Sara was no longer ignorant nor naïve. She knew she was the one who had instigated their affair and she would always carry that knowledge with her, if not the regret. But her turmoil of the last few days was his fault. No matter their history, no matter that her actions had led to a week of carnal knowledge, she did not deserve to be treated in the callous manner he had shown her.
Even if his eyes had been warm today.
He finally moved, turning in the water and striding out of the pond, his limp more pronounced as he picked his way without being able to see where his feet landed. She watched him out of the corner of her eye. Once out of the water, he bent and picked up his discarded cane and hat, placing the latter on his head without looking back at her. He tugged on his coat, shook some water off of his breeches and began to walk away. He looked ridiculous, the lower half of his body sopping wet while the upper remained dry.
But Sara did not call out to stop him or ask him to come back.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
* * *
Sara stared at herself in the mirror. Anna was twisting the last bits of Sara’s hair into the elaborate coif that had been chosen. The dress, a pale muslin of Louisa’s that they had made over, sat on her, accentuating her red hair and pale complexion. Rarely used face paint decorated her and she had difficulty reconciling the reflection in the mirror with the one she saw most days.
Thankfully, rice powder had hidden the bags under her eyes from lack of sleep over the last few days. Sleep meant dreams that plagued her, of two different men coaxing her to choose them. Of a man who taught her how to swim and strode into a pond with warm eyes to help her. Of a man who was everything she had worked for and promised her security. Of a man who was synonymous with adventure and a man who guaranteed her a future.
No wonder she was having difficulty sleeping.
Her friends chattered around her, directing the last of the packing. It hadn’t taken long, for Sara did not have many belongings.
Your husband should be able to afford more things for you. Ensure he does.
“Sara? Is everything all right?” Louisa’s voice broke into her reverie.
Sara blinked. “Yes, everything is fine.”
“You seem distracted.” The concern did not leave Louisa’s face or voice.
She managed a smile. “It is just all the excitement, I think. I can hardly believe this is all happening.”
“I remember thinking the same thing,” Claire said with a smile. “Jacob swept me off my feet so quickly my head spun for a week after the wedding.”
“Stephen was no less eager, despite his reserved manner,” Bonnie chimed in. “Mr. Pomeroy knows how lucky he is for you to be marrying him.”
“Indeed,” Claire continued. “And we all have chipped in to get you something special. All of us, even Jacob and Stephen.”
Anna patted the last of her hair into place and Sara turned around to look at her friends. “You did not have to get me anything. Truly.”
“Oh, hush,” Louisa scolded. “You are supposed to squeal and say thank you.”
Claire produced a narrow box made of dark wood. She handed it to Sara. “This is from all of us. You deserve something special.”
“And sparkly,” Bonnie said, sitting on the bed.
Sara opened the box, revealing a set of two dozen hairpins. On one end of each were small diamonds, designed to catch the light when worn. Sara pressed her hand to her mouth, the generosity of her friends overwhelming her. “Oh, I cannot—truly I cannot. I don’t deserve this.”
“Of course you do,” Claire said firmly, taking the box from her hands and beginning to put the hairpins in. “You have given so much to us.”
Louisa joined her in the task. “And taken so little for yourself. Just look at this room. I do not know why you deny yourself even small comforts. Do not begrudge us a little pampering for you.”
Tears filled Sara’s eyes. She had known her friends cared for her, but to have the evidence presented was another matter.
But did they truly know her? As Louisa had stated, they didn’t know why she didn’t indulge in certain comforts, did not know of her longing for adventure, did not see her for who she could be. It never would have crossed their minds to consider her capable of asking a man for an illicit affair or lying to them about a visit to a nonexistent aunt to cover up said affair. They didn’t even know how she had stood up to Mrs. Glendoe.