Page 26 of A Wish Upon an Earl
“Sarah,” he said, as he shook his head.“I could never allow you to do that.”
Her ivory skin paled considerably.“But she’s trying to trap you.”
“And so I should trap you?”he replied.
“I offered,” but her voice had dropped into a jagged whisper.
He reached down, pressing his other hand to their joined fingers.“And I appreciate that about you so much, but I promised to protect you, remember?Not the other way around.”
She looked at him, pain etched in her features before she tugged at the hand sandwiched between his.He held for a moment before he let her go.“You’ll marry her rather than me?”
He shook his head.“I have no intention of marrying her.”Silently, he added,I’ll marry you, but just not like this.But he didn’t want to say that just yet.Not here and not now.Because Ash was with them and because she looked upset.He wanted to share his feelings in a moment of happiness, and not because some scheming woman had forced his hand.
“I don’t feel well, Ash.”Sarah looked at her brother.“I think I should skip dinner after all.”
Ash straightened.“I’ll take you upstairs.”
Jack narrowed his gaze.Why did she look so upset?But he didn’t have the chance to ask as the two of them left, leaving Jack alone in the study, staring at the gauntlet.
* * *
Sarah thoughtshe might perish from a broken heart.
She lay alone in her room, tears she couldn't hold back leaking from her eyes.He’d chosen a scheming plot over her.That was how little affection he held for her.
A sniffle escaped as she shifted on the bed.Granted, he’d said that he’d not marry Lady Victoria, but he’d been rather clear about not marrying Sarah either.
It wasn’t fair to be upset, she tried to reason with herself.
He’d come to her requesting friendship.Nothing more.
She’d always known this was how it would end.
Granted, this time hadn’t ended with public humiliation, but Sarah had already known that she’d be hurt.
That’s what happened with love that was one sided.
Love.The single word echoed through her hollow insides.He was the one man she’d always loved.From the age of fourteen, it had been him.
It was still him.She’d never felt anything close to that with another man, even in her two years of participating in society.
Jack didn’t return that affection.He never had.
She was a fool.
Sarah finally fell asleep, but the next morning, she woke feeling like she hadn’t slept at all.
And as she made her way downstairs, she nearly smiled because she was certain she looked as awful as she felt and no one would doubt that she’d been ill.
But those thoughts just led her back to Lady Victoria and her comments last night.
Another wave of grief washed over her, but she notched her chin higher.The house party was half over.She’d done all of this for her brother and she would finish it for him too.And once this was over, she’d set herself to the business of finding a husband.
She entered the dining room with a bright smile plastered on her face as she greeted guests and thanked them for attending.A great many expressed their deep regrets that she’d not been feeling well.
She played the part of hostess to her best abilities, but by the time breakfast had drawn to an end, she was already exhausted and the day had only just begun.
Making her way to the east wing drawing room, a party had already assembled.
