No Decent Gentleman (23 page)

''I overheard Sabrina complaining to her sister about Alexis Carstairs," Belladonna told him. "I believe her exact words were 'that brazen harlot.' "

"And?" Adam asked, a grudging smile flirting with his lips.

"Apparently, Sabrina is susceptible to jealousy," Belladonna said. "I will keep you informed about her schedule, and you contrive to be there with Alexis Carstairs."

Adam inclined his head. "I will consider your offer."

Who did the marquess think he was? Sabrina fumed, early the next morning as she dressed for her ride with Edgar. Adam St. Aubyn was not her keeper and had no right to forbid her to see anyone. She would make a point of seeing those men whom he considered unsuitable, and thereby teach him a lesson he would not soon forget.

Sabrina dressed in a sapphire woolen gown and matching cloak with a muff. She brushed her copper hair back off her face and tied it in a knot at the nape of her neck.

"Come, Winston," she called, heading for the door. The wolfhound followed her out of the bedchamber and then ran ahead of her down the stairs to the foyer.

Sabrina smiled to herself when she heard the ominous sound of the dog's growling. Apparently, Edgar had already arrived and awaited her in the foyer. Walking down the last section of the staircase, she spied Edgar standing statue-still while Winston stood in front of him and growled his dislike.

"Sit, Winston," she ordered in a stern voice, imitating the marquess. Instantly, the dog obeyed her. "Forbes, take Winston to the kitchen for a treat."

"I still say that dog is a menace," Edgar said, watching the wolfhound walk away with the major-domo.

"Winston is sweeter than walnut pudding with chocolate sauce," Sabrina replied.

Winter wore a serene expression that morning. The fog seemed sheerer than usual, and Sabrina thought she saw a brightening in the eastern sky where the sun should have been at that time of day.

Within ten minutes, Edgar steered their carriage through Grosvenor Gate into Hyde Park. From there, they drove down the lane toward Rotten Row. Several passing gentlemen whom she'd met at her coming-out tipped their hats in her direction and called a greeting to Edgar.

Sabrina suffered only one bad moment. When Edgar turned their carriage around to retrace their route down Rotten Row, she spied a man and a woman on horseback riding toward them. Her heart sank to her stomach when she realized who they were: Adam and Alexis Carstairs.

"Good morning, Edgar," Alexis called when her horse came abreast of them. "Nice to see you again, Sabrina."

"Good morning," Edgar returned her greeting.

For his part, Adam tipped his hat at her and gave Edgar a curt nod. Sabrina lifted her nose into the air and refused to acknowledge either one of them.

"I told you Lady Rothbury and the marquess were lovers," Edgar said after they'd passed the couple.

"I have a headache," Sabrina announced, unaccountably troubled by the sight of Adam with that woman. "Please, take me home now."

The following morning the Earl of Tunbridge arrived in the foyer precisely on time for his appointment with Sabrina. His eyes were rimmed in red, and Sabrina thought she smelled spirits on his breath, but she was determined to go riding with him because Adam had discouraged it. Besides, she had no idea how to break an appointment without offending the other person.

Sabrina felt relieved that the earl hadn't drunk enough to impair his carriage-driving skills and place her in jeopardy. As they made their return trip down Rotten Row, Sabrina spied Adam with Alexis Carstairs again. The couple turned their horses and rode in a different direction when they saw her.

Watching them ride away together, Sabrina felt pangs of jealousy shoot through her. Did the marquess really care about Alexis Carstairs? If he did, why had he bothered to maintain his betrothal to her? Was he intent on marrying her out of some misplaced sense of loyalty to their fathers' wishes? She didn't want a husband who loved another woman.

"I toasted Stonehurst's almost-betrothal last night at White's," the Earl of Tunbridge said, yanking her out of her thoughts. "I don't understand why he didn't appreciate it."

Sabrina looked at the earl more closely. Adam had been correct; the earl loved his drink.

"I have a headache," Sabrina announced, her dejection making her want to escape. "Please, take me home now."

On Wednesday morning, Lord Huntingdon escorted Sabrina on a carriage ride through Hyde Park. He followed the same route she'd taken the preceding two mornings.

