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Sabrina stared out the bedchamber window. She swallowed her gasp when she noticed movement across the street. She didn’t have to strain her eyes to see Graham had followed them. Oh, what had she done? She never should have left with him this evening. Her actions only opened up a whole new set of problems.
Please leave. Please leave before they see you, she chanted to herself.
Barbara sneered. “After taking in your attire, I can understand why there was a delay on your return.”
Sabrina turned, smoothing her hands along her skirt. “My delay was only with my attempts to secure your request.”
Barbara narrowed her gaze, taking in Sabrina’s disheveled hair and the wrinkles in her dress. “And did you?”
“Yes.”
Barbara’s lips turned into a smile, one Sabrina had learned never to trust. “Excellent. When and where?”
Sabrina dreaded telling her, but she had no other choice. “This Friday. I am to meet her for tea in Mayfair.”
Barbara moved to the door. “You did very well this evening, and in more ways than one, it appears. I never could resist Reese’s prowess, so I understand how you were powerless to resist Graham’s pursuit. Much as you may dislike hearing this, you behave more like me with each passing day. I only hope he satisfied you in those few stolen moments. If not, then what a shame. You have earned yourself a reprieve from the guards for now. However, if you continue to stray without a care, then I will enjoy the guard’s entertainments when I throw you into his lair,” she warned before locking Sabrina into her bedchamber.
Sabrina blocked out Barbara’s words. The lady knew which taunts to throw at Sabrina to make her question her every action. But Sabrina refused to give her that power anymore. She didn’t feel an ounce of shame or remorse for the passion she shared with Graham. Sabrina treasured the beauty of their time together. She remembered his every word and action and allowed the memories to wrap her in the security he gifted her. His last words were a lure she must resist. However, they kept her heart warm.
She returned to the window, searching for him, but only found emptiness instead. He had left. Relief should wash over her at how he remained safe from the danger. Instead she suffered from the same abandonment as when Dracott left. Only Graham’s departure affected her more deeply, and heartache overtook her.
Sabrina fell onto the bed, curled into a ball, and cried out her sorrow. She muffled her cries against the pillow so Barbara wouldn’t take pleasure from her pain. Her tears streamed in endless paths down her cheeks, settling in the strands of her hair. Sabrina lifted her hands to her hair and realized that was how Barbara had guessed her tryst with Graham. She had forgotten he had dislodged her pins when he speared his hands through her hair to claim a kiss. She glanced down and saw the red scratches across her bosom where he had left his mark as he claimed his treasure. The reminder of their passion brought about a fresh wave of tears.
Sabrina had never felt more alone.
~~~~~
WORTH DRAGGED RALSTON out of bed and brought him to the house where he had followed Sabrina. Darkness shrouded the house, and no men stood guard as they had earlier. They walked to the mews down the road, searching for their carriage and horse. But they had disappeared too.
“I’m telling you, I followed them here,” Worth insisted.
Ralston sighed. “It may be so. They must have spotted you and fled. That house is empty.”
Worth stormed across the road and threw the door open to the house. Just as Ralston suspected, they had fled, not leaving one piece of evidence behind.
“Damn! I was so close.” Worth punched the wall.
His frustration wasn’t only from not capturing Lady Langdale. Fear coursed through him at how he might’ve placed Sabrina in danger of leading him to their hideout. He flew up the stairs to the bedchamber where she had stared at him from the window.
It was empty except for a bed frame with a sagging mattress. No sign showed her presence, except for her fragrance that perfumed the air. He sat on the bed, staring out the window, and watched the sunrise.
“Where did you go?” Worth murmured.
A flash of color bounced off the floor and displayed on the wall when the sun hit it. He looked down and saw a sequined hair clip. It matched the clip on the inside of his pocket. He bent over, smiling at the clue she had left behind. They had the correct house, only he was too late to arrive.
“Perhaps you mistook which road you traveled upon. We can have Kincaid’s men search the area,” Ralston said, standing inside the doorway.
Worth’s fingers closed over the hair clip. “No, I had the correct one. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt if they turned this house inside out. There must be clues somewhere to their activities.”
Ralston cocked his eyebrow. “Can I return to my wife now?”
Worth grimaced. “It troubles me to have Gemma suffer from your company, but I suppose you can. If not, she might bar me from entering your home again.”
