Sara wasn't afraid of her father, but he did worry her, for the simple reason that he wasn't at all predictable. She never knew what he was going to do. Sara hid her concern and rushed forward dutifully to embrace her father. Nathan noticed how the earl stiffened in response to Sara's touch.
"I'm so surprised to see you, Father," Sara began. She stepped back and took hold of Nathan's arm. "How did you know we were back in London so soon after our arrival? Why, our trunks haven't even left the ship yet."
Her father quit frowning at Nathan long enough to give her an answer. "I've had my men watching the water since the day you left, Sara. Now come along with me. I'm taking you home where you belong."
The anger in her father's voice alarmed her. She instinctively moved closer to her husband. "Home? But Father, I'm married to Nathan. I must go home with him. Surely you realize…"
She stopped trying to explain when the carriage door opened and her older sister Belinda climbed out.
God's truth, Sara was sorry to see her. Belinda was smiling. That wasn't a good sign. The only time Belinda ever appeared to be happy was when there was trouble brewing. She smiled a lot then.
Belinda had gained a considerable amount of weight since Sara had last seen her. The gold-colored walking dress she wore was straining at the seams. Her sister was heavy-boned and given to fat anyway, and the extra pounds she'd put on had settled around her midriff. She looked more pregnant than not. As a child Belinda had been the pretty sister. The men in the family doted on her. She had curly sun-yellowed hair, a dimple in each cheek, and adorable blue eyes. As she'd grown into womanhood, however, the dimples had been swallowed up in her overly rounded cheeks. Her glorious hair had turned into a mousy brown. The darling of the Winchester family wasn't the center of attention any longer. Belinda's answer to that change in status was to console herself with food.
Sara, on the other hand, had been a rather plain, lanky-legged child. She was terribly awkward, and her permanent teeth had seemed to take forever to come in straight. For almost a year she spit whenever she spoke. No one except her nanny and her mother ever doted on her.
It was a sin not to love her sister, and for that reason alone Sara loved Belinda. She thought she understood her sister's cruel streak. It had been born out of all the disappointments she'd suffered, and Sara always tried to be patient and understanding with her. When Belinda wasn't in a snit about something she could actually be quite pleasant.
Sara tried to concentrate on her sister's good qualities when she called out her greeting. Her grip on Nathan's arm was at great odds with her cheerful tone of voice. "Belinda, how nice it is to see you again."
Her sister rudely stared at Nathan while she returned her sister's greeting. "I'm happy you're finally home, Sara."
"Is Mother with you?" Sara asked.
The earl of Winchester answered her question. "Your mother's at home, where she belongs. Get into the carriage, daughter. I don't want trouble, but I'm prepared for it," he added. "You're coming with us. No one knows you've been with the marquess, and if we-"
"Oh, Papa," Belinda interrupted, "you know that isn't true. Everyone knows. Why, consider all the notes of sympathy we've received since Sara left."
"Silence!" the earl roared. "Dare you contradict me?"
Sara moved so quickly Nathan didn't have time to stop her. She pulled Belinda away from her father's side and positioned herself between them. "Belinda didn't mean to contradict you," Sara said.
Her father looked somewhat mollified. "I won't tolerate insolence," he muttered. "As to the few who do know about your disgraceful conduct, daughter," he continued, address ing his frown and his full attention to Sara, "they'll keep their mouths shut. If a scandal breaks before I've settled this matter, I'll face it."
Sara was more concerned than ever. When her father acted so sure of himself there was always mischief afoot. "What scandal, Father?" she asked. "Nathan and I haven't done anything to cause gossip. We're obeying all the conditions set down in the contract."
"Don't mention the contract to me, daughter. Now get into the carriage before I order my men to draw their weapons."
The ache in Sara's stomach intensified. She was going to have to defy her father. It was a first for her. Oh, she'd often stood up to him, but it was always in defense of her mother or her sister, never herself.
She slowly backed away until she was once again standing next to Nathan. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Father, but I cannot go with you. My place is with my husband."
The earl was infuriated. To have his daughter openly defy him in front of witnesses was humiliating. He reached out to slap her. Nathan was quicker. He grabbed hold of the earl's wrist and started to squeeze. Hard. He wanted to break the bone in half.
Sara stopped him by merely touching him. When she sagged against his side he immediately let go of her father and put his arm around her shoulder. He could feel her trembling and became all the more furious.
"She isn't going anywhere, old man," Nathan announced in a low, controlled voice.
The denial was obviously the signal the earl's men needed. The pistols were drawn and pointed at Nathan.
Sara let out a gasp. She couldn't believe what was happening. She tried to put herself in front of Nathan to protect him. He wouldn't let her move. He tightened his hold and continued to stare at her father. He smiled. Sara didn't know what to make of that reaction.
Surely he understood the severity of the situation. "Nathanial?" she whispered. She used that name as a method to put him on his guard. She leaned up and then whispered, "You don't have a pistol. They do. Please take notice of the odds, husband."
Nathan quit his smile and looked down at her. He knew what she did not-that the odds were indeed on his side. At least eight of his loyal crew had come running at the sight of the carriage. They were lined up behind Sara, ready and armed for a fight.
There was also the fact that her father was bluffing. The look in his eyes indicated to Nathan that he didn't have the mind or the courage for a direct confrontation.
"This has gotten completely out of hand," Sara told her father. She was so upset, her voice shook. "Order your men to put their weapons away, Father. Nothing will be solved by hurting Nathan or me."
The earl of Winchester didn't give the order quickly enough. "I won't let you hurt my husband," Sara cried out. "I love him."
"He won't hurt him," Colin called out. "I'll put a hole through his forehead if he tries."
Sara turned to look at Nathan's friend. The transformation in Colin was so stunning to her, she caught her breath. Colin's stance looked relaxed, and there was a smile on his face, but the coldness in his eyes clearly indicated he'd carry out his threat without suffering a moment's qualm.
The earl immediately motioned for his men to quit their positions. When their weapons were back inside their waistbands he tried a different approach to gain victory. "Belinda, tell your sister about your mother. Since Sara refuses to come home, she might as well hear the truth now."
Belinda had moved back to her father's side. He gave her arm a little prod to get her started. "Sara, you really must come home with us," Belinda blurted. She glanced over at her father, received his nod, and then continued. "Mother's taken gravely ill. That's the reason she didn't come with us."
"She's longing to see you again," her father interjected. "Though after the way you've worried her, I can't understand why."
Sara shook her head. "Mother isn't ill," she said. "This is just trickery to get me to leave Nathan, isn't it?"
"I would never use your mother in such a manner," her father muttered with indignation.