"But I knowed the mistress'd never have me back. 'Sides, I couldn't face Billy arter leaving him like that. I wanted to thank Adam and I on'y knowed one way to do it. First off, he wouldn't have me. I thought I weren't good enow for him and I got downright mopish and he were comforting me, like, and ... well, a man ain't a stone. Oh, miss, he were that kind and gentle. I never knowed it could be like that."

Sarah felt a blush stealing up her cheeks, but not for the world would she stop the flow of artless confidences. She murmured a word of encouragement.

"The best of 'em," Peggy went on, "the ones that don't hurt you, they don't care how you feel just so's they feel good. Adam's different. He reely cares if you enjoy it. When I was living in Chelsea, I talked to some of the other girls. There's lots of gentlemen have villas in Chelsea for their convenients. I reckon there's not one in a hundred like Adam, as tries to make you feel good. Course, a respectable lady like you wouldn't understand, miss. A gentleman don't expect his wife to get any pleasure from it. 'Twouldn't be proper."

If Sarah's face had grown any hotter, it would have burst into flame. She attempted to change the subject.

"Billy must love you greatly to have kept searching till he found you."

"D'you think so, miss? I know I oughta marry Billy, if he'll have me, but he's a simple fellow. He won't try to please me, nor won't know how."

"Could you not teach him?"

"Like as not he wouldn't listen."

Sarah found herself back at the same subject. It was not one she could broach with Billy.

"I'll see if the vicar will talk to him," she suggested doubtfully. She was afraid that Jonathan's knowledge

might be as meagre as her own. "Is that the only objection you have to marrying him?"

"I want to stay wi' Adam!"

"Lord Cheverell intends to take a bride soon."

"That won't make a ha'p'orth o' difference," said Peggy cynically.

"He says it will. He told me he does not mean to keep a mistress once he is wed."

The girl's face fell and she bit her lip. "Well, he's not like the others, so maybe he won't. Is he going to

marry you, miss?"

With great difficulty, Sarah kept her countenance. "He is to choose among several young ladies visiting Cheve House. I fear you must face the fact that his a.s.sociation with you is at an end, my dear. He will

make fair provision for you if you will not have Billy, or give you a dowry if you will. Which is it to be? It is useless for me to try to persuade Billy to forgive you if you do not mean to accept him."

"You reely think he loves me?"

"Can you think of any other reason for a servant to risk transportation by attacking a peer?"

"He's a plucky lad a' right, ain't he?" Peggy was convinced. "I'll wed him if he'll have me. On'y I wisht I

was a grand young lady, fit for his lordship's bride." She sighed.

"I am sure you have made the right decision. Now, you had best spend the night with Nellie, and in the

morning we shall consider what is to be done next."

"You're as kind as he is, miss. There's plenty o' ladies wouldn't even let me speak to their maids."

"I rely on you to persuade her that running away to London is not a good idea. Off you go, now, and tell

Mrs. Hicks I wish to see Billy as soon as he returns."

Sarah hoped for a few minutes alone to decide on her approach to the young groom, but he came in

almost at once.

"You were very quick," she said.

"'Tain't fur, and I were in a hurry to see where his lordship lives. 'Tis a mighty fancy house. No wonder

he won over my Peggy wi' his fine gifts and promises."

"That is not at all what happened," Sarah a.s.sured him. She fixed her eyes on her clasped hands and somehow managed not to blush as she repeated to the young man the shocking story she had heard from Adam and Peggy.

"She told me as he rescued her," he said doubtfully. "I thought she were just trying to protect him."

"I am certain it is true."

"If you says that's how it were, miss, I'll believe it. You're a fine lady, and a kind one, too. Anyone c'n

see as you're not the sort to lead a man astray. Told me she loved me, she did, then run off to London." "She suffered greatly for her foolishness." "Why di'n't she come back home, then, arter his lordship saved her?" "She thought you would not want her. She had nowhere to go, so his lordship took her under his protection." "Fine words, miss, but what he done was make her his harlot, begging your pardon. I s'll knock him down agin wi' pleasure, make no doubt." "Pray do not, Billy! He tried to persuade her to go home. She told me so herself. She chose to stay with him." "Then what am I to do, miss?" Bewilderment succeeded anger in the poor fellow's eyes. "I wanted to make an honest woman o' her, but I won't take an unwilling wife."

Sarah wondered how to break it to him that Peggy was now willing to return, but only because Adam was leaving her. To her relief, she heard Jonathan's voice in the hall. "The vicar is back at last," she said. "Wait here while I explain the situation to him, and then we shall see what he has to suggest." She hurried out. Jonathan had just set his hat and gloves on the hall table. He turned at her step. "Sarah! What is going on? You look f.a.gged to death, my dear, and Mrs. Hicks is muttering dire predictions." He folded her in his arms, and she clung to him wordlessly for a moment before she pulled away. "Come into the parlour and sit down while I tell you. You must be tired, too, after driving all that way and listening to the Bishop for hours on end."

With Billy waiting in the study, she told her brother only his and Peggy's part of the story, reserving the rest of the day's happenings for later. "So you see," she ended, "he may not be ready to marry her after all if he knows she will only have him because she cannot have Adam. And he may regard the offer of a marriage settlement as bribery, though I know it is just Adam's kindness. He said he will provide for Peggy whether she marries Billy or no. I do believe, though, that I have persuaded Billy not to attack Adam on sight."

