Free Elisabeth Kidd by The Rival Earls Page B

whatever you may be. But you must not promise yourself when you may be promised already, or may find your circumstances to be such—”
    “They aren’t. I’m not.”
    Oh, why could she not confess now? It was not too late, surely? What if she pretended to remember on the return journey, or even here in town? Yes, she would do that! she thought, her heart leaping with excitement. If—when—an opportunity presented itself, when something—anything—happened that might seem to jog her memory, she would let it. She must be alert and not let any opportunity slip by.
    But would she have the courage to make use of it?
    When they finally left the church and returned to the outside world, they did not go directly to their next sightseeing objective, for Sabina, to prolong their return and search for some means of convincing James that she had regained her memory, began looking into shop windows and then searching her pockets. “I suppose I did not have any money?”
    He smiled. “I daresay Rose kept it somewhere safe on the boat. What would you like? I believe I am able to advance you whatever sum you need.”
    She pointed to an ivory hair ornament in the window. It was much like one her Uncle Brendel had brought back from India for her. Perhaps it would serve. James said gravely that he did not think this would bankrupt the exchequer, and they went into the shop. Sabina tried on a number of other ornaments, turning her head so that James could admire them and say which one he preferred, while she tried to think how she could put her plan into operation.
    She had just decided on her choice when she chanced to turn and saw two people entering the shop.
    “Good heavens!” she exclaimed unthinkingly, for her mind was too confused between past and present, real and imaginary Sabinas, that she could no longer think, “Dulcie! Henry! What are you doing here?”
    There was a charged silence for a full minute before anyone responded to this surprised outburst. Then Dulcie came forward and embraced her sister-in-law.
    “Oh, darling, I so glad you remembered!” She hugged the unresisting Sabina again and turned to James.
    “You were right, Robin. Thank you!”
    Sabina’s own words had temporarily robbed her of further speech, but at this her mind suddenly snapped back into operation and she turned toward her companion. “Robin? What does this mean?” She gazed at him as if he really were a stranger. “Who are you?”
    He looked half-abashed, like a schoolboy caught in a prank, and half fearful, as if he had slapped her and couldn’t believe he had done so. “Robert Ashton, Lady Sabina, at your service.”
    He took her hand as if to raise it to his lips, but she snatched it away.
    “You deceived me!” she cried, unable to look into his eyes. “If you had told me from the outset, I would never…”
    She caught Henry’s astonished glance and fell silent before she betrayed herself entirely. Could he have known from the outset who she was? And if he did, what had possessed him to lie to her, to pretend to be James Owen? It was as if Robert Ashton had murdered James Owen. My only love sprung from my only hate…
    “Take me home, Henry,” she said in a low voice.
    “Miranda, I’m so sorry—wait!”
    But she ran out of the shop before she heard another word. She could not stay. She could not let the traitor see the tears in her eyes.
     

Chapter 6
     
    Without looking back, Sabina strode away down the street, heedless of where she was going until she bumped into a plump lady carrying a basket over her arm.
    “Look where you’re going, love,” said the woman, not entirely without sympathy. Doubtless, Sabina thought angrily, she and every other person within hearing distance had witnessed the scene in the shop. Mumbling an apology, she chanced to glance back. James—no, Robert, curse him—was nowhere to be seen. Obviously, he had no intention of offering an explanation, much less an apology, for his treachery. For