Again, Sabrina saw Adam and Alexis riding together. Full-bodied jealousy swelled within her breast and made breathing difficult.

"I have a lot of money wagered in favor of their marriage," Baron Huntingdon said, leaning close to whisper in her ear. "Would you care to place a small wager on whether I'll win?"

Sabrina snapped her head around to stare at the baron. Adam had been correct; the baron did love to gamble.

"I have a headache," she told the baron. "Take me home please."

Sabrina had no date to ride in Hyde Park on Thursday morning, but that brought her no peace. Opening
The Times
, she found almost a whole column devoted to Lady Smythe's ball the previous evening and the activities of Adam and Alexis. The reporter even had the audacity to speculate about how much time would pass before the Marquess of Stonehurst and the Countess of Rothbury announced their betrothal.

The anger that had been simmering inside Sabrina became a raging boil. How dare the marquess squire another woman around town when he was her betrothed and had been for the past fifteen years. The fact that he'd given her time to decide if she wanted him did not give him the right to make a spectacle of himself with another woman.

Accompanied by her sister and their aunts, Sabrina attended the opera that evening with Viscount Lincoln. Adam had kindly loaned them his private box.

The opera began. In the dimness of the theatre, a movement on her right side caught her attention. Sabrina flicked a sidelong glance at the viscount and caught him with his hand on his own groin. Shocked and offended, Sabrina wanted to leave but remained where she was. What reason could she possibly give for wanting to leave almost as soon as the opera began? Keeping her attention focused on the stage, she refused to look at the viscount even when he spoke to her.

And then intermission arrived. Across the theatre Adam sat with Alexis Carstairs. The sight of them together again was more than she could endure.

"I have a headache," Sabrina announced, rising from her chair abruptly. "I am going home and will send the carriage back for you."

"I'll escort you there," Viscount Lincoln said, starting to rise.

"No, you won't," Sabrina snapped. She covered her lapse in manners with a smile and said, "Stay and enjoy yourself. I'll be fine in the morning."

"You have suffered several headaches this week," Belladonna remarked. "I think you should see a physician."

"We'll discuss that in the morning," Sabrina said, and escaped from the box.

Twenty minutes later, Sabrina was walking into the town house in Grosvenor Square. With a heavy heart, she climbed the stairs to her third-floor bedchamber and sat down in front of the hearth. Winston licked her hand as if he sensed her mood.

Adam St. Aubyn certainly behaved as if he had no betrothed, Sabrina thought in dejection. She should have seen him for what he was from the very beginning—a scoundrel of the first rank.

Glancing down at the ring he'd given her, Sabrina decided that it meant nothing. She removed the betrothal ring and placed it inside a drawer in the highboy.

Sabrina suffered the almost overpowering urge to bake but fought it back. Tomorrow morning would be soon enough.

After a restless night, Sabrina rose early and changed into a simple muslin dress. She wished her black gowns hadn't been packed away, for the somber-ness of black matched her mood.

Leaving her chamber, Sabrina and Winston walked downstairs to the foyer. Baxter was just opening the front door to allow someone entrance. The wolfhound barked and dashed toward the newcomer.

"Sit, Winston," Adam said, patting the dog's head. "Good boy."

Sabrina threw the marquess a quick glance and didn't bother to greet him. Instead, she started down the corridor toward the dining room.

"Sabrina," he called.

She paused and, without bothering to turn around, said, "Yes, my lord?"

"Look at me, please."

Slowly, Sabrina turned around. He would have had to be blind not to recognize the frigid look in her expression.

"Get your cloak," he ordered. "We are riding in Hyde Park this morning."

Sabrina arched a brow at him. "I thought you didn't go about on Fridays."

"I am making an exception for you," he replied.

"I have a previous appointment with Lord Briggs," she lied. "Riding with you is impossible this morning."

"When the baron arrives, send him away," Adam ordered, turning to the majordomo. "Tell him Lady Sabrina is feeling under the eaves today."

At that, Adam started walking toward her. He appeared to be a man with a purpose.

Instinctively, Sabrina stepped back a pace, but he caught her wrist and forced her to walk with him down the corridor to the study. She could either go with him willingly or struggle with him in front of the servants.