“As if Gemma would dare hold a grievance against you. You are quite aware of the soft spot she holds for you,” Ralston grumbled.
“Only because she was once my betrothed,” Worth bragged, knowing how much his comment irritated his friend.
“You know damn well you were not,” Ralston growled.
Worth chuckled. “It depends on whose matter of opinion you ask.”
He looked over his shoulder as they left, hoping Sabrina would materialize out of thin air. However, only the empty house met his gaze. He regretted not storming the house. He might have met his demise, but at least he would have tried to save Sabrina. If luck prevailed and gave him another chance, he wouldn’t hesitate.
But would he be so lucky?
~~~~~
HE WANTED TO CONTINUE his search for Sabrina. Instead, Graham followed his mother into another shop. He still didn’t understand how she had roped him into escorting her around town this morning. He had argued about his need to visit his office, but his mother had insisted for him to keep her company. Since the rest of his family made themselves scarce, he had grudgingly agreed.
Soon, the morning turned into the afternoon. His mother perused the shops with a slowness that drove him mad. Each of her purchases she pondered over with indecisiveness.
If his thoughts weren’t so consumed with Sabrina, he would’ve realized how his mother stalled to keep him away from home. Since he never noticed her covert glances at her timepiece, he was clueless to her agenda.
Graham blew out a breath. He waited near the door, ready to leave as soon as his mother finished her browsing. He crossed his arms over his chest, drumming his fingers on his arms with impatience.
“Oh, dear. Please forgive my clumsiness.” Lady Worthington held out her arm so the girl didn’t knock over a display of ribbons.
“It is not your fault, my lady. It was I who didn’t pay attention.” The soft melody of the girl’s voice shook Graham from his annoyance.
He turned around and saw his mother with her arm on Sabrina, so she didn’t topple over. Sabrina’s hands reached out to steady the ribbon holder. Graham rushed forward and helped her regain her balance. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, relieved at seeing her again. His mother cleared her throat, and her shrewd gaze looked at his hold on the girl.
Once Graham realized she wouldn’t fall, he dropped his hands. Much to his misery, he stepped back. “Are you all right?”
Sabrina blushed at his bold attention. “Yes.”
“It is a delight to see you again,” Graham said. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her.
Sabrina tucked her hair behind her ear. “It is a pleasure to see you, too.”
Lady Worthington pinched her son in the side to get his attention. “Since my son is lacking the manners I taught him, may I inquire to how you two became acquainted?”
Graham rubbed at his side but kept the foolish smile on his face. “Mother, please allow me to introduce you to Sabrina Lancaster. Sabrina, this is my mother, Lady Worthington.”
Lady Worthington smiled with kindness at Sabrina. “Evelyn’s friend. How wonderful to meet you. I can see why my son is so smitten. You are quite pretty.”
“You are too kind, Lady Worthington.” Sabrina risked a glance at Graham, then grimaced.
Lady Worthington looked between the two. “Did I say something wrong?”
Sabrina smiled with humor twinkling in her eyes at Graham, proving how she was more than simply pretty. She was gorgeous beyond any words to describe how so.
Sabrina lifted her gloved hand to hide her smile. “No. Only your son has expressed his aversion to someone described as pretty.” Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “Once he hears the description, he runs in the opposite direction.”
Lady Worthington watched the display of humor between her son and this lovely girl. In all honesty, Sabrina was more than pretty, and her son remained rooted to her side. She didn’t think he would run anywhere but into the girl’s arms. Lady Worthington wanted to squeal at the attraction simmering between them. There was no worthier match for her son than the lady she had accidentally bumped into.
“Since I almost knocked you over, will you accept my forgiveness over a cup of tea? We have finished with our shopping, and I need a brief respite before I make the journey home. We would love if you would join us,” Lady Worthington offered.
“Finally,” Graham muttered.
Lady Worthington arched her eyebrow at her son. “Excuse me?”
“Nothing, Mother.” He turned to Sabrina and winked. “Please say you will join us.”
“How can I resist such a kind offer? I would love to,” Sabrina agreed.
“Allow me a minute to make this purchase and we shall try the place next door.” Lady Worthington walked over to the shopkeeper and handed over a bonnet she wished to purchase.
