Chapter Seven

It was twenty past ten in the morning and Sarah was getting impatient.

After the unfortunate meeting with Lady Pickering the previous night, Jonah had promised to call on her the following day inorder to discuss their predicament. Sarah could feel her left leg begin to tire from it's constant twitching, a very unfortunate side effect from the constant anxiety that plagued her in all things Jonah concerned.

Jonah had told her that he would use the back entrance to avoid anymore unnecessary attention, that and they would be more comfortable talking in the garden, he had yet to arrive.

Sarah let out a sigh feeling her impatience rise because she had told Mary to inform her when Jonah appeared in the garden and the ingrate had not yet arrived. She was beginning to tire of his tardiness. Stewing in thoughts of harm on Jonah's person, she sat in the drawing room with her mother drinking tea and engaging in light conversation.  Her mother was in the process of asking some rather invasive questions when the presence of the footman spared her from answering.

"A visitor for you madam." Wembley the footman announced, addressing Sarah in particular. Sarah's eyebrows shot to her scalp, the only person who was to call on her was Jonah and he was supposed to use the back entrance. Sarah could only cross her fingers and hope that it wasn't him.

"Who is it?" Amelia asked as she placed her tea cup on the table.

"A Mr Holland for you madam." Sarah chocked on her tea, getting questioning looks from both her mother and the rather nosy footman who had been in service  for what Sarah deemed an eternity.

"Pardon me." Sarah said softly. Getting a sympathetic yet questioning look from the two. Internally she was screaming bloody murder her mind awash with questions like "What the bloody hell is he doing calling on me while my mother is in?"

Wembley walked away to get the guest. Jonah walked in looking as regal as ever, dressed in his riding clothes his hair mussed up by the wind. His cheeks held a pinkish glow from the early morning sun and in his hands was one of the biggest bouquet of roses she had ever seen. Clearly he was determined to win over her mother with aimless flattery and a big chunk of London's flower supply. Sarah couldn't help but roll her eyes at his obvious bootlicking.

~

"Good morning ladies." Jonah spoke as he stood in the sunny drawing room of the Sutton house.

After the night they had shared, coupled with the eventful end, Jonah hadn't gotten a chance to really talk to Sarah. Jonah had gone home with one thought he had to see her again, he didn't know why but he craved her company. He reasoned that it was because he enjoyed the look of irritation that she gave him when he did something childish or irritating, that and he really had to see her because of their upcoming nuptials. The short amount of time he had spent with her had come to show that even though Sarah was rather conditioned in her debutante ways, he could see the glimmer in her eye, the trickster that lay beneath her calm exterior.

He enjoyed testing her patience and watching as she managed to keep her lady/debutante demeanor intact. Only when they were alone would she lower that mask and let that sultry and wicked tongue loose. How he enjoyed their banter and their chemistry wasn't that badly off either. He had planned to call on her earlier but his father had returned to London earlier than expected and was back in their family home, he had been forced to find lodging elsewhere.

He had found bachelor lodgings in the upper east side of town and although the commute was its own slice of hell, he would have rather travelled from France every day to avoid breathing the same air as the old man.

His lodging's distance from home meant travelling by horseback through the muddy streets to see his bride to be, who clearly did not look happy to see him at all.

"Your grace, how unexpected." Amelia stood to greet him. He could tell that she was pleasantly surprised to see him so, smiling as brightly as he could he replied. "Sorry to intrude Lady Sutton."

His apologies were met with warm and subtle rebuttal as she smiled at him,

"Nonsense dear boy, this is practically your second home. You're welcome here anytime."

Jonah risked a glance at Sarah and he spotted an eyeroll from his dear bride to be. Smiling at his betrothed's discomfort at her mother's proclamation,he spoke. "Thank you Lady Sutton, I was on my way here and as I passed by the Premridge flower market , I thought of you. I remembered your love for pink roses." Placing the large bouquet of flowers in Amelia's hands, he watched as she smiled brightly at them. Jonah was well aware that the only way he was going to get away with marrying Sarah was to make sure he buttered her parents up so much that they would be glad to call him their son in-law.

"Thank you dear. These are wonderful. How thoughtful of you."

Jonah couldn't help but beam in pride, something that clearly didn't impress Sarah judging by how many times her eyes were looking up at the ceiling.

Clearing his throat, he spoke solemnly,

"You're very welcome Lady Amelia. It's the least I can do, as an apology for the lack of my presence at the funeral."

Amelia nodded at him before giving him a small hug then gesturing for him to sit. With a sad smile that spoke of understanding in it's subtlety, Amelia said, "It's alright my dear, the funeral was nothing much, just a short gathering of family and friends. We couldn't do anything large because his passing happened quite sudden after all."

