Page 24 of A Wish Upon an Earl
Fortunately, Ash had consented for her to attend dinner tonight.She’d see Jack tonight.And not in the little bubble of just the two of them, like when they were children.Once she rejoined the party, she was certain he’d be more reserved and she’d remember that they were only childhood companions and nothing more.
But as she readied herself for dinner, she found herself taking extra care in her appearance, her insides dancing with nerves.
As she made her way down the stairs, she was surprised to find Jack on the second-story landing.He turned to her with a large smile, holding out his elbow.“May I?”
Her stomach flitted with a thousand butterflies.“You may.”
“I have to warn you, I shall be watching you closely this evening to make certain you don’t overtax yourself.After your?—”
“Illness?”
Sarah turned her head to see who had just spoken.She’d been so focused on Jack she hadn’t realized anyone else had been about.
Lady Victoria Crawley stood before her, her perfectly coiffed blonde hair and razor-sharp smile in place.
“Precisely,” Jack answered.
Lady Victoria’s gaze flitted to Jack, her smile growing wider.Sarah pursed her lips at the calculating expression that crossed the other woman’s face.Then she looked back at Sarah.“You look very well for having been ill.One would never even guess you’d been sick.”
Sarah was aware of the insinuation behind the words, but she chose to ignore it.“Thank you.”
“We should all make our way to dinner.”Jack lifted his arm, pointing down the stairs.Then he began leading her, making his way slowly down the steps as Victoria followed.
Sarah did her best to walk without a limp, aware of Victoria’s searing gaze on her back.
She breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the dining room, until Lady Victoria left their company and made her way straight to Ash.
She watched a brief exchange between them, and then her breath hissed out when Victoria led her brother out of the dining room.
“Trouble is brewing,” Jack muttered.
Sarah squeezed his arm tighter.“Do you think she knows about my fall?”
Jack gave her a reassuring grin.“That’s hardly worth pulling Ash from his guests.”
He was right.While Sarah didn’t want the embarrassment, it wasn’t as though she’d been caught alone in the garden with Jack.But then her breath hitched.Because they had been alone, as a matter of fact.Not purposefully, of course.But what if Victoria had seen?
“What?”Jack asked very softly.
“The garden,” she whispered back.“We were alone.”
His brows went up.“Are you certain?”
She gave a stiff nod.
Jack shrugged, giving her another easy smile.“Whatever comes, we’ll face it together.I promised you, remember?I’d never let anything or anyone hurt you again.”
That eased the tight knot of fear inside her chest.“Thank you, Jack.You’re a good friend.”
His smile slipped.
She opened her mouth to ask him why when Ash reappeared in the dining room, his expression grim.
“Ash?”Jack asked.
“We need to talk,” Ash said, and then turned on his heel to exit the dining room again.
Jack gave her a quick look and then began to follow.Sarah kept her hand on his arm and started walking with him.There was no way she was missing this conversation.