His mother left him alone with Sabrina, who turned her attention to the ribbons. She stepped forward to run her finger across a green ribbon with a rose pattern running down the middle. She bit at her bottom lip, and Graham saw the longing in her eyes. Her glance drifted to the front of the store after she drew her hand away and stepped back. His mother discussed with the shopkeeper where to have her purchase delivered.
Graham stepped forward and brushed his fingers against hers. She didn’t pull away from him, and instead she opened her hand and faced her palm out to him. Even though they both wore gloves, the impact of touching each other still held a profound effect on him. The act itself communicated how much he wanted to touch her.
He wanted to question her about what had caused her disappearance. Where did they vanish to? Did she need his protection? However, he stayed silent. Because he didn’t want to scare her away by revealing he had learned of her various identities and her connection to Lady Langdale.
“The ribbon would look pretty in your hair,” Graham commented.
Sabrina twisted her lips and peeked at him out of the corner of her eye. “Pretty? I cannot tell if your compliment is offensive or not.”
Graham laughed loudly enough to draw his mother’s notice. “I meant no offense, my dear. I failed with my poor attempt to pay you a compliment. Allow me to rephrase that; the lovely shade of green will be a perfect adornment to wear within your glorious locks of hair.”
Sabrina’s eyes widened. “My dear?” she whispered.
Graham was powerless to look away from the mischief twinkling in her gaze. She teased him with ease, as if she had for years. She was beyond amazing. “My dear. My siren. There are many more endearments I wish to whisper in your ear. However, I shouldn’t dare. Some are more scandalous than others.”
He longed to whisper “my love.” However, Sabrina wasn’t ready to hear his declaration yet.
The blush heating Sabrina’s cheeks didn’t stop her from asking, “Why should you not dare?”
Graham chuckled. “For that reason alone. Now you will have to explain your blush to my mother.”
Sabrina turned away from his mother, who was walking in their direction, and covered her cheeks. “You are a rascal, Graham Worthington.”
Graham whispered, “I much prefer to be your pirate instead.”
Sabrina gasped. “Oh.”
“Are you ready, Sabrina? I hope Graham hasn’t been too much of a bother,” Lady Worthington inquired.
Sabrina peered at Graham with a serious expression before smiling at Lady Worthington. “Not too much where I couldn’t manage him.”
Lady Worthington laughed. “Oh, I think we shall get along fabulously.”
Sabrina walked next to Lady Worthington as they headed out of the shop. She turned her head for one more glance at the ribbon before they left. Perhaps one day she could buy all the ribbons she wanted. But not today.
Lady Worthington kept up a steady flow of conversation until they settled at a table next door in a tea shoppe. Sabrina only held a few coins, and she prayed it was enough to cover the cost of a cup of tea.
“Now where did he wander off to?” Lady Worthington questioned, swiveling around to search the tea shoppe. “He complained all morning about escorting me around, and now that I’ve finished shopping, I cannot find him.”
“Perhaps he found something he wished to purchase,” Sabrina suggested.
“Well, here he comes now. We shall find out.” Lady Worthington winked at Sabrina.
“My apologies, ladies. When I left the store, I noticed this doll for Mina. I do not believe she has one like this.” Graham held up the doll he had purchased.
It was more of a rag doll with string hair and buttons for its facial features. The doll wore a medieval dress. It wasn’t a doll someone would give their child in the aristocracy but more of a toy for the less fortunate. But none of that seemed to matter to Graham or Lady Worthington either.
“She will love it. You spoil her so.” Lady Worthington patted Graham’s hand. “Mina is Evelyn and Reese’s daughter. She is a doll herself. We must have you over for tea so you can meet her.”
Graham chuckled. “Beware, though, she has the ability to wrap everyone around her finger. None of us can resist her sweetness.”
Lady Worthington joined in, laughing. “That she does.”
Sabrina smiled. “She sounds lovely.”
Graham placed their order. They enjoyed a pot of tea and slices of cake while they entertained Sabrina with stories of their family’s antics. On Lady Worthington’s every attempt to turn the conversation toward Sabrina to learn more about her, Graham swiftly regaled them with another humorous tale. She didn’t understand why, but he held her gratitude for his interference.
“It was lovely to meet you, Sabrina. Do come for tea soon,” Lady Worthington offered.
“I enjoyed meeting you, Lady Worthington,” Sabrina said.
“Please call me Meredith.”
