AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 20
“If you’ll excuse me,” Sarah said, clutching herself. “I must retire to my room to warm myself.”
Patrick turned to her with concern in his eyes. “Yes, that is best.”
“Be sure to wear your favourite gown this evening,” the duke said. “It shall be a special night.”
“I’ll take pains to do so.”
As Sarah departed down the hall, she realized that she wasn’t leaving Reginald behind with the duke; she was leaving Patrick Day. Her mind was spinning, and Sarah didn’t know what to think of any of it. She was madly in love with Reginald, and that would mean she would be the same for Patrick Day, a fellow that she’d just met but sensed she’d known all her life.
How could such a thing have happened? Never once did Sarah suspect that Reginald was anyone other than who he claimed to be. Her father was suspicious from the start. Was that why he sent a letter to Lord Kelly? Sarah searched her mind, trying to find a plausible solution for how she could survive this whole ordeal unscathed. Mostly, she searched her mind for a way in which she and Patrick could still be together.
So much was yet to be explained. Patrick was a lowly worker? He lived in Hamel? It was unclear as to what brought him to the Duke of Faversham’s estate.
Approaching her room, Sarah froze. She willed her legs to move, but they would not. Memory rushed in, and Sarah realized that Patrick Day was the fellow she had seen at the millinery, before the duke’s ball. Yes, that was the same man! The handsome fellow that stood on the box while the tailor took his measurements.
Had that one sighting of each other caused this whole charade? She remembered him clearly now. He was with other men—three of them—and they seemed to be joking and carousing. She recalled what his hair looked like then, dark and long. She remembered how they certainly seemed like workers, making fun of the fact that Patrick was receiving new clothes.
Everything was coming into focus, and Sarah’s legs finally moved, allowing her to travel into her room where her lady-in-waiting was seated in anticipation.
“Oh, My Lady,” she said, getting up from her seat. “Let me draw you a bath.”
“That would be perfect; I thank you.”
The lady exited the room to procure warm water, and Sarah still held Patrick’s coat against her. What a fearfully remarkable day. Was it no wonder that Patrick had enchanted everyone as Lord Reginald? He was not a society man. He’d seen things that Sarah had never seen, and he had an earthy quality that no one else in the party possessed. Yes, that was why he was so captivating. Patrick was different, and that difference caused her to fall in love with him.
The lady quickly returned, carrying two steaming buckets. Another girl followed behind her, carrying two separate buckets. Once combined, that water would create an exceptional bath that would serve to warm Sarah and help her to clear her mind.
Once the bath was ready, Sarah was summoned and eagerly waited as her clothing was removed, and she stepped inside. The two ladies departed, giving Sarah her privacy. As she lay in the bath, Sarah closed her eyes in rapture as the warmth consumed her. Thoughts of Patrick returned, particularly in such a sensory experience. Sensuality infused her entire body, and Sarah was shocked to realize that Patrick revealing his identity did not make her crave him less in the slightest. Instead, it made her crave him more.
She knew not how long she lay there, rubbing soup into her skin and taking pains not to wet her hair. Looking out the window, the storm continued to pelt down rain, and she couldn’t help wondering what the rest of the evening had in store.
Would her father be cross with her for being deceived? Was there a chance that Lord John already knew the truth, and that’s why he invited Lord Kelly? Surely, all the guests would find the whole ordeal to be a scandal, and the duke might banish Sarah and her family at once.
Oh, but should she tell Lisbeth? Heavens, no. Lisbeth couldn’t keep a secret to save her life. Sarah would have to be discreet about everything that was happening below the surface, which she was skilled at doing.
The water having turned tepid, Sarah thought it best to remove herself from the bath to prepare for dinner. She summoned the lady-in-waiting, who was in the adjoining bedroom, and the lady helped Sarah out of the bath, wrapping a large, warmed towel around her. Sarah felt the cool tiles on the bottoms of her toes, but this was quickly quelled when the lady placed slippers on Sarah’s feet.
Her skin was wrinkly from having sat in the tub for so long, but Sarah didn’t mind. Everything about the bath had been perfect, except for the dread and worry of what was to become of her and Patrick’s affections.
Since the duke instructed her to choose her best gown, Sarah selected the lavender one that showed off her décolletage. This would be for Patrick’s sake, not for Lord Kelly’s or the duke’s. The lady-in-waiting set Sarah’s hair, which had dried after the storm, and a selection of sapphires was chosen to hang around Sarah’s neck. When she looked in the mirror, Sarah was quite convinced that she had fulfilled the Duke of Faversham’s request.
Lisbeth entered the room wearing a vermillion gown. “Sarah, why is it that you get prettier by the day, and I appear more fatigued?” Lisbeth looked into the mirror and toyed with the skin of her cheeks.
“That’s not true, Lisbeth.”
Her voice turned hushed. “I should never have left you in the forest. I heard that your horse was trapped.”
Sarah smiled. “It’s quite all right. Patrick— ” Sarah froze, realizing that she had said the wrong name. “Lord Reginald came to my rescue.”
“Oh Sarah, do you think that Father will let you marry him?”
Sarah’s jaw dropped open. In light of recent events, she was unsure if her father would allow her to marry Patrick Day. In fact, she was increasingly sure that he wouldn’t.
“It’s unclear, Lisbeth.”
She seated herself on the bed. “I’m so thrilled that we get to stay on for another week. I’m enjoying myself very much.” Lisbeth yawned. “Although, I’m increasingly sleepy with all the events.”
