Broken Promise by Laura Landon

Author:Laura Landon
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Fiction, Regency, Suspense, Historical, General
ISBN: 9781937216115
Publisher: Prairie Muse
Published: 2011-10-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Sarah sat in the carriage opposite Captain Landwell and stared out the window as the English countryside rolled by. They’d left the Spotted Goose three days ago and would arrive in London late this afternoon. She was scared to death.

Major Talbot and Liddy—as Lady Lydia had insisted Sarah call her—had remained until the day before they left, then they’d taken Jonathan with them to Southerby Manor. A small army of outriders accompanied them for protection, but they left Liddy’s maid, Bertie, and Major Talbot’s valet, Vincent, behind to assist Sarah and Austin. Liddy had also sent two large valises filled with gowns and other clothing she insisted Sarah would need while in London.

Sarah had argued that the maid and beautiful clothes weren’t necessary, but Liddy had insisted, saying it wouldn’t look right to travel without someone to act as chaperone, and that Sarah would need the clothes once she arrived in London. As fortune would have it, they were very nearly the same size. So, Bertie and Vincent rode in a carriage ahead of them with the luggage, and she and Austin rode in a second carriage.

At the last stop, Austin sent the other carriage ahead to tell his brother, the Earl of Etherington, that they would arrive sometime before dark. At the speed the fields and pastures rolled by, she thought they’d be there soon.

“Are you comfortable?” Austin asked.

His quiet question brought her back from thoughts of what would happen when they reached London. Knowing the monumental decision awaiting her gripped her with a fear that was nearly overwhelming. She’d been convinced for so long that Penderly was a black-hearted villain that she couldn’t imagine making the decision that would give Jonathan over to him. But…

What if she discovered he wasn’t the evil person Lady Fledgemont had painted him to be? What if it was obvious he had nothing to do with the attempts on Jonathan’s life? Could she give Jonathan up to him?

“Do you need another pillow for your shoulder?” Austin asked, encouraging her to answer.

Her shoulder ached from the jostling of the carriage, but she didn’t want him to know that. The way he’d watched over her since they’d begun this last part of the journey was disconcerting. It was as if he knew what would happen when they reached London and wanted to ease her way as much as he could.

She refused to allow him to comfort her. His concern made her weak, made her want to rely on him, and she couldn’t let herself do that. She needed to be strong, independent. It would make what she had to do much easier. “I’m fine. Are we almost there?”

“In an hour or so. We’ll be there mid afternoon.”

“Will your brother mind us intruding?”

He smiled. It was the first truly open smile she’d seen from him in weeks. “We won’t be intruding. Harrison will welcome the company.”

“Is he very much like you, then?”

Her question brought out a deep, rich laugh that sent a warm rumble churning in the pit of her stomach.

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