The Ugly Duckling Debutante(64)

She was angry at him for not believing her or giving her a chance and for being such a coward that he couldn’t even face her. What kind of man left instead of fighting for his woman? Was she wrong? In her heart, she felt he loved her; he just lacked the courage to say it—but now, now she was beginning to think he felt nothing for her except for lust and passion. Exactly what he said he felt for her.



She was a fool. As if she didn’t already have enough on her mind she had missed her monthly, and was now six weeks out. In another four, she would have to tell Lady Fenton she was with child. Although possibly she could wait until her fourth month, but a woman really never knew. She still couldn’t find it in her heart to sign the annulment papers, even though Nicholas made his intentions perfectly clear.



He even put in a lump sum of money to give her for her to live comfortably on her own, without him. Had he no idea the feelings she had for him? She loved him, even though he was being a stubborn idiot of a man! He’d rejected her and said the most hurtful things, sending her into near hysterics, but what other choice did she have? She could sit and cry all day or she could learn from experience and move on with her life, it was then she decided she would spend some time in the country. Alone. She would take Davina with her and go to one of the many country estates Nicholas owned.



Later that afternoon, Lady Fenton paid a visit. They sat in comfortable silence until finally Lady Fenton said something. “I hear you’re going to the country?”



Sara nodded her head; she knew if she spoke, she would break down again. Only earlier that day, she had found out from Davina that her parents—the people who had raised her—had sold the story to the local newspaper for quite a lot of blunt. It made her ill. Had they been using her all along? It was likely; they’d always hated her, despised her beyond reason. Why wouldn’t they use her sudden marriage to an earl to gain wealth in this world?



“I’m sorry about your parents,” Lady Fenton said, breaking the silence yet again. “They were awful to raise you, unaware of your beauty, and they were even more awful when they sold you out to the newspaper. I will have you know, I would never deny you anything, my dear. I—“ Her lips began quivering, and she reached for her handkerchief. “I am so proud of the woman you have become. I only hope you’ll let me stay with you in the country for a while so we could get acquainted. I know I’m asking more than I should but—“



Sara rose from her chair and went to hug Lady Fenton. They cried for what seemed like hours, then when all the tears were dried up, Sara decided it was time to let her real mother in on a secret.



“I think I’m increasing.” She couldn’t look Lady Fenton in the eyes.



Lady Fenton grabbed her shoulders and hugged her tightly. “I’m to be a grandmother!” She looked positively elated, but quickly dampened her smile when she saw a single tear drop down Sara’s face.



“Oh dear, this is my fault, I thought he was ready—you were perfect for him; you still are! He’ll come around, you’ll see!” Lady Fenton continued to offer encouragement, but it fell on deaf ears. Sara knew the truth. Her marriage, however brief, was over.



When Lady Fenton left to make the proper arrangements, Sara slowly walked up the stairs into her chamber and signed the annulment papers. She left them on top of her luggage and fell into her bed sobbing.



Over, it was over.





Chapter Twenty-Four





Nicholas hadn’t slept in a month. Had it really been a month since he left Sara? It felt like ages. His time with Sara feeling like a wonderful dream compared to the nightmare of his current reality. The truth of her deceit and so-called love. Yet the lingering of Belverd’s and his conversation planted doubt in the back of his mind as to Sara’s side of the story.



While in residence at one of his homes in Scotland, he had quickly grown tired and bored of the business affairs he was tending to and itched to return home. He wasn’t sure what he would be going back to, and quite frankly, he was terrified out of his mind.



First off, he hadn’t even given Sara a chance to explain, and second, he had, in fact, killed her real father. He was already going to have trouble asking forgiveness for the first, but for the second? It still mattered that she deceived him, but after his recent research into her past, he had figured out why she would.



She was just as afraid of rejection as he was. In fact, she had more reason to be afraid than him. To think that he actually told her that he didn’t want her, and worse off that she believed him! How was he to know that she had been told for her entire life that she was ugly and different? No wonder she hated it when he told her she wasn’t normal. What he meant as a compliment she took as an insult. And to add insult to injury, he offered her a pity excuse. He said he felt sorry for her. Well her own foster parents fed her that line on a daily basis.