Jonah watched as Sarah placed her hand on her mother's shoulder trying to comfort her.

"My condolences." He let out softly.

"Thank you, Jonah." Amelia replied to him and they sat in momentary silence until Jonah decided to break it with a request.

"Lady Sutton, I was wondering if I could borrow your daughter for a while. It's a lovely day for a walk and I'd like to catch up with her. Tell her about my travels and whatnot."

Amelia nodded, "of course, you may have her join you, although I won't be able to chaperone, your mother and I are attending a ladies luncheon."

Sarah jumped in to add, "it's alright mama, Mary will act as chaperone. I'll ring for a maid to get us a vase for those flowers on our way out." Standing before her mother could object she gestured for Jonah to follow her. Jonah stood, excused himself and followed her, waiting by the door as she summoned the maid so they could head out.

~

The sun was out and shining as they strolled through the park, but the sun hadn't gotten rid of the previous nights rain completely as the grass splattered small dewy droplets of water on their feet . The ground was also slightly damp from the previous nights rain.

For privacy all it took was a small gesture from Sarah and her personal maid, Mary, gave them a respectable berth to allow for conversation. Sarah chose that particular moment to ask a question that had been plaguing her mind since the previous night.

"Why are you residing elsewhere? I thought you were staying in your family home." Sarah asked him as they walked around the park.

Breathing in the cool fresh air, Jonah said "I was staying in Holland house, I had been since my arrival but yesterday evening I was informed of my father's impending arrival. That's why I was late for the ball I was searching for suitable lodging and also this morning when I had to travel halfway across town from my lodging house."

Sarah nodded and continued their walk in silence.

Once they reached the bank of the lake they sat on a park bench overlooking the water, a good place for contemplation and conversation.

"I'm sorry about your brother, Sarah." Jonah spoke after a brief silence. He had expected a short nod and a quick change of subject from her so he was a bit taken aback when she responded

"I miss him more everyday." Sarah said with a sad smile as she looked out at the water. The still water on the lake bursting into ripples when leaves from nearby trees shaken by the wind fell in the water. She watched as some floated delicately on the surface while others sank mere seconds after impact, it was rather soothing to watch and it enduced a calming trance like state.

Feeling a hand cover hers, she looked at Jonah, for the first time since her brother's death she felt compelled to talk about him. Jonah didn't just bring out the wildness and irritability in her, he also tore down her walls in the best ways possible. She could talk to him and not have to pretend to be okay, not have to simply smile to hide her tears. Closing her eyes she breathed in slowly before saying,

"everyday I expect him to walk into the drawing room, all smiles and no worries but each day I'm disappointed. Before his death I wouldn't have even considered this crazy plan of ours but with him gone I have all the responsibilities on my shoulders."

Jonah examined her hand, marveling at how dainty and small it was compared to his. He was also pleased with how receptive she was to his touch. With a nod of understanding, he responded,

"Somehow I do understand. With  my brother Edward and his wife having only had girls. It is my responsibility to produce an heir just in case Edward doesn't. My father has always wanted to keep me in London, where he can keep his eye on me. I had hoped to travel somewhere he would never interfere with my affairs, for a while it was pure bliss but I realized that I never was cut out for the nomad lifestyle. That's when I decided to settle in Greece and I realized that I didn't need to travel to get happiness, I just needed to get away from him to find the fulfilment that I need in life."

Sarah looked closely at him before asking, "can I be blunt with you?"

Jonah's brow furrowed in confusion at first because he wondered, if her previous demeanor hadn't been blunt then what did the word blunt entail? With caution, he gave a slight nod.

At his nod she spoke, "your father is a downright cad with no respect for his family."

Jonah's eyes widened in shock at her outburst before he doubled over in laughter. "Don't laugh, it's true." Sarah spat out, a bit peeved at his reaction.

Jonah straightened up letting out the last bits of laughter before smiling, "I'm not laughing because I think it isn't true because it is." Jonah said, matter of factly, before adding, "I'm laughing because of the look on your face. So determined yet adorably angered at the same time. Like a kitten talking ill of a tiger."

Sarah let out a scoff before saying, "your father is not a tiger by any means, he's more of a hyena, a scavenger who cares only for himself."

Jonah laughed once more then he settled her hand on his thigh, he was pleasantly surprised that she was too far into her musings to realize what he had done. Her natural response to him would be of great help if she ever decided to back out of their plan. Smiling at her words he commented,

"Well that would make me hyena junior I suppose."

Cracking a smile, Sarah looked at him then said, "I suppose so."

