Page 74 of Drowned in the Pleasure of a Devilish Baron
The carriage ride into London felt as if it took a lifetime. Sarah, her mother, and John were all crammed in. She could barely breathe throughout between her tightened stays and the close quarters and still air of the carriage.
“Remember that you are to be on your best behavior, Sarah,” her mother said severely as they neared Lord Ashton’s manor.
Sarah did not deign to reply to this.
“Did you hear Mother, Sarah?” John snapped. “I won’t have you acting out this evening. Surely you know by now that there is no chance of you marrying Felix.”
“And even if you don’t, surely you do not want his name to be besmirched by theton’swhispers?” Lady Marlow said smoothly. “Why, after that dreadful fire, wouldn’t it be a shame if he was also plagued by scandal?”
“There is no scandal to speak of,” Sarah answered hotly.
“Oh? So a lady of thetonwas not found there unsupervised?”
Sarah flushed and tightened her hands into fists in her lap.
“And what a shame that he further refused to marry the lady to keep her honor intact, even after they were discovered.” Lady Marlow tutted.
Sarah sucked in a shallow breath. “But hewouldhave married—”
“Ah, but who would take your word for it?” John asked airily. “Especially if you were stuck in your home without a way to tell people your side of the story?”
She felt hot blood heat her face and turned mutely to the window, recognizing that she had been beaten. She had not been able to manage a bite to eat at lunch today from nerves and so was feeling weak.
I only have to make it through a few hours more, and then I’ll be safely in my bed awaiting Felix at my window. Just a few hours more.
When their coachman opened the door, Sarah bit back a laugh at the sight of her mother desperately trying to appear nonchalant at the grandeur of Lord Ashton’s manor. It was located a bit outside of the city, towards Essex, and so was able to take full advantage of the open countryside. Sarah exited behind her mother, less impressed.
The house had a wide staircase leading to the front door, flanked by pure white columns. It looked to have two stories and at least three separate wings considering how long it was. In the back, she could see a maze and a richly-appointed garden. She only barely managed to stop herself from rolling her eyes, knowing that her family would be keeping a sharp eye on her starting now.
It was just so… ostentatious. It seemed so carefully designed to communicate wealth and power that it rang false.
Or perhaps I am wildly biased because this house and the man in it are attempting to pull me away from the man I love.
She followed her family to the door, where the butler was standing at attention.
“Good evening,” he said in a stately voice, his uniform made of finer material than John’s finest jacket, which he was of course wearing this evening. “Allow me to escort you to the garden terrace.”
They trooped through the marble-floored hallway, lined with heavy wooden paneling and thick drapes. At the door to the garden, he announced them.
“The Marlow family,” he intoned with a bow, one arm extended to gesture them through the door.
Sarah bit back scorn. It was all so overdone, truly it was. She could not imagine Leonard, who was a Marquess, expecting this much pageantry from his staff.
The terrace was set richly, with a white-clothed table at its center, overlooking the rolling grounds of the manor. Candles flickered from the table and hung from arches of the home, though it was not yet dark. At the head of the table, Lord Ashton stood to greet them.
“My wonderful guests have arrived at last,” he said, his arms open wide. He took Lady Marlow’s hand, bowing over it and pressing an impertinent kiss to its back, making her giggle like a girl. He clasped John’s hand warmly, and then turned to Sarah, his eyes raking over her and solidifying her feeling of being a piece of meat brought to the table.
“My dear Miss Marlow,” he said, taking her hands in his. She fought the urge to tear them away from him, smiling politely instead.
“Lord Ashton,” she said, and curtsied, glad for the excuse to tactfully take her hands back from him.
“I am ever so glad that you have come this evening,” he said, his voice low as if her mother and brother weren’t looking eagerly on. “I have not stopped thinking of you since we last met.”
“Is that so?” she asked in a tone of indifference. She looked past him at the table, which was set for six and wondered who the other two guests were to be.
“Of course, you must be weary from the long ride here.” He gestured that they should all take their seats. “Lady Marlow, I do appreciate you agreeing to come to my home this time. I am glad for the chance to return your charming hospitality.”
She smiled at him. “Why, certainly, dear Lord Ashton. We were honored to accept your invitation.”
