No Decent Gentleman (2 page)

Sabrina watched him retrieve the lantern and mount his own horse. Apparently, her father did have great friends who were willing to champion his cause. How would she ever be able to thank this man for what he'd done for her this night? What he had given her could never be repaid.

Turning their horses in unison, they retraced their path down the village road toward Abingdon Manor. Without saying a word to each other, they stopped when they reached the crossroads. The two burly bodyguards still kept the vicar and his pallbearers at bay.

"Let them leave," the marquess called to his men, who stepped aside instantly.

"I forgive you," the vicar said, his gaze fixed on Sabrina. "In a few days you will regret your actions tonight."

"No, Vicar Dingle, you will regret
your
actions," Sabrina replied. "Your church will never again receive one shilling from the Savage family."

Vicar Dingle shook his head sadly as if he couldn't credit what he was hearing. "Because of your father's suicide, the Savage estates are forfeit to the Crown." With those parting words, the vicar and his six pallbearers started walking down the road to the village.

"Is that true, my lord?" Sabrina asked, beginning to panic, turning to the marquess. How would Courtney and she live if they lost everything? How could she prove that her father's death had been an accident?

"Please, call me Adam," the marquess said.

"Then you must call me Sabrina."

"Very well, Sabrina."

"You haven't answered my question," she said.

"By law a suicide's assets are forfeit to the Crown, but we may be able to get around that," the marquess told her. "My uncle has friends at court who have the power to certify your father's death an accident."

"My father's death was no suicide," Sabrina said. "How should I go about proving that?"

For a moment Adam was silent. Then he replied, "Do you believe your father was murdered?"

"My father had no enemies."

"Every man has enemies," the marquess said grimly. "We will discover who your father's are." Then he called to his men, "Sagi and Abdul, remain here on guard until the dawn."

"Why should they guard my father's grave?" Sabrina asked, surprised by his command.

Now it was the marquess's turn to look surprised. "Sabrina, have you never heard of Resurrection men?" he asked.

"You don't think someone would steal my father's body?" she asked, shocked. "He was an earl."

"Most Resurrection men prefer to work near London where there are more donors," he replied. "We'll be certain that no one disturbs your father's grave if my men stand guard for a week."

"I'll send my servants with blankets, food, and a lantern," Sabrina called to the two men.

Both men nodded, acknowledging her words, but said nothing.

"What strange names your servants have," Sabrina remarked as they started down the road toward Abingdon Manor. "Are they foreigners?"

The marquess nodded.

Sabrina glanced sidelong at him but couldn't see his face very clearly in the darkness in spite of the lantern he carried. "Where do they come from?"

"The East," he said simply.

"I see."

The Marquess of Stonehurst turned his head to look at her. "No, Princess, you do not see, but you will understand one day soon."

Sabrina remained silent. She had no idea what he meant and wasn't certain she wanted to know.

Sabrina and Adam passed through the open gate onto the Savage estate and rode at a more leisurely pace toward Abingdon Manor. In the distance, beeswax candles and paraffin lamps glowed like fireflies from the mansion's windows and grew brighter as they neared the house.

Sabrina halted her horse in the circular drive in front of the mansion and dismounted without waiting for assistance. Two stableboys appeared to take charge of their horses.

The front door opened just as they reached it. The Savage majordomo stepped aside to allow them entrance.

"The others are waiting in the drawing room." He reached to help Sabrina remove her cloak.

"Don't bother with me, Forbes," she said. "Send a footman with food, blankets, and lanterns to the crossroads. Then prepare the dining room for our guests."

The majordomo looked surprised. "You want to send a footman to the crossroads with—?"

"The Marquess of Stonehurst was kind enough to leave his men guarding Papa's grave," Sabrina explained.

"Very good, my lady," Forbes replied. He started to turn away to do his mistress's bidding, but paused and said, "Lady Sabrina, I heard the death knell. My compliments on a job well done."

"Thank you."

"I never did like Vicar Dingle," Forbes muttered as he walked away. "Self-righteous men are the devil's spawn."

The majordomo's sentiment matched hers. Sabrina laughed, a sweetly melodious sound, so at odds with her behavior that night. Flicking the hood of her cloak off her head, she turned to properly greet the man who'd saved her father from a final indignity.

