Page 12 of Drowned in the Pleasure of a Devilish Baron
The garden filled with the laughing, bright voices of the guests all come to celebrate a little boy’s first birthday. Across it all, Sarah, singing just as loudly as the rest, caught Felix’s eye, and she decided she had never been happier than she was at this very moment.
Chapter Six
Sarah had shocked her family the previous evening, arriving home from the party with news that a gentleman would be calling in the morning to speak with her brother about something important.
Her mother and John had exchanged glances.
“What is so important?” John had demanded.
But Sarah, riding a cloud of pure happiness, had only smiled secretly and taken herself to her room.
Now, dawn was breaking. She had barely slept a wink the night before, so eager to have Felix come through her front door and make their courtship and betrothal official.
Rebecca helped her dress, choosing a gown that was simple so as not to arouse the suspicions of her family, but one that showed off her figure to its fullest advantages.
Then she began to wait. The morning was sure to stretch interminably long, but she would do her best to be patient until Felix could arrive.
* * *
Felix had slept the best he had in years, falling into a deep and peaceful slumber and rising early in anticipation for the coming day. His mind turned over the events of the previous day, marveling at how a simple party had changed his future.
Looking back now, he could not figure out why he had so tightly kept his feelings for Sarah in check, nor why he would have allowed his lack of wealth to dictate a life without her.
Sarah was a hard worker with a sharp mind. The two of them could work together to build a life beyond what he had ever imagined for himself, and he would work day and night to ensure she had everything she ever wanted.
He dressed quickly, ready to be on his way, taking the steps down from his room two at a time and saddling Acorn outside. He would ride Acorn to see her, too impatient to wait for the carriage. Felix stepped back into the house to grab his coat.
“Sir Felix,” called a voice from the top of the stairs. “I was coming to bring you your tea.”
His housekeeper, Mrs. Clay, was standing at the top of the steps, holding a tray with tea. The glass cup and plate jingled together as she stood there.
When Juliet had left to begin her life with Lord Cunningham, she had requested to take Clarissa with her, to continue to act as her lady’s maid, leaving Felix to find new help. Luckily, he had found a housekeeper who was happy to work for lower wages as there was only one person to look after, and just a small cottage.
Unluckily, however, Mrs. Clay was quite old. Her hands would shake from time to time, and she moved slowly throughout her tasks. Needing little from her, it did not bother Felix.
Today, eager to be on the road, he was more impatient than usual. “I won’t need tea this morning, thank you Mrs. Clay,” he said. “I’m actually on my way out on an important errand.”
She moved closer to the stairs, squinting at him. “Sir Felix, you must drink some tea before you go,” she insisted. “Or have a bite to eat, it’s unhealthy to go off with nothing in your stomach.”
“I couldn’t,” he said firmly, longing to be through the door and on his way to Sarah. “Please, enjoy the tea yourself. Have a bit of a sit down. I’ll be back in the afternoon.”
He turned before she could answer and was just closing the front door behind him when a crash and scream came from behind him.
Felix threw the door back open and rushed inside to see his aged housekeeper in a crumple at the bottom of the stairs.
“Mrs. Clay!” he said, kneeling at her side.
She did not open her eyes, only laying still amidst the broken crockery, spilled tea, and bits of cake.
The tea was still steaming.
Felix ran to the stable and sent his coachman to retrieve a physician. “Quickly,” Felix urged. “Get him here as quickly as you can.”
The coachman took off down the road and Felix returned to Mrs. Clay’s side. Worrying about her laying on the glass and hot tea, he carefully lifted her and moved her to the couch in the drawing room.
She still was not moving, her eyes completely shut.
He put the back of his hand beneath her nose, feeling for air.
