they left for London, she would send for her maid to join her and ask for some of her best evening gowns to be sent to her—though it was the chance of a lifetime to buy herself a new wardrobe. Most of her gowns had been made in Newcastle, by a wonderful French seamstress, who had somehow found herself in the northern city and established her business there. However, it would be pleasant to have a new stylish wardrobe made in London.
She dressed for the evening in her usual gown and was just putting the finishing touches to her toilette when someone knocked at the door. With one last glance in the mirror, she went to answer it, feeling a shock as she saw it was Rupert.
‘Forgive me, I wanted to give you this in private,’ he said and handed her a parcel. ‘I’ve brought gifts for Francesca and John, which I shall give them before dinner—but I wanted you to have yours first.’
‘A gift for me?’ Sarah was surprised. It was most unconventional for a man to offer someone like her a gift. ‘Really, you ought not—I’m not sure that I can accept....’ But she wanted to and her heart skipped a beat.
‘It is merely a token of my appreciation. Perhaps not what I should have liked to give you, but a simple gift like this should not bring censure on you for accepting it.’
‘Perhaps...’ Sarah breathed deeply. ‘Thank you, I shall accept it in the spirit it was given.’
‘Then I am in your debt. I shall leave you to come down in your own time. I must see John and Francesca.’
Sarah nodded and retreated into her room, closing the door behind her. When she could breathe properly again, she untied the string holding the brown paper in place. Inside the package was a small prayer book in white leather chased with silver and set with what looked like a diamond clasp. Not a small gift by any means, but not an intimate gift—not the kind of gift a man might give to his mistress.
Of course, Sarah wasn’t his mistress yet. Now what had put that thought into her head? It was never going to happen!
She ran her fingers over the smooth leather, thinking how much she would like to use this when they went to church on Sundays. It was a thoughtful gift and just the kind of thing she liked—the kind of gift her father had often given her for birthdays and Christmas. Mr Hardcastle had not often given impromptu gifts and Sarah wondered why Lord Myers had chosen to do so; he’d only been away a few days, even if they had seemed like a lifetime to Sarah.
* * *
‘Look what Rupert bought for me,’ Francesca said, glowing with pleasure as she showed Sarah the pretty fan she’d been given as her gift. The sticks were pierced ivory with gold chasing and painted with French pastoral scenes. ‘Is it not lovely?’
‘Yes, very pretty,’ Sarah agreed, pleased to see the girl so delighted with a simple gift.
His gift could hardly have been more appreciated, for it was something the girl had lacked. She spent most of the evening fanning her cheeks and peeking over the top at them, as if she were practising how to flirt.
Sarah found her innocent pleasure most attractive and a little amusing and, her eyes seeking Rupert’s, she saw the glisten of laughter there, as if he shared her thoughts. Then his eyes met hers and his expression changed, becoming so intense that it burned her. He half raised his glass to her and then turned away to speak to John.
Sarah looked down at her plate. Just what was in his mind? She was finding it difficult to judge because the signals were mixed. Rupert seemed so gallant, so kind and considerate at one moment and the next he was the charming rake, intent on making a conquest.
And if she did not stop thinking such foolish things and pay attention to what was being said, they would all wonder what was the matter with her.
John had been given a pair of York tan riding gloves and a sturdy whip made of good leather, but without embellishment. He had worn his gloves to table, but a nod from his mentor made him remove them in order to eat his dinner.
Looking about her, Sarah thought she had never been so content. She’d always regretted the lack of a sister or brother and this was the family she would always have wished for had she been given a choice. The only thing that could make things better was if Rupert actually cared for her...but that was dangerous territory and she pushed it from her mind as the talk turned to a discussion of their guests.
It appeared that they were to have four ladies and six gentlemen, all of whom were Rupert’s particular friends, and, Sarah was certain, handpicked for their reliability.
At least with guests in the house, Rupert was unlikely to start an affair with his charge’s companion.
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