Page 30 of A Wish Upon an Earl
He didn’t say a word as he rose again and left the room.
Nibbling her lip, she wondered if she’d just made the right choice.She was still looking at the door when Aubrey touched her arm.“Sarah?”
She looked back at her friend, and the urge to cry welled up in her throat.
Without a word, her friend took her hand and pulled her outside.Once they were alone, Aubrey stopped.“Tell me what’s wrong?”
Sarah shook her head.“Everything.”The whole story of last night came tumbling out.Lady Victoria, the gauntlet, the refusal to wed her, even bits of her past hurt with Jack.
Aubrey silently listened.
When Sarah was done, her friend shook her head.“Something isn’t adding up.”
“How so?”Sarah asked.
“Well, it’s just that I saw him with you the other night.”Aubrey stepped closer.“I would have sworn that he has feelings for you.”
Sarah swallowed down a lump.“He cares for me, I’m sure.But not the way you mean.”
Aubrey shook her head again.“Are you certain?Because the way he looks at you, touches you… I’d bet my title that he’s smitten.”
That made Sarah smile just a bit, though she was certain the expression did not reach her eyes.“The title of duchess is a rather large one to bet.”
Aubrey grinned.“Exactly.So you can imagine I’m rather confident.”
“But then why would he turn me down?”
Aubrey shrugged.“Perhaps he simply wants to ask you.Or maybe be your hero instead of you being his.While it’s kind of you to rescue him, I’ve learned that some men rather enjoy being the protector.”
Sarah blinked.
Her personality did have a tendency to grow so large, it didn’t leave room for others.She’d done a marvelous job of supporting Ash rather than overwhelming him, but could she say the same for Jack?
She groaned, her head dropping into her hands.“He asked me to come out here and explain, and I refused him.”
“I’m certain you’ll get another chance.”Aubrey smiled.“But try to listen.He might have some interesting things to say.”
She nodded as she made her way back inside to finally eat.
When she was done, she started back up to the east wing, determined to follow Aubrey’s advice.
But Jack wasn’t there.And an hour later, when sets began construction, he still hadn’t come back to the sitting room.
She tried to pay attention and not to watch the door, but her heart sank with each passing minute.
What if Aubrey was wrong and she wouldn’t get another chance?What if she’d just passed up her one chance of hearing Jack’s explanation?
11
Jack sat across from Ash, who frowned back.“You’re going to have to catch me up because I’ve gotten terribly confused again.”
That made Jack smile, at least a bit.“It is confusing, isn’t it?This whole courtship and love thing.”
Ash’s brows quirked.“I suppose it is.”
Jack shook his head.“Why do I keep sharing with you instead of her?”
“I don’t know,” Ash chuckled.“Perhaps that’s your problem right there.”