Surprised by his dark handsomeness, Sabrina could only stare at him. She suffered the absurd notion that seeing him by lantern light did him no justice.

A couple of inches over six feet, Adam St. Aubyn stood a good foot taller than herself, and Sabrina had to tilt her head back to look up at his face. Marring his handsome features, a thin scar ran from the corner of his mouth to his right cheekbone. He wore his midnight-black hair long on his neck as if he hadn't the time to cut it properly. Its ebony color contrasted sharply with blue eyes so distinctively piercing that Sabrina felt he could see to the very depths of her soul. His smile on her was warm and—

Sabrina realized the marquess was watching her study his appearance. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks a rosy hue, which made his smile widen into a grin.

"Let me help you with that," he said in a husky voice, reaching for her cloak.

God shield me
, Sabrina thought. Even the man's tone of voice suggested intimacy. She hadn't noticed it earlier.

Sabrina wanted to say something wonderfully witty, but her mind went blank. Thinking of something witty to say would take her an hour, and
wonderfully
witty would waste several days.

Instead of speaking, Sabrina smiled shyly and offered him her hand. "Your arrival tonight was a miracle," she said when he accepted it. "I don't know what I would have done without your assistance."

"I commend your loyalty to your father," Adam replied.

"Sabrina!"

Both Adam and Sabrina turned toward the voice and saw Edgar Briggs walking across the foyer. As if by mutual consent, they released each other's hands.

The baron nodded once at the marquess and then rounded on Sabrina, beginning his lecture with "Your behavior tonight was unpardonable."

"Oh, Edgar," she said in a weary voice. "Please, let's not go into it now and certainly not in front of the marquess."

"I cannot hold my tongue until the morning," he said, and then turned to the marquess. "If you will excuse us, my lord, I wish to speak privately—"

"I have no intention of being rude to my guests," Sabrina interrupted him. "Whatever you want to say will wait until tomorrow." She grasped Adam's forearm and escorted him toward the stairs, saying, "The drawing room is this way, my lord."

Though the whole chamber had been draped in dreary black, ease and comfort had replaced formality in the drawing room. Sofas and chairs had been positioned closer to the warmth of the fire, and a variety of tables had been scattered about for convenience and utility. In the far corner of the chamber stood a pianoforte and a harp, both instruments also draped in black.

At their entrance, the Duke of Kingston rose from the sofa and crossed the chamber to greet Sabrina properly. "Henry and I were great friends," he said, taking her hands in his. "I grieve for your father's passing."

"Thank you, Your Grace."

"Let's not stand on formality, my dear child," the duke said, escorting her to the sofa near the hearth. "Please call me Uncle Charles."

"Oh, but I couldn't," she protested.

"Yes, you can," he disagreed in a gentle voice. "Courtney has already agreed to do so.

Sabrina smiled. "Very well, Uncle Charles."

"That's better."

"I don't know what we would have done if Adam and you hadn't arrived when you did," Sabrina told him.

"Adam, is it?"

Sabrina blushed and flicked a glance at the marquess, who stood beside the hearth. "Adam has given me permission to use his given name."

"Sabrina, I really must speak with you," Lord Briggs said.

"Your lecture can wait until morning," Sabrina replied, irritation lacing her voice.

"Lecture?" the duke echoed.

"Apparently, Edgar feels the need to lecture me about my treatment of the vicar," Sabrina explained.

"Vicar Dingle has more hair than wit," Aunt Tess said. "I never liked him."

"Neither did I," Courtney agreed.

Sabrina said nothing. Though Adam St. Aubyn remained silent, she was acutely aware of him. His dark, commanding presence attracted her, and she had a difficult time keeping herself from staring at him.

"As I told you earlier, I received a message from your father to come to Abingdon as soon as possible. He said it was an important matter," the duke was saying. "And then Tess's message arrived."

"I wonder what the problem was," Sabrina interjected, speaking her thoughts aloud. She looked at the duke, saying, "Vicar Dingle told me the Savage estates are now forfeit to the Crown."

