Page 52 of His Sinful Touch

“I rarely regret my words, hot or otherwise,” Emmeline assured him. “However, I am always willing to discuss matters in a civil manner.” She swept forward and sat down on the sofa, Henry settling down beside her. Hands folded in her lap, she looked at Mr. Dearborn regally. “Now, then, what do you have to say for yourself?”

“I told your family last night that Sabrina had wandered off after a carriage accident, but that wasn’t true.”

“Indeed? That seems an unusual way to start your argument.”

“I made it up because I was trying to protect Sabrina. I don’t know what sort of wild stories she may have told you about us, but I can assure you that Peter and I have Sabrina’s welfare at heart.”

“Interesting that you should think Sabrina would have told us otherwise,” Alex pointed out.

“Of course she would not, if she were feeling herself. But the truth is...she is... Well, she’s not in full possession of her faculties.”

“She’s lost her memory, yes, I know,” Emmeline said. “But that hardly makes her unable to make her own decisions.”

“No, ma’am, I fear she is not.” Mr. Dearborn gazed somberly at the duke and duchess. “She is... What I mean to say is that Sabrina is a bit mad.”

Sabrina’s jaw dropped, and beside her Lilah gasped, then clapped her hand over her mouth guiltily. The sound of her gasp was covered, however, by the exclamations from the occupants of the other room.

“How dare you!” Alex took a quick step forward, his face so fierce it took Sabrina aback. Con was beside him in an instant, his pugnacious stance making it clear he was not there to restrain his twin but to join him.

“I assure you, sir, that I do not say this lightly.” Mr. Dearborn rose to face Alex, his manner grave and dignified. “Sabrina’s father was my dearest friend his entire life. For Hamilton’s sake, I took on the responsibility of his daughter after his death. It was his express wish, for he knew that she was not able to live on her own.”

Sabrina stared, aghast, as the man continued to tell his story.

“Hamilton was one of the brightest minds in the country, but his wife, Claudia, was...odd, I guess you’d say. She was excessively concerned about Sabrina and insisted on keeping Sabrina close to her, yet she allowed the poor child to do whatever she wished, with no guidance at all, really. She was herself somewhat given to the same sort of fits and starts that Sabrina is.”

“Fits and starts?” Alex said. “Sabrina is not given to fits and starts—in fact, she’s bloody calm about a number of things that would make most people scream.”

Dearborn fixed him with his heavy gaze. “Don’t you think that in itself is rather peculiar? What sane person would be calm when she could remember nothing, including her name? The truth of the matter is, this is not the first time Sabrina has had one of these episodes. She has done it many times. She does some wild, outrageous thing, then bolts. We have no idea where she’s gone or what she’s doing.”

“So you’re saying this isn’t the first time you’ve mislaid her?” Theo asked.

“We didn’t mislay her, sir, and I resent your implication. Sabrina is cunning in her madness. She appears to lose all idea of who she is, where she lives, everything. Yet she cleverly does all she can to make it difficult to follow her. She climbed out of her window on the upper floor—it was foolish of me, I see that now, but I could not bear to put bars on her window—and she stole a horse, not to mention a bag full of money. We managed to track her to Newbury, but as I said, she is clever, and she bought a ticket to Bath, just to deceive us. When we could not find her there, we had no idea where to turn, but finally we came here in hopes that she might have fled to Miss Holcutt, who is her friend. It was a shock to us to see Sabrina there last night.”

“I am sure it was,” Alex agreed grimly. “Especially when you found that she had friends to protect her.”

The other man’s mouth tightened. “I told you, I have no desire to harm Sabrina. When she is herself, she is a sweet and biddable girl, charming, really.”

“As is proper for a woman, no doubt,” the duchess added.

Dearborn flushed. “I assure you, madam, that I have done nothing but try to help Sabrina. Peter even married her so that she would have someone to take care of her and protect her the rest of her life.”

“My, Peter must be a saintly man, indeed,” Alex drawled. “I’m sure it had nothing to do with Sabrina’s fortune.”

“Did she tell you she was wealthy?” Dearborn shook his head, letting out a sad little chuff of a laugh. “Oh, dear, no, Sabrina has next to nothing. I provide for her. I fear that Sabrina spins all sort of pretty stories about herself. Things that make her life more exciting. Sometimes she is an heiress. Once, I believe she was a spy for the Home Office in France. Sadly, I often figure as the villain in her tales because, you see, I am the person who must tell her no, who must see that she is kept safe. When this episode is over, she won’t remember any of whatever she’s made up this time, any more than she will remember you, Lord Moreland.”

Dearborn gazed at Alex pityingly. Sabrina’s stomach clenched. What if the Morelands believed him? What if Alex did? Dearborn was so grave, so certain, so reasonable. And Sabrina, not knowing anything of her past, could not even dispute him. Anyone would trust him over some girl telling a mad tale. It was almost enough to make Sabrina question her story herself—what if she did do this all the time? She wouldn’t know because she couldn’t remember anything.

“I know that it is difficult, sir,” Mr. Dearborn went on. “Sabrina is a winsome girl—it’s easy to feel affection, even pity, for her. But it’s clear that she needs help. I promise you that if she stays, one of these days she will have another of her episodes and you won’t be able to contain her, and she’ll be off again. Let us take her home where she belongs. We’ll take good care of her, see that she’s well cared for.”

“And make certain that she is locked up more securely?” Alex asked in a mild voice.

Fear flooded Sabrina’s throat, and she felt about to choke. Did he believe him? Was he about to let this man have her? They were going to lock her up somewhere, tell everyone she was mad.

“Yes, indeed, we will. You see, don’t you, that this must be done, that she must be kept from harming herself.”

“I see,” said Alex, “that you are a slick, conniving blackguard who intends to take Sabrina with you by hook or crook. Do you honestly think we are foolish enough to believe your lies? The only harm that might come to Sabrina is from you.” Sabrina relaxed, her eyes filling with tears at Alex’s defense of her, as he continued. “Of course you’ll make certain that she won’t escape again. Bars on her window—or maybe a cell in a madhouse, eh? I think the fact of the matter is that Sabrina is about to reach her twenty-first birthday, and you are in a panic at the thought of losing your hold on her money.” He took a menacing step forward. “I know her father left her his estate—not only money, but two houses. I’ve never seen the one in Somerset, but the one here in London would bring a pretty penny.”

Dearborn gaped at him. “But how do you know—You said she remembered nothing!”