Stephen’s blood was boiling. What was his mother thinking? He tried to calm down, going over what Sarah had said to him. She was right though, Sarah’s father had left Sarah in the care of his wife, Stephen’s mother, when he died. His mother was her guardian and she could treat her as she pleased until Sarah left her household. The late viscount had left all he possessed to his new wife when he died, believing that she would care for the girl as one of her own. Stephen didn’t want to think that his mother was so cold. He knew that his mother could be a difficult woman but never would have believed her capable of something like this. Stephen thought hard as he walked back down the stairs. He couldn’t argue with what Sarah had said, his mother was her guardian and as such she could make life much harder on her. Stephen’s power was limited, he had no true power over his mother, since she had her own estates and money. The question was how to appease his mother and sisters while giving Sarah what she had been working toward.

Sarah was already sixteen, about the age she should make her debut and she should already have attended finishing school. The best thing for her would be to get her into society and married to the best suitor he could find. But how to get her there? As he entered the hall he spied an invitation on the table by the door. Pocketing it, he moved back into the room his family was still occupying.

“So why are we calling Sarah ‘Cinderella’ these days,” he asked as casually as possible.

“She always has soot all over her for whatever reason,” Pamela said.

“Because she sleep in front of the fireplace every night,” Daphne responded.

“She has sleeping quarters in the attic and yet she insists on sleeping by the fire like some commoner,” Christina scoffed.

Maybe she was cold? Stephen kept that thought to himself, already annoyed with their insolence. The sooner he found Sarah a suitor the sooner she could leave here. That thought alone was more depressing than any sleeping arrangement. “What happened to her old room?” He asked already pretty sure of the answer.

“I changed that into a music room soon after you left. You know, with Daphne’s brilliant voice and Pamela’s skill at the piano forte they are sure to gain suitors on those skills alone, but they need a space to practice.”

“I’m going to get settled into my room before dinner,” Stephen responded coolly, having heard enough. With that he turned and stalked out of the room toward the same bedroom he had always had. He was gone for four years and kept the same spot in the viscount’s home and yet Sarah was forced to cuddle by the fire for warmth. The unfairness of it all!

Arriving at his room, Stephen pulled out the invitation from his pocket.

A masquerade ball, how perfect! Sarah can attend, find a suitor, and his mother and sisters won’t even recognize her. Especially, Stephen thought, if he found her a perfect enough costume. What must he get? He had no idea what ladies needed. He supposed he could put in an order from Madame Delassio’s modiste. Madame Delassio was the seamstress and dress designer that his mother had relied upon when trying to impress the viscount, back when she was trying to become the next Lady Castlegate.

He needed to find out what story his mother and sisters had concocted to cover up, Sarah’s disappearance from society. What lies had they been peddling to keep her hidden for all these years. The daughter of a viscount would still be expected at some events, whether she had come out or not. For that he needed one of his most gossiping friends, Cooper. He should be at White’s now. Slipping on the jacket that he just took off, Stephen marched out of the room and headed out into the city.

“I don’t know what to tell you,” Cooper said, only half paying attention while reading. “According to everyone, Lady Sarah Thorton was thrown from a horse at twelve and has been bedridden ever since. No-one has seen her, not even her former best friend, the very lovely Lady Emily Cramer. Shame though, she was a beauty at that age. Imagine what she looks like now.”

Only Stephen didn’t need to imagine, just the thought of the young beauty made him flush and grow warm, causing a stirring in his gut that spread rapidly. Stephen tugged at his collar and fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat. He pushed the thought of Sarah’s full lips out of his head and focused on his friend.

“Well what you’ve heard is untrue, Sarah was never injured and has just been forced to stay isolated,” Stephen said, knowing he could trust his friend with this sensitive information.

Cooper finally looked up from his book in apparent astonishment. “Then why haven’t we seen her? Why would your mother put that story out there if it wasn’t true?”

Stephen hesitated before responding with, “It’s complicated, but the most important thing is that I am escorting Sarah to the New Castle masquerade this Saturday, but she has nothing nice to wear.” And he didn’t know a dress from a frock, or the difference between evening gloves and the ones women wore during the day.

“Ask Emily, she would be all too happy to help, they still correspond often and if she knows it will help out her friend she’ll be happy to help you. Plus she knows all the latest fashions.”

