Page 38 of A Wish Upon an Earl
He turned to see Sarah staring down at him, a question pulling at the corners of her green eyes.
He stepped up to the tower, the sight of her stealing his breath.“O’ Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.”
The crowd cheered wildly as Sarah tossed the mass of ribbons over the side of the armoire.He pretended to climb, working his way around to the back of the cabinet, where he was hidden from the crowd.
“What are you doing?”Sarah hissed down at him.
“Rescuing you from the tower,” he replied with a chuckle.
“Very funny,” she said, scooting to the edge.“But you know I meant what are you doing in that suit of armor.Everyone will know.”
He lifted his hands, clasping her waist.His only regret was that the suit kept him from fitting her against his body.“I told you, I don’t care.”
“But…” she started as he lifted her down, setting her lightly and easily on her feet.
“We’ve got a play to finish,” he whispered, leading her back in front of the tower.
* * *
Sarah had spentthe last ten minutes trying to figure out what he was up to in that suit.
The crowd of partygoers loved it, of course.
With the party drawing to a close, the identity of the Bumbling Knight had been all anyone could discuss the evening before.And now they were going to get their answer.
At least, Sarah assumed he wasn’t going to do their stage kiss with the helmet still on.
But why?
He could have left no one the wiser about who had made a fool of themselves at the masquerade.
She’d suffered that indignity, and it was awful.
And then she gasped.Because all at once, it occurred to her that he was deliberately sabotaging himself so that he would experience exactly what she had.
It was so brave and thoughtful and completely idiotic.
He was an earl now; he had obligations to the people he cared for.He needn’t be creating a scandal in order to apologize to her.
She’d spent significant amounts of time building Ash’s reputation within society so that he might be the best marquess that he was able.
Did Jack think she wanted this?
“Rapunzel,” Jack said with the helmet still on.“For weeks, I have come to your tower to hear you sing.Your voice is more beautiful than any in the land.I’ve fallen in love with you, and I beg you to please become my wife.”
Sarah looked up at him, her eyes narrowing as she tried to see his eyes through those slits.If only they’d talked in the last few days.She wished she understood, wished she’d given him the chance to explain.“Jack,” she whispered.“Don’t do this.”
“Don’t do what?”he reached for her hand, holding it in his.
“Don’t risk hurting yourself for me.”
He let go of her hand then, and to her absolute dismay, he reached up, working the helmet off his head.
The crowd gasped, and then the room went still.No one even seemed to breathe.
A gentle smile curved his lips, his eyes soft and achingly warm as he looked down at her.“Ladies and gentleman, I need to delay the end of our production for just a few minutes.”
He set the helmet back on the armoire and took her hands in his, the cold metal between them.
