The Ghost and Sarah Tomlinson by Jeanne Savery

Author:Jeanne Savery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.
Published: 2013-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

Once they were well beyond those strolling with the purpose of seeing and being seen, Lady Mary seated herself on a low stone wall with her back to the waves. “Be seeing enough of that as soon as we take ship,” she said, thrusting her thumb over her shoulder. Then she patted the broad wall beside her and suggested Jenna sit as well. “Now, my old friend, a round tale, if you please.”

Jenna related all that had happened since her arrival in Brighton, lingering over her hopes that Lord Repton would manage to break through Sarah’s stubborn insistence she’d never wed.

“Never wed.”

There was a slightly rising note to that comment that half turned it into a question and Jenna sighed. “Mary…” She paused and began again. “Mary, what do you know of Sarah’s engagement and her subsequent retreat from the world?”

“Very little since I wasn’t in England at the time.” Mary rubbed her nose. “What do I know that might be relevant? Her father. He was one of those rather unworldly types who would give away his shirt if he felt someone needed it more than he did. I suspect he gave into Sarah’s pleading with regard to the engagement more because he couldn’t bear controversy than that he approved. In fact, I vaguely recall some story to the effect that he settled a small dowry on Sarah because he didn’t approve. Not that he was wealthy enough to have given her a much larger one.”

“That explains why she is in such dire straits now, the fact that he was so generous to others there was nothing left for Sarah when he died. The interest she receives from the dowry is inadequate. She was struggling to feed me when I came, just that much extra food a burden on her until I insisted on paying my way. She needs that house. It means she’ll not have to pay rent and will have a bit more for the other necessities of life.”

“No, no. She’ll marry and all will be well,” said Mary. “I’m certain that was Father’s plan when he put her in his will.”

Jenna bit her lip, debating. Then she shook her head. “I’m not sure it will work out that way. I fear there is another reason she insists she’ll not wed.”

“What possible reason…”

“That man. The one to whom she was engaged. Your father thinks he was a scoundrel. Is it possible that, before he joined his regiment in Portugal, that he…that they…that…” Jenna closed her mouth with a snap. She couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Mary straightened and shifted so that she could stare at Jenna. “Are you implying that he seduced Sarah and because she is no longer virginal she thinks she cannot wed another?”

Jenna breathed a prayer of thanks that Mary was not at all stupid, that she was frank to a fault and was not shy about saying what needed saying. She nodded. “Exactly. Thank you. I couldn’t bring myself to put it into words.”

“But what nonsense.

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