Secret Heiress Read Online Free PDF Page B

squanders the fortune he inherited. Youshould speak to him, Sarah. If he continues as he is, he will come unstuck and lose everything.’
    â€˜Howard takes no notice of anything I say.’ She raised her eyes to his. ‘You know what I want, my lord. You have always known. My health is not good. Soon it will be too late for me to get to know our child…’
    â€˜I’ve told you before, I do not know where the child is now, Sarah. I promised that I would make no attempt to find the babe and I have kept my word. The lawyer saw to everything. I merely paid for the arrangements, as your husband demanded in settlement of his terms. I have never known the name of the people to whom the lawyer gave our child. Had I not agreed to his terms, Manners would have treated you more harshly than he did.’
    â€˜But you know the lawyer involved, do you not?’
    â€˜Yes, for I made payments for the child’s upkeep until last year…’ he admitted it reluctantly. ‘Are you sure you wish to do this, Sarah? Your reputation has remained spotless. Only a few friends knew of your confinement. Do you truly wish to risk exposure at this stage?’
    â€˜I am lonely, Henry. And I wish to atone for my earlier wrongdoings.’
    â€˜But how long will it be before the truth comes out?’
    â€˜Why should it ever be known? Do not fear that I shall reveal your name, Henry. Even if my part were suspected, you would remain anonymous.’
    He looked at her in silence for some moments, then inclined his head. ‘Very well. I shall look out the lawyer’s address. I believe I have it somewhere.’
    â€˜Thank you. I am grateful. I was not sure you would come today.’
    The marquis raised his brows. ‘I am not the monsterrumour would have me, Sarah. I could not refuse you such a request, though I gave my word to Manners that I would never tell you anything.’
    Sarah stood up. She moved towards him, laying her hand on his arm. ‘Has life been terrible for you, Henry? I thought of you so often, wished that things had been otherwise. Especially when I heard…’
    â€˜That I had gone to the devil?’ A wry smile touched his mouth. ‘I decided that I would never give my heart again and so I married for money, though later I inherited more than I could ever need. My wife hates me and I have no love for her. I care only for my daughter, Marianne. I ask you not to tell me if you discover the truth about the child. Manners never told me whether we had a daughter or a son—’ He put out his hand to silence her as she would have told him. ‘It was for the best. I put the whole thing from my mind and to know now might be to open Pandora’s box. I cannot afford scandal for Marianne’s sake. I have hopes that she will marry into the peerage.’
    â€˜I have heard that she is a very beautiful girl,’ Sarah said. ‘I am glad you have someone, Henry.’
    â€˜My daughter is both lovely and innocent. If it were not for her, I should have asked my wife for a divorce long ago.’
    â€˜Is there someone else you care for?’ Sarah looked at him steadily, without revealing a flicker of emotion.
    â€˜You know there was only one woman I loved. If, after Marianne is married, I could arrange a divorce…?’
    â€˜No, Henry. It was too long ago, my dear. Once I would have given everything to be with you, but it is too late.’
    â€˜We could still be together. We were lovers once. Why not again?’
    â€˜Because I was younger then. I am older than you, Henry. It was one of the reasons I refused to leave my husband. I did not wish to ruin your life.’
    â€˜How could you have ruined my life? It meant nothing to me without you. Let me take care of you, Sarah—let me make up for the lost years.’
    â€˜It is too late. My health is not good, Henry. I have settled for a quiet life in the country. You are still young enough