Once they'd gained the study, Sabrina whirled around to confront him. She saw him drop his gaze to her right hand and felt satisfied when surprise registered on his face.

"Where is your ring?" Adam demanded.

Sabrina ignored his question.

"I'm waiting for an explanation."

"Where is Alexis Carstairs?" Sabrina asked. "I thought the two of you were joined at the hip. I think the gossip about you is nauseating in the extreme."

"And so do I," Adam said. "However, we aren't here to discuss my lack of morals."

"Are you implying that I lack moral fiber?" she demanded, her green eyes glittering with anger.

"Riding with a different man each morning will cause gossip," he told her. "Your behavior is unbecoming to the future Duchess of Kingston."

"In order for me to become the Duchess of Kingston, I would need to be your wife," Sabrina said.

"The point is you will be my wife one day," Adam said.

"You arrogant, faithless—I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man in England," Sabrina cried, searching her mind for a worse insult to hurl at him.

"
Princess, we are married
."

Chapter 11

Shock knocked the breath out of Sabrina. She felt as though she'd been kicked in the stomach and couldn't catch a breath. The room spun dizzyingly, and the carpet rushed up to greet her.

Something wet tickled her cheek. Sabrina opened her eyes to see Winston, and she realized she was lying on the couch near the hearth. Sabrina focused on the marquess, who crouched beside the couch and watched her.

"You will feel better in a few minutes," Adam said, lightly caressing her arm. A hint of a smile touched his lips when he added, "I knew you would crumple beneath the truth."

"Do you refer to
the
truth or
your
truth?" Sabrina asked coldly. She tried to sit up, and when Adam reached out to help her, she snapped, "Don't touch me."

Adam withdrew his hand and straightened his body. "My truth is the truth," he said, looking down at her through piercing blue eyes. "As children, we were wed."

"I don't believe you," Sabrina told him.

"I can produce the marriage certificate," he told her.

Sabrina cocked a copper brow at him. "A forgery, perhaps?"

"If you don't believe me, ask my uncle," Adam replied.

"Your uncle is your accomplice," Sabrina said, rising unsteadily from the couch.

"Then ask your aunt. She's known about our marriage for years."

"Aunt Tess?" Sabrina felt confused and betrayed. Why hadn't her aunt told her? Why had her father done this to her?

"Your father refused Edgar Briggs because you already had a husband," Adam told her.

Sabrina didn't know what to believe. If it was true, she thought, becoming angry, then the marquess had been committing adultery with Alexis Carstairs. God only knew who else had shared his bed. Apparently, his pleasing appearance hid a wicked heart. The marquess was not the kind of man she would choose for a husband. Once an adulterer, always an adulterer.

"Assuming I believe you, you did give me the option of finding a suitable husband," Sabrina said. "What would you have done if I had fallen in love with another gentleman?" Sabrina asked.

"There was no danger of that happening."

"You arrogant, conceited, insufferable—"

"Tread lightly, my lady," Adam interrupted.

"I refuse to let you ruin my life," Sabrina said, her voice rising with her anger. She turned away and showed him her back.

Adam whirled her around. Grasping both of her forearms, he yanked her close to his body.

Surprised, Sabrina stared into his eyes. "You are hurting me," she said.

Instantly, Adam loosened his grip. "Let me recount the ways I have ruined your life," he said. "I rang the death knell for your father and promised to clear his name from the taint of suicide. I have also given you a season in London, a completely new wardrobe, and priceless jewels."

Sabrina felt ashamed of herself. The marquess was correct; he had shown her many kindnesses. That did not give him ownership of her person, though.

"I do appreciate what you have done for me," Sabrina said. "But I prefer—"

"Spare me your preferences," Adam said, his tone of voice colder than ever.

Like a sudden gust of wind, Sabrina's anger returned to vanquish her shame. Holding on to the image of Alexis Carstairs, Sabrina informed him, "I have no wish to marry you."

"Too late, my lady," Adam said. "Come the first day of April we will celebrate our fourteenth wedding anniversary."

God shield me
, Sabrina thought, uncertain of what her next move should be. And then an idea popped into her mind.

"I want an annulment," she told him.