Page 40 of His Sinful Touch

ALEX CHUCKLED AS he handed Sabrina up into the Moreland carriage. “I’m sure Mr. Dearborn had no idea what he was getting into.” He climbed in after her. The carriages were all jumbled in together, as was common at a large party. It would take some time before they were able to get away. Alex didn’t mind; a quick glance around assured him no one had followed them, and the thought of spending extra time in the carriage alone with Sabrina appealed.

“I’m so sorry. I ruined that poor woman’s party and landed Kyria and Megan right in the middle of this mess.”

“Believe me, Kyria and Megan are thoroughly enjoying themselves. And I am sure the hostess will be thrilled. Nothing makes a party the talk of the town like a good fight.” Alex turned to Sabrina. His body was still humming with energy from the confrontation, but concern for Sabrina overrode even that. “It was you I was worried about. I thought you were about to faint back there.”

“It was a near thing, I’ll tell you. When he said—” She stopped, tears threatening to overcome her voice.

Alex took her hand and squeezed it. “It will be all right. Don’t worry.”

“How can I not?” Sabrina cried. “Oh, Alex, what if I am married to him?”

“All we have is his word for it. I don’t trust the man—either of them. You’ll notice he said nothing about being married to you until after Miss Holcutt mentioned you don’t remember anything. Safe enough thing to say then.”

“I didn’t recognize any of them,” Sabrina said softly. “Not even Miss Holcutt.”

“You’ll notice that neither did she tell you what bosom friends you are until after learning your memory was gone.”

“Alex, no! Surely you don’t suspect Miss Holcutt.”

“She was certainly quick to tell the Dearborns your memory was gone...just as if she were letting them know they would be free to make up anything they wanted.”

“No, don’t say that. I asked her to call on me tomorrow—she will be able to tell me all about myself.” She paused, considering, then shook her head. “No, I cannot believe that she wishes me any harm. I immediately liked Miss Holcutt. I felt comfortable with her. My feelings about the Dearborns were just the opposite.”

Alex smiled down into her face, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. He intended to reserve judgment on Lilah Holcutt, but there was no need to dampen Sabrina’s pleasure at finding a friend. “Very well, I’ll give you Miss Holcutt. I had no feeling, really, about her, other than I got the sense she was the one who wrote you that letter you had in your pocket. However, I definitely did not like the Dearborns. Even if he hadn’t claimed to be your husband, I wouldn’t have liked them.”

“Don’t you think—Alex, wouldn’t I recognize my own husband?”

“One would hope. The fact is, the whole thing could be a tissue of lies. We don’t even know if it’s true that his father is your guardian.”

“Oh, Alex!” Sabrina’s hand tightened on his, and her eyes were suddenly swimming with tears. “If he is my guardian, then that means that my parents are gone. I don’t even know them, and now they’re lost to me.”

“Sabrina...” Alex’s chest tightened unbearably at the sight of her tears, and he could not keep from reaching out and pulling her into his arms. He laid his cheek against her head and held her, his hand stroking up and down her arm soothingly. “I’m so sorry.”

“I knew... Last night I knew he must be dead when you told me the owner of that house had not been back there in years, but I hoped. I really hoped. But now... I’m so alone. I don’t even know myself.”

She began to sob in earnest. Alex felt helpless; all he could do was hold her. He wished he could take her pain himself; it would be far easier, he thought, than watching her suffer.

“Shh, there now.” He kissed her hair and murmured meaningless words of comfort, tightening his arms around her as if he could protect her from her sorrow. When after a moment, her sobs began to quiet, he said, “You’re not alone. You have me. You have my family.”

Sabrina sniffled and he could feel her smile against his chest.

“They were very kind to gather around us tonight.”

“They’re my family,” Alex said simply. “If I need help, they’ll be there. They have taken you under their wing, as well. Even if they had not, they wouldn’t countenance unfairness or coercion. I’ve no doubt when Mother hears about this, she’ll be ready to stand guard at the gate.”

Sabrina smiled faintly. “I can just imagine the duchess doing that.”

“There’s nothing she likes like a good fight. Megan’s just like her that way. If Theo hadn’t married Megan, I believe Mother would have adopted her.”

“Mmm. Kyria doesn’t seem like much of a pacifist, either.”

“Good Lord, no. She’s not one who looks for a fight, but if anyone threatens her or hers, she’s a tiger.”

They rode in silence for a moment. Alex knew that he should unwrap his arms from around Sabrina, should set her aside. Holding her had become more pleasure than comfort. It was wrong of him. Much as he hated to admit it, it was all too possible that she was married to another man. And whatever she felt about that man right now, if and when she recovered her memory, she might very well remember, too, that she loved the bastard.

But he could not let her go, however much he could feel his blood heating, however unwise it was. He wondered how long it would take the carriage to reach the house. Hopefully it would be a very long time. Perhaps they might run into another tangle of traffic.

Sabrina’s thoughts were obviously in another place than his, for after a moment she said, “I have put your family in a terrible position. If he is right, if I’m married to him, you would be in trouble for keeping me from him. All your family would. I couldn’t bear that.”