They then sat in a comfortable silence until she lifted her hand off his thigh.

Jonah could feel himself panic when she did that,had he overstepped?

Thousands of questions ran through his mind and for the millionth time around Sarah he found that he was second guessing himself, something not even his father had been able to make him do. His anxiety further increased when she turned and faced him with a seriousness that, made him sit up.

He could tell that she wanted to tell him something but she was holding back, he was almost at the point of telling her to spit it out when she spoke, "Can I tell you something Jonah and you promise not to overreact."

Now that statement nearly made him throttle her but instead, he just responded, "I promise not to overreact." The words were said through gritted teeth but even though Sarah was testing his patience, he could tell that it was indeed important that he not overreact. To reassure her, he took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze which she responded to with a small nod.

"I'm not supposed to tell you this but I have to. It's your right to know. It's about Beth." Jonah nodded for her to continue.

"I know you don't get along with your father but I think you're the only one who can help her. She'll probably kill me for telling you this but ..."

Jonah was starting to get impatient, "but what Sarah."

His impatience and worry could probably be seen in his features because  Sarah closed her eyes and rambled out what she needed to tell him in one breath.

"Her husband beats her. He started even before she got pregnant and more so afterwards. He didn't even give her a reprieve when she was with child, she almost lost her baby. I know you're just her brother but I was hoping you could convince your father to get Beth a divorce or at the very least talk to her husband."

Jonah stood in anger, "talk to him! What I SHOULD do is beat him to a bloody pulp." In all his years, he'd never been as angry as he was in that moment. As far as he knew, no one had a right to lay a hand on a woman. Now some idiot was using his baby sister as a punching bag, no it had to stop, immediately. He was already plotting murder when Sarah stood and grabbed his arm. "No! Jonah you know better than to do that. After you're done beating him senseless, remember, he goes home to Beth and he might take it out on her.  Now calm down and sit, you're causing a scene."

Sarah hissed sharply even as she smiled politely at a passing couple. The park wasn't as busy as usual but with the social season came the long walks that courting couples would take, thus many (extremely nosy) debutantes would be up and about, ready to gobble up any piece of information to go spread through the ton. With that in mind, Sarah sat down daintily on the bench and after a quick sweep of the sleepy and sparcely populated park she regarded the now sitting Jonah with a glare.

"I thought you promised not to overreact!"

Jonah let out a low growl before gritted out, "she's my little sister."

Sarah let out a sigh then said, "and she's my best friend. I love her immensely but acting out of anger isn't really the best course of action here is it?"

Jonah released a sigh as he tried to calm himself down letting his temper ease away.

When they were both settled Jonah felt emotion well up in his chest and he found himself asking, "Why didn't she tell me?"

A small hand on his shoulder made him look up at Sarah who then shrugged her small shoulders slightly, sadness colouring her features, "it might be because she hadn't seen you in awhile and you might not be the brother she once knew, remember, letters can only do so much. You didn't even attend her wedding so she may have thought you wouldn't have sided with her, after all, her husband is one of your brothers best friends."

Jonah hung his head, "she's my sister. I would have done anything for her."

Sarah nodded solemnly in understanding and spoke gently, her voice like a soothing balm to his frayed ego.

"You may have been able to escape your father's ruthlessness when you stayed away but she didn't and getting married didn't help her as she went from one toxic relationship to one that was way worse. Your father is the one who arranged the marriage between them. Your brother may have been the architect of the relationship but everyone knows that it was more of a business transaction than a marriage.

Her husband's father is a business associate of your father."

With every word that Sarah spoke, Jonah could feel his breathing begin to get more laboured. The anger that had once engulfed him was now long gone, replaced by sadness and regret.

"I shouldn't have stayed away as long as I did, I could have protected her."

"it's not your fault. It's all your father's fault. He's the one who married her off to that monster." Sarah responded reassuringly.

Lifting his head to look at her Jonah found himself asking, "does my brother know?"

Sarah shook her head. "I'm the only one who knows, so far. He only hits her in places no one can see. Her maids know but they keep her secret safe"

Jonah sat up straight, mind already made up, "the next time she tells you he lay a hand on her, tell me and I will fix it."

Sarah nodded as she clasped her hands together and started fidgeting with her purse, her gaze on her hands.

He lifted her chin up to look at him slowly. Looking deep into her eyes he spoke to her, "I won't let him hurt her ever again, No man has a right to treat a lady that way. I promise to respect you and protect you for however long we are together and even after that." Sarah felt her eyes water and become glazed. She drew her gaze from him and felt his finger drop from her chin. With a small smile she said, "thank you."

★

Going to try a new writing style this coming week, hope to hear back.

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