“Well, if it isn’t my dear friend Miss Sarah Marlow,” laughed a voice from behind her.
Sarah leapt up at once, horrified that she had been caught doing two of her mother’s most forbidden things at this party and it had barely begun.
Now all I have to do is crack a joke and she’ll disown me entirely.
“Don’t get up on my account.” It was Felix coming around the side of the stables, holding the reins of his chestnut mare, Acorn. “I wouldn’t want to interrupt your alone time… at a party.” he grinned wickedly, setting her heart aflame.
She looked into his gray eyes and had to make a physical effort to avoid falling into them completely. His teasing kept her balanced. It was so very difficult to be the little sister’s best friend.
“Perhaps I’m simply guarding the horses as a favor to Juliet,” she said, affecting a prim look. “And now you’ve distracted me from my post.”
Felix squinted at her and put a hand to his square chin. “Ah. Tell me, do guards often sprawl on the grass and look dreamily up into the sky while they’re on post?”
“I was hardly sprawling,” she scoffed. “Besides, should guards neglect the sky? Who knows what might descend?”
Felix laughed out loud, a booming sound that was sure to draw the attention of the guests.
“Now you’ve given us away,” she said. “I suppose you’ll have to escort me to the party and leave the horses to defend themselves.”
He quickly tied up Acorn where she could graze in the shade and then gave Sarah a mock bow. “At once, My Lady,” he said, making her giggle.
She took his proffered arm, making sure to only place her fingertips very lightly, though she longed to touch the sinewy muscles that were hidden beneath his morning coat. She resigned herself to enjoying making lighthearted banter with him as they walked, and the fact that even with a light touch, she could feel the strength of him beneath her fingers.
“How’s Lord Marlow?” Felix asked. “I have not seen much of him this past year.”
“Quite well. He always has some sort of business he’s working on, so he stays very busy.”
Sarah had known she was in love with Felix her entire life. When he was a boy, his quick wit, easy smile, and ease with all animals had her little girl heart enamored. This had only gotten worse as they had become adults. Now, that smiling, loving little boy was a tall, muscled man, with honor, strength, and still that lovely smile.
“It’s been quite a while since you and I have seen one another,” he said, looking down at her with a little smile. “How can that be?”
“I might ask you the same.” Sarah cocked her head to meet his eyes. “You have attended hardly any of thetonevents this past year.”
His smile faded. “It has been a busy year,” he said, a bit shortly, and she decided not to prod him further.
“Well, I know Juliet is very glad to have you here today.”
His smile returned. “Likely more glad to have you here than her stodgy older brother.”
Being Juliet’s best friend had meant she was able to spend a majority of her time around Sir Felix, growing a close and genuine relationship with him. But it also meant that he would likely always see her as the little friend, tagging along and merely a child.
Unfortunately, the walk from the stables to the garden was short, and Sir Felix was drawn away from her almost at once.
Sarah mingled with the guests, being sure to lavishly compliment the party, the hosts, and the birthday boy in every conversation. In the corner, her chaperone and lady’s maid, Rebecca, sat with Clarissa, keeping an eye on things and sure to provide a full report back to her mother upon their return home. Sarah only hoped she had not seen her escorted around the side by Sir Felix.
Now that she had returned from the stables, the garden had filled with guests. By now, nearly everyone she had ever met was here in the garden, though her own brother and mother were not.
“And where is Lord Marlow?” asked Philip, Baron Winston, an old friend of Felix and Leonard.
“He couldn’t make it, I’m afraid,” Sarah said. “Other business matters to attend to.”
It was a vague non-answer, and both of them knew it, though Lord Winston was too gentlemanly to say so. The truth was that though there had never been a real falling out between Lord Cunningham and her brother, John, the relationship had cooled. Sarah knew from Juliet that the two had not spoken in over a year.
“Pardon me, Lord Winston,” Juliet said, appearing at Sarah’s side. “I must steal Miss Marlow for a few moments.”
“Of course,” he said with a bow.
Juliet pulled Sarah to the empty drawing room. “I saw you enter with Felix,” she said, eyes wide. “How did that happen?”