"The land will be auctioned," Edgar informed her. "You need not fear losing Abingdon Manor, for I plan to purchase the estate for you."

"The Savage lands will not be auctioned," Adam disagreed, speaking up for the first time since entering the drawing room.

"Adam is wealthy, and I enjoy friendships in the most exclusive circles," the duke explained, looking at the baron. "A few words spoken into a royal ear and a healthy bribe will give my nephew the right to oversee the Savage assets until we can straighten out this whole sorry affair. I can almost guarantee that your father's death will be ruled accidental."

Sabrina felt the fear rush out of her. For the moment she need not worry about how to care for her sister and her aunt. Nor would she need to feel obligated to Edgar in any way.

And then the Duke of Kingston surprised her by saying, "As you may know, I am the executor of your father's will."

"I didn't know that," Sabrina said, surprised. "How long had you known my father?"

"We shared chambers at school," the duke answered. He smiled, adding, "Our accommodations became rather cramped when Adolphus and his dog moved in with us."

"Adolphus?" Courtney exclaimed. "King George's son?"

"The son of a king is always given the title of
prince
," Aunt Tess corrected her younger niece.

Sabrina smiled at her aunt's ridiculous statement. "How did you manage to keep up your friendship?" she asked the duke.

"I'll answer all of your questions tomorrow," the duke said, patting her hand. "Recently, your father sent me a codicil to the will."

"A codicil?" the baron echoed. "Concerning what?"

"Are you a member of the Savage family to be privy to the late earl's business affairs?" Adam asked, a challenging tone in his voice.

Recognizing the angry glint in Edgar's hazel eyes, Sabrina prevented an argument by saying, "Uncle Charles, I hope that you and Adam will consent to be our guests at Abingdon Manor."

"We would love to accept your invitation," the duke answered. "Tonight, however, we must return to the inn. We left my sister at High Wycombe for the night. She will arrive in Abingdon tomorrow morning."

"Adam's mother?" Sabrina asked.

"No, Adam's mother is another sister of mine," the duke told her. "This one is Lady Belladonna DeFaye."

"Well, I'll be," Aunt Tess exclaimed. "I haven't seen Belladonna in years." She looked at her niece, adding, "Belladonna and I were great friends during our first season out. We lost touch with each other after we met our husbands. I suppose marriage has a way of separating friends."

"Lady DeFaye will also be a welcome addition to our household," Sabrina said, rising from her chair. "For now, come to the dining room and refresh yourselves with a light supper."

Adam stepped forward before Sabrina could offer to escort the duke. "Allow me to walk with you downstairs," he said, taking her hand.

His words and his touch surprised Sabrina, but she didn't draw back. Instead, she dropped her gaze to their hands. His touch was firm yet gentle, and he stood so close that his clean, spicy bay scent assailed her senses.

Sabrina suddenly wondered what it would feel like to kiss this handsome man. Lifting her gaze, she blushed with embarrassment. His piercing blue eyes seemed to say that he was aware of his effect on her.

Recovering her composure, Sabrina acquiesced with a silent nod. The Duke of Kingston escorted Aunt Tess, leaving Edgar to walk with Courtney.

Entering the dining room on the first floor, Sabrina was pleased to see the table set with their finest Wedgwood china. Covered dishes had been placed on the table, and their Worcester tea and coffee service sat on the sideboard.

"Uncle Charles, please do us the honor of sitting at the head of the table," Sabrina said.

The duke obliged her. Aunt Tess, Courtney, and Edgar sat on his left side while Sabrina and Adam sat on his right side.

Forbes lifted the covers off the platters to reveal deviled eggs, potted mushrooms on toast, and pork balls in tomato sauce. They served themselves in the family style.

"Simply delicious," the duke said after tasting the potted mushrooms. "My compliments to the cook."

"The cook is sitting on your right," Courtney told him.

The duke turned to Sabrina, asking, "You prepared the mushrooms?"

She nodded. "I prepared everything."

"Sabrina cooks herself into a frenzy when she's upset," Courtney said. A mischievous gleam entered her eyes when she added, "There have been times when I purposely drew her into an argument."

"You are exaggerating," Sabrina said with a smile.