laughed, but she agreed with her pupil. Her days had never been long enough for there was so much business for her to attend in the period following her father’s death, but she had begun to grow tired of working on her ledgers all the time and of tiresome arguments with managers and foremen. If she listened to her head, she would sell her father’s empire, but her heart would not comply. It would seem like a betrayal of his standards and the people he had employed, many of whom might lose their jobs if Mr Matthew Arkwright had his way. No, she could not destroy the trust her father’s employees had placed in her—but perhaps she could find a suitable husband.
‘Why does Uncle Rupert want to talk to you in private?’ Francesca asked as they walked up to the house. ‘You haven’t done anything wrong, have you?’
‘I do not think so,’ Sarah replied. ‘I dare say it is to do with the picnic or some such thing.’
‘Yes, perhaps,’ Francesca said. ‘My gown is very creased, I am going up to change.’
Sarah nodded and turned towards the library, where she expected to find Lord Myers. He was standing by one of the shelves, looking through the books. As if he sensed her entry, he turned with a frown on his face.
‘I doubt if these books have ever been catalogued. There is no order to them at all.’
‘No...’ Sarah moved towards him. ‘If I had time, I should like to organise them, but I am not sure...’ She faltered as his gaze narrowed, seeming to disapprove. ‘Have I done something to deserve your censure, my lord?’
‘Have you? I thought I asked you not to “my lord” me all the time.’ There was an irritated note in his voice as he snapped shut the book he was holding and replaced it on the shelves. ‘What are you up to, Sarah—and why did you come here?’
‘I don’t understand you, sir,’ she replied, but of course she did.
‘John’s groom saw that rogue fire this morning. He thinks you were the target, though the rogue fired in haste, as if tempted by a chance opportunity to frighten or wound you. Who wants to harm you? Have you done something to make someone hate you?’
Sarah hesitated, then, ‘Yes, perhaps. I haven’t stolen anything or cheated anyone, nor have I committed a crime—but I may have some enemies, though I cannot see what any of them could gain by killing me.’
‘Perhaps it was just meant to be a warning of what could happen if the assassin really intended you dead.’
Sarah shuddered. ‘I have considered that because I do not know why anyone should want me dead. I suppose someone might wish to scare me into doing something he wants...’
‘Did you break it off with your protector? Is he trying to force you to return to him?’
‘I should be insulted, my lord, if I did not understand your concern over this matter. I assure you I have not been any man’s mistress. I have turned down offers of marriage...’
‘Do you not think you should tell me the truth, Sarah? If there is someone out there who means you harm, I need to know. Francesca could also be at risk through association. If she were not so fond of you, I think I should ask you to leave.’
Sarah swallowed hard. She had always known there was a chance she might be unmasked and to continue the lie now would be impossible. She had already revealed most of her story to Francesca and might as well confess the rest. Clasping her hands in front of her, she met his hard gaze.
‘My name is Sarah Hardcastle. I changed places with Hester Goodrum, because she wanted to marry and I wanted a place to stay where I was unknown for a while.’
‘You were never a governess, were you?’
‘No. My father wasn’t just the manager of a mine. He owned both mines and mills. When he died, leaving everything to me, I refused to hand over the management to my uncle and I have been overseeing my own affairs ever since. I have agents and managers, but I find much of my time is taken up with business matters. Because my father left me a fortune I have had to fight off men of all classes who think they are more entitled to run my affairs than I am. Some offer marriage in the hope of gaining my fortune that way—others try to bully me into selling my father’s mills.’
‘You are an heiress?’ Rupert stared at her in amazement. ‘Good grief. I’ve thought of almost everything else, but not that.’
‘You thought me an adventuress or worse.’ Sarah laughed softly, ridiculously relieved to have told him the truth. ‘Is that why you searched my room this morning?’
She saw the awkwardness in his manner and knew she’d scored a hit. ‘I began to search your room because of that letter... I saw you hide it when you noticed me.’ Rupert frowned at her. ‘Searching your room was not an honourable thing to do and I abandoned the idea. For that I ask you to forgive me—but do you think you have behaved in an honourable manner, Miss Hardcastle? You have lied to us and deceived us.’
‘I know the deceit was wrong.’ Sarah’s cheeks flamed. ‘At first it seemed to do no one any harm. I was well able to oversee Francesca’s studies, as able as Miss Goodrum would have been, I think—but I have not been truthful with you, Lord Myers, though Francesca knows some of it.’ She raised her head, looking into his face. ‘Do you wish me to leave?’
‘I ought to say yes. You know that, do you not?’ He paused for so long that she was turning away when he stopped her. ‘Who would that help?’ he asked in a cold clipped voice. ‘Francesca is fond of you and I believe you are helping her. I do not condone the deceit, but I see no point in distressing her and putting my uncle to the trouble of engaging a new governess. Are you able to remain here until Francesca goes to live with a chaperon?’
‘Until Christmas?’ Sarah hesitated, then, ‘I might need to go home for a few days, but I could return—if you wished me to do so?’
‘It is not a matter of my wishes. I am thinking of Francesca—and you.’
‘Me?’ Sarah was astonished. ‘Why are you thinking of me?’
‘You came here because you needed a break from your life, a chance to think and relax, did you not?’
‘In part, yes.’
‘Also to escape from fortune hunters and the like?’
‘Yes. Sir Roger Grey did not take kindly to my refusal of his obliging offer. The fact that he is visiting his uncle’s estate makes it awkward and may not be a coincidence. If he had discovered I was staying here...though I cannot see how he could....’ She hesitated, then, ‘I have recently received a generous offer to buy my father’s business empire, but the buyer remains anonymous. If it is the man I think it may be, I should be reluctant to sell. He would close the less profitable mills, leaving both men and women without work or a home.’
‘Would you wish to sell to a reputable buyer?’
‘Perhaps. I am not sure...’ Sarah hesitated. ‘Since coming here I have discovered a different way of life. I have thought I might perhaps marry if I could find a gentleman who would agree to keep the mills running and to treat my workers decently. I should like to be part of a family like this, you see. I was an only child and my mother died when I was quite young. Father treated me as if I were his son.’
‘That