"I shall sort it out," said her brother, unruffled. "He is in the study?"

"Yes. I think I had best come with you, for he knows me now and seems to trust me. But I shall leave

before ... Oh, Jonathan, the most difficult part." Her eyes once again fixed firmly on her hands, Sarah tried to explain what Peggy had said of the intimate relations between herself and Adam.

"My dear, you have had a difficult day!" he said sympathetically.

"You do not yet know the half of it. That will keep. Do you think you can make Billy understand what Peggy wants?"

"Not ... hmm, the mechanics of it, perhaps, but that he must do his best to please her. It is by no means an unreasonable expectation. I have attempted to impress it upon a number of husbands with unhappy wives, though with little success, I fear."

Sarah realized that his words confirmed Peggy's a.s.sessment of the prevailing att.i.tude of men towards their lawful spouses. Feeling not a little indignant, she followed him to the study. After introducing Billy to her brother, Sarah sat quietly listening to their discussion, lost in admiration of the vicar's gentle tact. He even spoke of marital relations with such matter-of-fact calm that she felt no need to leave the room. If she were ever to marry, which seemed less and less likely, she would want Jonathan to talk to her future husband just so.

She was roused from her musing when Billy stood up.

"Right, sir, I'll be off then. I'll do it just like you said. Thank you, sir, for making me see straight."

"I believe you will not regret your decision." The vicar rose and offered the groom his hand.

Billy wiped his own hand on the seat of his pants and shook the vicar's with a hearty good will, then

turned and bowed clumsily to Sarah.

"Thank you, miss. I promise I won't tip his lordship a leveller next time I sees him."

Sarah nodded approvingly and he went off, looking hopeful. She turned to Jonathan.

"I wasn't listening at the end," she said. "I take it you made all right between them?"

"He means to propose, at least. I hope she will not see fit to lead him a dance, for he must leave

tomorrow to go home. His master gave him a week to settle this business."

"Is she to go with him?"

"No, he will return in a fortnight or so and stay for the reading of the banns. He seems sure of being able

to persuade his master to give him leave. I told him we will take care of Peggy, but I fear it will be

uncomfortable for you to have her about the house."

"I should prefer not to, I confess. Oh, I have the very thing! She shall go to Goody Newman's. The poor old woman really ought to have someone living there."

"An excellent notion. Now, tell me what else has been going on here during my absence."

Sarah glanced at the clock. "We must change for dinner at once, or it will spoil and Mrs. Hicks's dire predictions will come to pa.s.s."

Not until they settled in the parlour after dinner did she tell him about Mrs. Goudge and Marguerite. To her great surprise he was apologetic.

"My dear, I am so sorry. I'd not have had this happen for the world."

"You can hardly blame yourself, Jonathan. It is entirely Adam's doing."

"Yes, and I wish I had seen him sent to gra.s.s by that young bruiser. However, had I not encouraged him to confide in you, he'd not have directed the, ahem, ladies to the vicarage. I thought I was doing it for your own good, to open your eyes to his faults."

"You certainly succeeded in that! Pray do not worry about me, for though it was a difficult afternoon I shall not take any lasting harm, I promise you."

"I trust your resentment will not make you forget Adam's virtues, which are many. I would not have you think him a monster any more than I would have you think him a saint."

"For heaven's sake let us stop talking of Adam!" said Sarah, overcome with unreasoning irritation. "Tell me what the Bishop wanted with you."

"He wants me to join the cathedral chapter." Jonathan could not hide his boyish enthusiasm. "If I accept, it is a first step towards preferment."

"You mean one day I shall be sister to the Archbishop of Canterbury? Oh, Jonathan, that is splendid. But why should you not accept?"

Her brother explained his misgivings. Life in the cathedral close would be busy, taken up with ceremonial duties and political manoeuvring, for which he had no taste, as well as ordinary parish work. He would have little time for his beloved books. He was satisfied with his peaceful existence in Little Fittleton, surrounded by people he had known all his life.

"However," he went on, "it is a great compliment, and not to be dismissed lightly. Also, it is a dull life here for you, while Salisbury has shops and a.s.sembly rooms and other amus.e.m.e.nts. I do not wish selfishly to keep you mewed up in the depths of the country. I have often regretted being unable to give you a London Season, and the minor dissipations of a cathedral town seem little enough to offer you. No, do not protest. I know you are not so frivolous as to despise country pursuits."

"I cannot imagine living anywhere else, but I should be happy anywhere with you, best of brothers. Whatever your decision, I shall not quarrel with it. When do you have to give the Bishop your answer?"

"The Church moves slowly. We have until the beginning of September. I want you to consider carefully before telling me what you would prefer to do, for I am quite unable to make up my own mind!"

They discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the move for another half hour before both began to yawn. As Sarah trudged wearily up the stairs to her chamber she realized that only one consideration was truly important to her, and she could not tell Jonathan.

If they moved to Salisbury, she might never see Adam again. But if they stayed in Little Fittleton, she would have to accustom herself to seeing him settled at Cheve House, with another woman as his wife.

CHAPTER NINE.