Read Online Lady Sabrina’s Secret by Jeannie Machin - Free Book Online

Sabrina? A betrothal? Surely it had to be Richard’s Sabrina!
    Mrs McNeil looked at her in concern. ‘Is something wrong, my dear?’
    â€˜When was Sir James betrothed to Lady Sabrina?’ she asked.
    â€˜When? Let me see, it was the day after Richard left Bath.Yes, that was when it took place.’
    â€˜Was it a long-planned contract?’
    Mrs McNeil was puzzled at the questions. ‘Yes, as it happens it was. The arrangement was first made by their late fathers. Why do you ask?’
    â€˜Mrs McNeil, who exactly is Lady Sabrina?’
    â€˜Lady Sabrina Sinclair, the Duke of Gretton’s only sister.’
    Not the Duke of Gretton again. He seemed to be at every corner!
    Mrs McNeil studied her. ‘My dear, I trust you are going to explain?’
    Deborah nodded. ‘Yes, but first I must beg you to accept my apologies, for I haven’t been as forthcoming with you as I might have been. There are things I haven’t said because Richard instructed me not to, but now I think I must tell you everything I know. Please let’s walk, for I feel so guilty that I can’t just stand here.’
    â€˜As you wish.’
    They strolled slowly away from the ride, and Deborah related what had happened when she’d returned from her clifftop ride and found the package waiting for her. When she’d finished she faced Mrs McNeil. ‘I cannot believe that Richard’s Sabrina and Sir James’s Lady Sabrina are two different people. Too many facts tally.’
    â€˜They do indeed, for Lady Sabrina is everything that Richard would find irresistible. She is small and dainty, with golden hair and the sweetest of natures. He could not help but love her, I’m sure. And what is more, although the match is an arranged one, Sir James has always adored her. For him it isn’t a mere contract but a love match. I have often wondered what she thought, and now I know. She didn’t want to be betrothed to Sir James because she was inlove with Richard, but her brother the duke was for the Uppingham match because he saw it as his filial duty to continue with a contract he knew his father had wished for, and which he quite probably believed met with Sabrina’s own approval. She has certainly never given any hint to the contrary.’ Mrs McNeil drew a long breath. ‘How sad that she and Richard felt their only course was to elope.’
    â€˜Which they would have done but for the intervention of Sir James and Lady Ann,’ Deborah observed.
    â€˜True. Well, we have Sir James’s motive, do we not? He must have found out, and I’m sure he would do anything to rid himself of a rival, but I still cannot think why Lady Ann would lend herself to such a despicable scheme.’
    â€˜It is Lady Sabrina who is of more interest to me,’ Deborah murmured. ‘I must speak to her somehow.’
    â€˜My dear, Richard wanted her to be left alone; his letter appears to have made that very clear indeed.’
    â€˜I know, but I cannot stand idly by and do nothing. He is my brother and I love him very much, too much to obey him in this. I will not let Sir James and Lady Ann get away with what they’ve done, nor will I permit Lady Sabrina Sinclair to be safe with her secret if it is at Richard’s expense.’
    â€˜I admire your spirit, my dear, but feel I should point out that if you approach Lady Sabrina, you will have the Duke of Gretton to contend with. He will not suffer any scandal to touch his sister’s name, as touch it it will if it gets out that she and Richard were planning an elopement. The Bath gossip-mongers would have a grand time with such a snippet, make no mistake, and the duke would not take kindly to that.’
    â€˜Oh, plague take the Duke of Gretton! Would he ratherhis sister married a villainous rogue than an honorable man like Richard? If that is so, then His Grace of Gretton is more of a toad than I already believe.’
    Mrs