Lady Sarah's Redemption Read Online Free PDF

not having the desired effect. Mr Hawthorne was
positively glowering.
    “Miss Morecroft, such frivolity is not countenanced in my household.
Your father assured me of your sober temperament. I paid your passage and
offered you a home upon the death of your late mother—”
    “Oh, Sir!” Sarah caught her breath in what she considered a
heartrending manner. Running the back of her hand across her eyes, she darted a
surreptitious look from between her fingers. Yes, this was proving a most
effective way of quelling his diatribe. She could see his immediate self
recrimination was genuine. “You have been kindness itself!” She hiccupped,
unable to continue, for her tears were suddenly no longer feigned. She thought
of her darling Papa who must be mad with grief. Guilt bubbled up inside her.
Nor had she any right to deceive the decent, if somewhat grim, gentleman before
her.
    But how to extricate herself?
    Mr Hawthorne’s frown was now one of deep concern. Taking her by the
elbow he led her into a narrow alley, away from the curious looks of
passers-by.
    Sarah stared at her feet, encased in their ugly, serviceable
second-hand boots, bit her lip and gave another hiccupping sob.
    “Miss Morecroft, I apologize.”
    Raising her head she was struck anew by his fine grey eyes regarding
her with … compassion? She was even more surprised when he put his hand on her
shoulder and said with genuine feeling, “My behaviour was unsympathetic and
ungentlemanly.”
    Her heart gave an unexpected lurch. To cover her awkwardness she managed
a brave smile as she said briskly, “You had every right. Please, sir, if I
promise never to set foot in another pawnbroker’s, may I be forgiven and fetch
the girls? I must get them ready for nursery tea.”
    His normally severe expression softened. The extraordinary
transformation only increased Sarah’s loss of composure.
    “I hope you did not pawn something that was precious to you, Miss
Morecroft. I will gladly redeem it. That is, if you do in fact promise to approach
me before you consider setting foot in such a place again.”
    “It was nothing precious, sir.” Though her heart was beating quickly
Sarah ventured a wicked grin. “Merely a trinket I happened upon during my brief
visit to the ocean floor.”
                                 
    “The girl is quite unlike Godby’s description of her.” Roland
scowled at Mrs Hawthorne who was stitching an elaborate pastoral scene that
consumed most of her daily hours.
    With speed and deftness she worked the needle and coloured threads.
Roland often wondered how she could spend so many hours by the fire — in
all weathers — when the garden beckoned, beyond.
    She picked up a skein of gold and glanced at him. “I believe
excessive sea water in the system can unhinge the mind. Her manners are lax. I
did warn you, Roland, but hopefully time will reveal a more sober nature.”
    Roland raked his fingers through his hair as he kicked a burning log
further into the fire. “I’m not about to turn her out.” He sighed. “I owe her
father too much. But when all’s said and done I must act in Caro’s best
interests. I cannot risk her being corrupted by a frivolous and hoydenish young
woman.”
    His scowl deepened as he reflected on their encounter the previous
afternoon. Yes, the girl was quite unlike Godby’s description of her and Roland
was dangerously discomposed. Both by Miss Morecroft, and his response to her.
    Mrs Hawthorne clicked her tongue before adding, “Indeed, Caro is in
the greatest moral danger … through no fault of her own.” She bent once more
over her work and shook her head to emphasize her point.
    Not for the first time Roland looked dispassionately at the bobbing
ginger corkscrew curls which his brother had so cruelly derided before he’d
married Cecily for her money, and wished his sister-in-law could bring herself
to feel a little more kindness for his daughter.
    “Caro is old enough to eat