“You said Emily Cramer, where does she live?”

“Over on Highgate, she should be able to help with this and would love to see Sarah. Like I said, Sarah was a lovely girl,” Cooper’s eyes got far away and a slight smile turned up the corner of his lips, “she must be a beautiful and self contained woman.”

“From what I can see she is that.” Stephen glared at his friend. Even though Cooper hadn’t joined the the army they had run into each other often over the years. Stephen knew him for a skirt chaser and a terrible flirt. He vowed to keep Sarah quite away from him. Stephen took his leave and made his way toward Highgate to pay call on Lady Emily.

“Wait a moment Lord Knight. We’ll see if Lady Emily is ready to see you,” the maid said, bowing her way out of the room. Stephen paced around the simple yet elegant entryway, waiting to see Lady Cramer.

“Lady Emily will see you now, Lord Knight. If you would please follow me.” The maid returned to the room and beckoned him in. Stephen strode over and was led to the parlor where Emily and her mother, Lady Cramer were poised on two elegantly appointed sofas. Lady Emily nodded at a seat across from her which Stephen sat in, after bowing and making his entrance.

“I am so glad you could make the time to see me, I hope I won’t take up too much of your time.”

“Is this about Lady Thorton, Lord Knight? Is she okay?” Lady Emily blurted out quickly, sounding slightly panicked.

“Sarah is fine, in fact that is why I’m here,” Stephen shifted in his seat unsure where to start and how much to say.

Lady Cramer, looked at him sharply, “Please continue, My Lord” she insisted.  Stephen looked at the two women. If he remembered correctly, Lady Cramer had been a great friend of the first Lady Castlegate.

Stephen, decided to trust them with the truth. “I hope that I am right Lady Cramer, in thinking that you are a friend to Lady Sarah and I think that what I have to say might not shock you too much.” Stephen watched as Lady Cramer and her daughter shared a look.  He continued, “Sarah was never injured and is in fact quite healthy. She has been forced, rather abhorrently, to remain isolated from society by my mother.”

Stephen looked up to gauge both of their reactions. Lady Emily bit her lip and looked ready to break the teacup she held. Lady Cramer was calmer, but the stiff way she sat told him she was most distressed by his words.

“I plan to change this situation. I will be escorting her to Lord and Lady New Castle’s masquerade ball on Saturday and was wondering if…”

“If I could help get her ready? Absolutely! “Lady Emily jumped up so fast, Stephen had to lean back into the sofa to avoid getting hit by her outstretched hand. She placed her teacup on a side table and began to pace, “Is there a budget, does she have anything for underthings, does she have shoes..?” Lady Emily trailed off and sat down abruptly, tear wetting her eyes. “Oh my poor Sarah, I don’t even know if she has proper things.” Her mother reached over, taking her hand in her own and patting it comfortingly. “Now dear, stop that, she would have found a way to tell you if things were as bad as that.” Lady Cramer turned to Stephen, “We’ve known for sometime that her letters were less than truthful. Once in a while she is able to slip in something and we knew she was… not happy.”

Stephen looked between the two and nodded. “Let’s just assume she needs everything and there is no budget unless you intend to make me utterly bankrupt, we just need the basics for now. Perhaps, three types of outfits and one evening dress, just to get her started.  Afterwards, if she finds a suitor we will have to get more things.” Ignoring Lady Cramer’s raised eyebrow at his last sentence, Stephen stood and started to pace around the small room. “Now about meeting up, do you mind if you meet at the ice cream parlor near the house this time? I just don’t want my mother and sister’s to figure out what I am up to, at least not yet. Which brings me to the last condition, I don’t wish you to tell anyone. Not until I am able to neutralize the issues that created this mess in the first place.”

Lady Emily snorted and Lady Cramer chided her gently. Lady Emily composed her features and turned to Stephen, “That’s fine, shall we say tomorrow at ten at Charlie’s? My mother and I will be there. Can you see yourself out?”

Walking back Stephen tried to find the expected guilt. It wasn’t there. He had never been overly fond of his mother or sisters as they never were particularly warm or loving towards him. In fact, he felt a rather justified righteousness, he’d finally beat them at their own game of social scheming and manipulation.