grandfather and I am sure he will forgive you when he learns your story and knows that you have been good for his granddaughter.’
‘If you are sure he will not think me a scheming adventuress. Perhaps I ought to leave as soon as a replacement could be found...’
‘You will do me a favour by remaining here under this roof,’ Rupert said. ‘I gave my uncle my word I would mentor John and protect Francesca, but he knows I have business from time to time. I can attend to yours and my own with only a small detour.’
Sarah swallowed hard. ‘I can only thank you for your consideration, sir. I think most gentlemen in your position would have simply dismissed me.’
‘I am not most men,’ Rupert said and there was mocking laughter in his eyes. She felt coldness at her nape. What made him look that way? Had a woman hurt him so badly that he could never trust another? ‘Do not review your opinion of me, Sarah. I am still the rake you thought me, but I do have a code of honour that I respect—and that concerns young ladies in need of protection.’
‘I am not so very young, but I understand your concern for Francesca—and I have become so fond of her. She is to me the sister I never had.’
‘Yes, I thought that might be the case.’ His smile was intriguing. ‘I shall not leave until after the picnic—and now I think we really must join the others for tea.’
‘Yes, of course. I can only thank you—’
‘Oh, there may be something more you can do for me—but we shall discuss that at a later date. Do not look alarmed, I promise I shall not harm you. When I thought you an adventuress or a courtesan I might have taken advantage, but that is no longer the case. Come now, we shall start again. If I may call you Sarah—and you will address me as sir or Rupert in private. No more my lording me, if you please.’
‘I shall try to remember.’
Sarah could not resist smiling. Her heart was beating very fast, for she could not dislike him even when he was cold and reserved. Something must have made him that way, for underneath she had now and then glimpsed a very different man. Sarah knew that she could easily fall in love with the man she’d seen on those rare occasions—but was he the real Rupert or was he the hard-eyed rake he claimed to be?
Only time and further acquaintance would tell.
She turned and left the room, preceding him to the drawing room where the others were gathered for tea.
‘Ah, there you are,’ Francesca said. ‘Is everything all right? I was afraid you might have to leave us or something.’
‘No, no, not at all,’ Sarah replied. ‘I had a small problem, but Lord Myers has promised to see to it for me.’
‘I have some business of my own I must attend to,’ Rupert said and gave the girl a warm look of affection. ‘I shall do what I can for Miss...Sarah while I’m gone. It will not be until after our picnic and I know you will be quite happy here together while I’ve gone.’
‘I wish I could come with you,’ John said. ‘I shan’t know what to do when you’re not here.’
‘You have your riding lessons—and you may join Sarah and your sister for lessons and other pursuits until I return. I shall not be long and I shall give you some reading to catch up on while I’m gone—something you will enjoy. Do not look so sulky, boy. You must learn to conquer that habit for it will not wash when you go to public school. I promise you that you will enjoy the books I choose for you to study. And when I come back we shall ride together.’
John was mollified and accepted a muffin from the plate his sister offered him, biting into it and chewing as the melted butter ran down his chin.
Sarah looked round the elegant drawing room, feeling truly at peace. She was glad to have confided in Lord Myers and relieved that she would not have to deal with the objectionable Mr Arkwright herself. Sam would need a letter from her, introducing Lord Myers as a friend who would oversee things for a while, leaving her free to enjoy the next few months.
It was an excellent arrangement, though temporary. She could not expect Lord Myers to continue it for longer than necessary. Once they were in London for Francesca’s Season, she would have to look around for a suitable husband. One who would be happy to run her affairs in the way she liked, and to give her a family.
The thought sent a tingle down her spine. A husband would expect the marriage to include intimate relations and she wanted children—so she would have to respect and like this man. Perhaps it would be easy to find such a person once she was mixing in society, but she’d mixed with gentlemen and men of her father’s class before and found no one she could even contemplate marrying. Except...her eyes focused on Lord Myers’s features and she felt a spasm of something she knew to be physical desire in her stomach.
Sarah would not object to a marriage of convenience with Rupert Myers, but he’d made it clear where the boundaries of their relationship ended.
He was prepared to offer her his protection, but love and marriage were very different things. Therefore, she would be a fool to let herself fall in love with him...and she would do well to dampen the physical feeling she’d had towards him on several occasions. Lord Myers might be a gentleman, but she was still not certain that he would not seduce her given the right opportunity.
The morning of the picnic was fine and warm, a perfect day for it. All the invitations had gone out and everyone had replied, accepting with pleasure, it seemed. Francesca was excited and John was beside himself. Several youths of his age had been invited and he was looking forward to the games he’d been promised.
Francesca and Sarah had been wrapping small gifts in secret for days. The games of running, jumping, throwing hoops over prizes and shooting arrows at a board would all be rewarded by sweetmeats and things like a silver penknife, a silver pencil and other similar trinkets, including a riding whip with a beautifully engraved silver handle, which Rupert had donated to their little hoard.
‘I think this is an excellent idea,’ he’d said to Sarah when giving her the gift. ‘It was time this place came to life again. I’m sure you will have callers while I’m gone—and when I return we’ll give a reception of some kind. I might ask a few friends of mine down, men I can trust not to try seducing Francesca before she has her Season.’ He hesitated, then, ‘What do you think of the dancing master? I’ve scarcely seen him, but he seems pleasant enough.’
‘Yes, he is charming,’ Sarah replied, keeping her reservations to herself. ‘He has given Francesca one lesson thus far, but I think she enjoyed it. I played for them, of course, so was unable to watch all of the dancing, but I think she has a natural grace.’
‘He is French, of course, and young.’ Rupert frowned. ‘I am trusting you to make certain he does not try to take advantage of her. She will never have met anyone like this Monsieur Dupree and may foolishly think herself in love with him. Make sure he does not get ideas above his station, if you please.’
‘Most young girls have a crush on their dancing master,’ Sarah said and smiled. ‘He is a very handsome young man, but I think Francesca is looking forward to her Season too much to be foolish over him.’
‘Well, I rely on you to keep an eye on her