Sabrina nodded. “Meredith. Thank you for tea, Mr. Worthington. It was most gallant of you.”
Graham lifted Sabrina’s hand and placed a kiss across her knuckles. “My pleasure.”
Sabrina grew warm at Graham’s bold act and knew a blush graced her cheeks in a flaming red color. In front of his mother, no less. The man held no shame. Yet she wouldn’t complain too much because of how she craved any attention from him.
“May we give you a ride home?” Lady Worthington asked.
“Thank you, but no.” Sabrina pointed across the street. Not to any shop in particular, but enough to make her excuse plausible. “I promised to meet my stepmother at her modiste.”
When Sabrina lowered her arm, Graham bumped into her and knocked her reticule to the ground. “Allow me,” he offered. He bent over to retrieve it and handed it to Sabrina. “Until we meet again.”
Sabrina smiled and waved them off. She headed across the street in case they watched her. When she glanced back, they were nowhere to be found. She slipped around the corner and started walking back to their new hideout.
Along the way, she passed a park and found a bench to sit upon as she thought about her visit with Graham and Lady Worthington. It was a pleasant afternoon, one she hadn’t experienced since her father was alive. But even those visits had been fraught with the unexpected because of his irregular behavior. Her life hadn’t resembled normal since her mother was alive. She had been their rock and knew how to manage her father’s behavior. Once her mother died, Sabrina’s life had been an uphill battle with every step a fight to take.
She longed for the simplicity of life but didn’t believe she could function with normal. Sabrina had spied on Dracott since his marriage to Maggie Worthington, and he appeared as if he had adapted quite well. Dracott no longer wore deep shadows under his eyes from his restless nights. She wondered if the night terrors that plagued him had ceased.
That was how she passed her days away, unless she had to follow Barbara’s bidding. She spied on Dracott, Ravencroft, and sometimes Rogers, the Worthingtons’ butler. Everyone she had relied on once upon a time. They had escaped Barbara’s clutches and made fresh starts. As much as she wanted to leave, she must remain until she found the last piece to destroy Barbara Langdale.
Sabrina rubbed her arm in a gentle caress. The tenderness still lingered from where Barbara had dragged her out of bed while she slept. She had raged and accused Sabrina of leading Graham back to their hideout. That if she hadn’t trifled with him, then he would’ve never thought to follow her. She told Sabrina how Graham must have discovered who she was. But Sabrina had denied the accusation. He had never spoken a word to Sabrina that revealed he had discovered her true identity.
But yet in a way he had. He told her how she could trust him to help her. Sabrina shook her head. Nonsense. He only made the statement because she acted skittish and uncertain whenever he asked about her past. Also, how she made excuses to avoid any meetings.
When she awoke this morning and found the house empty except for the lady who owned the home, Sabrina had left and walked to the shopping district, wanting to pretend to be a normal lady who passed the day away with shopping. Even though she only held a few coins to her name. Coming across Graham and his mother had been a coincidence, unlike the other moments where she had made it a point to cross paths with him or his family.
She smiled as she remembered how she teased him and how he returned her teases in a familiar manner. He was unlike anyone she had ever met. His laid-back manner quieted her soul. Yet whenever he touched her, he sent her emotions ricocheting all over the place.
She shouldn’t linger any longer. Sabrina grabbed her reticule and frowned when the clasp wouldn’t close. She opened the bag and found the green ribbon decorated with roses inside. Sabrina pulled the ribbon out and held it in her palm.
Graham.
He must have purchased it for her and knew how much she would’ve refused his generous offer. So he snuck it into her bag to find later. The sneaky devil.
Graham’s gift was an endearing gesture, showing Sabrina how thoughtful he was. She feared she only fell deeper for him. At first, he had fascinated her, and she had held a small crush on him. However, once she met him and spent time alone with him, her feelings had turned from simple infatuation to love. What other word was there to describe the emotions he invoked with the attention he gave her? She had never meant to fall in love and held no clue what to do. Her emotions conflicted with the plans she had and left her in doubt about why she remained.
Sabrina looked around her and noticed she sat alone in the park. She raised her skirts and quickly tied the ribbon above her knee, then stood up. She couldn’t afford for Lady L to see the gift. It wouldn’t do to anger her stepmother any more than her absence probably had.
Which left Sabrina wondering, was it all even worth it anymore?