce, drag him into that cave, and dowhateverwas necessary to keep him there. When, in fact, she’d never heard of him or his noble line. Sarah gritted her teeth. Mr. Pendrennon would never believe that. Noblemen thought everyone knew who they were. She’d seen that in London. Was he even a mister? And not some kind of lord?
Sarah’s father was thoughtful. “My land, which would be no great matter to a Londoner, say, will be a worthy dowry here, because it is near the Pendrennon holdings, you see. They will be glad to add it to the estate.”
“And you will be living not more than fifteen miles away,” said her mother happily.
