Page 74 of Enemies with an Earl
Sam had been the one to walk away more often than not. Whatever had transpired between he and Felix was over. Not a surprise, given how rocky things had been between them the past few days. The dust from Bentley’s departing carriage was just the closing mark on it all. The end to the story of Felix and Sam. Not that there was any story to tell.
Liar.
It was better this way. Things ending cleanly before he’d had a chance to develop feelings. He’d been getting careless. It’d been too easy to let his guard down around the man. Almost like they’d been in their own small world, untouchable by reality. They both had known it’d end after the wedding, and Felix would have to return home at some point.
Right. Exactly. This was good. Great, even.
Liar.
Maybe that’s why he’d forgotten to stay detached. It’s not as though there was any real risk falling for a man he couldn’t stand, and in a week’s time, no less. That didn’t happen. Which was exactly why the smarting behind his breastbone was most definitely not caused byfeelings. Most definitely not.
Liar.
God fucking damn it, you witless brain. Shut the bloody hell up.
The rest of the afternoon passed by in a blur, a mixture of Sam arguing with himself and losing and trying to find tasks to distract himself from the feelings he was not feeling. Now he was in Ash’s room, having just helped his friend ready for dinner.
“So, how does it feel? Married again? Different this time?”
Ash groaned from where he sat at his dressing table. “Is it foolish that I feel guilty when I say it feels a million times better?”
Sam leaned against the bed and crossed his arms. “Yes, and no. I know you wanted to make that marriage into something it was never going to be. Because you’re a good man, Ash. You cared for Winnifred. I know you might not think so, but she was extremely lucky to have you. You’re a rare find in this world.”
His friend’s piercing blue eyes met his. “I wish it were easier to let it all go, to not feel like I failed her.”
“I know, mate. Her Grace will help you get there; I have no doubt. She’s a stubborn one. I think you’ve met your match with her.”
“Oh, I most definitely have,” Ash said with a smile. “Add in how well she gets along with Pandora? There won’t be a dull moment at Devonford Castle for a long while.”
“Excellent news. We could all use some excitement.”
Ash winged a brow. “Oh? I had thought you’d been having your fair share of excitement.”
“Not any longer,” Sam grumbled, staring blindly across the room. Considering his excitement had fled in a carriage earlier that morn. Which was entirely fine. Perfectly. Exceedingly, in fact.
“Speaking of Bentley… He gave me something for you.”
Sam’s head jerked toward Ash, then his gaze dropped to the letter in his friend’s hand.
“I’m going to go down for dinner,” Ash said. “I don’t know what’s in this letter, but I thought you might want a moment alone to read it. You’re welcome to stay in here as long as you need.”
Sam took the letter from his friend’s grasp, gaze flipping up to meet Ash’s. “Why does that sound so ominous?”
Ash’s gaze darted away. “I know he left without saying farewell to you, Sam. And there’d been something in his eyes when he’d given this to me. I don’t really know. I just have a feeling that maybe there’s something important in there?”
“I’m not sure what that would possibly be. We were nothing more than a passing fancy. A convenient shag.”
“Mmm,” Ash said, quite obviously not believing Sam one bit.
The man didn’t know what he was about.
“Regardless. Read it. I’m going down to dinner.”
“Enjoy,” Sam murmured, gaze glued to the letter in his hands. He slowly walked over to one of the armchairs in front of the hearth, turning the letter over in his hands.
He sat down heavily and unfolded it:
Thorne,
