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“You’re just as pretty as she is, lass.”
Sabrina scoffed. “Don’t be silly. I couldn’t hold a candle to her. None of us could.”
“If you believed that, did it bother you?” he asked with genuine interest. In his experience, the marriage mart was more competitive than a prizefight.
“Of course not. I have an absolutely lovely life. And it’s not been easy for Lady Ainsley, I understand. If I recall correctly, her parents cut her off when she married . . .” She trailed off.
Graeme raised an eyebrow.
“Heavens, I’d forgotten she was all but betrothed to Cringlewood.” Sabrina frowned. “There was something of a scandal, wasn’t there? We were in Bath at the time so my father could take the waters, so I don’t remember much.”
“A bit more than something of a scandal,” Graeme replied.
“One can certainly understand why Lady Ainsley would throw over Cringlewood. But to suffer a permanent breach with her familyandlose her inheritance?” Sabrina shook her head. “She must have beenquitein love with your brother to risk so much.”
From her rather mystified tone, Graeme could only deduce the lass had never been in love.
“She was indeed going to marry Cringlewood, at least initially. But he was . . . abusive to her.”
Sabrina stared blankly at Graeme.
“Physically abusive,” he tersely added.
She gasped. “Did her parents know?”
He nodded.
“And they still encouraged the marriage? If so, how utterly appalling of them,” she said, disgusted.
“The marriage settlements had already been signed. Cringlewood threatened to sue for breach of promise, as a means to pressure Ainsley’s parents.”
Her earnest gaze went wide. “He tried toforceAinsley to marry him?”
“Yes.”
“But—”
He briefly squeezed her hand. “Please understand that I can’t say more. The details are not mine to share, and my family needs to protect Ainsley’s privacy as much as possible.”
She drew in a wavering breath. “I can appreciate that, sir. But if his lordship is as ugly a customer as you say he is—”
“Trust me that he is.”
“Then he shouldn’t be allowed to go about preying on unsuspecting women and their families.”
“I agree. But it is not up to us to correct the situation.”
“Then whowillcorrect it?” she demanded.
“St. George will be addressing the matter in every way possible.”
Her gaze narrowed to frosty blue slits. “That’s not a very satisfactory answer.”
“We must trust him to handle the situation.”
“But—”
“No, my lady.” He sympathized with the lass, but Ainsley needed to be protected, and Aden could be trusted to do that. “You must leave it alone. I promise Cringlewood will be dealt with.”
