Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) (10 page)

It would kill him to watch from afar while
gentlemen danced attendance on her. None would be worthy of her, of
course.

What did he really have to offer? He was a
second son of an Earl. He had no title, though he did own a
townhouse and had funds of his own from an inheritance and
investments. But, was that enough for a wife? What if a duke or
marquess offered for her? Was it fair of him to take a better life
from her? He didn’t doubt someone, several someones, would take an
interest in her. Then what was he to do?

“Mr. Parker, those are all the vegetables we
planned to cook.”

He glanced up at the cook and then down at
the large pile of carrots, celery and potatoes. He had chopped
everything on the table. “What did you plan on doing with
them?”

“They are going be served with the
chickens.”

“Very well.” He walked to the shelves then
pulled down a large roasting pan. He seasoned the dish with savory
and sage before he set about roasting the vegetables. He could
always think more clearly while he cooked. Thank goodness he was in
a household that allowed him to do this.

*

It was some hours later when Sabrina found
Mr. Parker with Ramsey. It was difficult to look at Mr. Parker and
her face heated in remembrance. She hoped he didn’t notice or
comment on the blush.

She took a seat beside Ramsey and poured
herself some tea, unable to look either gentleman in the eye and
politely asked after Juliet.

“She is resting,” Ramsey answered. “Juliet
and I have been discussing the situation.”

Sabrina turned toward him thankful for a
topic of conversation.

“We don’t think it is necessary to wait to
introduce you in the spring.”

Mr. Parker leaned forward and looked at
Ramsey.

“I don’t understand.” Sabrina noted Parker’s
interest.

“If you were straight out of the school
room, Sabrina, I would never consider the notion. But, Juliet
insists and I have to agree.”

“I am still not following you, Ramsey.”

“A number of the families return to London
in the fall, for the Little Season.”

Sabrina nodded. She had heard reference to
the Little Season before.

“There are still balls, soirees, and dinners
with so many in London, though not nearly as many,” Parker
offered.

“Not to mention the theater and musicals,”
Ramsey added.

“It sounds much like the season to me.”
Sabrina asked, “What makes it so different?”

“Everything is at a slower pace and not
nearly the constant entertainments. Plus, the only young ladies
likely to be present are those who had been introduced the earlier
spring.”

Sabrina simply nodded, not sure she really
did understand the difference.

“Given you will attain your majority in
March, Juliet and I thought it silly to wait. Besides,” Ramsey
continued, “Juliet wants to introduce you to some of her friends.
She won’t have that opportunity when the Season officially
begins.”

“I agree,” Parker said. “Why should Sabrina
miss all the fun for the next five months?”

Her throat tightened and she tried to
swallow past it. He probably wanted her married off as quickly as
possible so she didn’t have any illusions about the kiss they
shared. “If you are positive it is proper.” Sabrina hesitantly
agreed.

*

Sabrina was grumbling to herself and pacing
back and forth in the gazebo when Marius came upon her. If he used
half the intelligence he had been gifted with, he would turn right
around and leave. For the past few days he had done everything in
his power to fight his desire to find Sabrina and kiss her
senseless. To act on this need would only increase his growing
frustration and possibly tempt him to proceed too far. Marius
wasn’t sure he could stop with just kissing so he spent a good part
of these last days in the Sandlin kitchen and avoiding Sabrina.

In the past, cook had never minded his
presence before. Today she actually kicked him out before he
destroyed the evening meal by kneading the dough to death. It was
the first time that this had ever happened to him.

It was all because of a woman. Now, that
very woman was before him, pacing back and forth, muttering to
herself. Could he hope that she was as frustrated as he? Perhaps
another kiss wasn’t such a poor idea. It might help relieve some of
his own need, Marius lied to himself as he approached the object of
his raging desire.

Sabrina turned and saw him. Her frown
deepened.

Marius studied her as he stepped into the
gazebo. What had gotten her so upset and why was she glaring at
him? He nodded. “Sabrina.”

Sabrina politely acknowledged his greeting
before stepping around him. “If you will excuse me.”

Why was she angry with him? Reaching out he
gently grabbed her arm. “I would like a moment of your time.”

Stopping at his side, she looked up at him.
“Yes.”

Marius stepped in front of her. “Why are you
angry with me?”

Sabrina gave him a short laugh. “I thought
it was the other way around. I haven’t been the one to exit as soon
as we found ourselves in a room together. I was simply going to
save you the trouble and leave first.”

So she had noticed he avoided being alone
with her and was miffed. Marius tried to keep the smile away that
tugged at his lips and took her reaction as a positive sign. “I’m
sorry if I offended you. It was never my intention.”

“It is clear my presence aggravates
you.”

The smile continued to pull at his lips. “I
believe frustrates is more appropriate.” He no longer bothered to
hide his smile.

A gasp of outrage escaped her lips. “If that
is how you feel, why don’t you simply leave? Nothing is keeping you
here.”

Her indignant anger was as attractive as her
dimpled smiles. Marius took a step forward.

Sabrina stepped back.

Marius continued to advance while she
continued to back away. What was she afraid he would do? “I can’t
leave. My transportation back to London is the same as yours.”

Sabrina’s eyes flew wide. The last thing she
wanted to do was ride in a confining coach, all the way to London,
with a man who admitted she frustrated him. She continued to back
away, wishing she was close to the entrance when her back came
against a beam.

A triumphant smile came to Marius’s
lips.

“What do you want?”

“I want to kiss you,” Marius answered
beginning to lower his head.

With a screech, Sabrina ducked and ran under
his arm. Stepping back in panic with one hand on her chest and the
other straight out in front of her to keep him away. “Oh, no, you
don’t. You are not kissing me again.”

Turning towards her, Marius watched her
curiously. He could have sworn she had enjoyed the kissing as much
as he. “Why not? I had thought what we shared was pleasurable.” He
advanced on her again.

Sabrina’s cheeks began to turn pink and she
maneuvered from his advance. “Ever since you kissed me, you have
avoided me until now. You even admit I aggravate you. I will not
kiss you again.”

He didn’t understand her panic, but enjoyed
it just the same. “Frustrate.”

“Fine. Frustrate.” Sabrina threw up her
hands and backed away again.

When Sabrina came up against another beam,
Marius brought his arms up, ready to block her escape. Sabrina
looked up at him with panicked eyes. If she was truly distressed
about kissing him, Marius would have left her long ago. However,
along with the distress in her eyes, he also read the longing as
well. He also noted that she hadn’t denied that their kiss had been
pleasurable. “Aggravation and frustration have two separate
meanings.” Marius explained.

“They were close enough. Both indicate that
I irritate you.”

Marius chuckled. “Someday, I’ll explain the
differences, but for now.” Lowering his head, Marius placed his
lips on Sabrina’s. He didn’t make the mistake of beginning with a
chaste kiss. He wanted her to understand his unvoiced
intentions.

Sabrina remained rigid where she stood and
clutched her skirts with her fisted hands. Her eyes remained open
and she stared at the roof of the gazebo. Worse, she kept her lips
pursed tight.

He kissed her for a few moments, but when
she didn’t soften towards him, Marius lifted his head to see what
was wrong this time. He had never seen someone so intent on
remaining unaffected before and had to fight not to laugh. If the
internal fight had not been revealed in her eyes, Marius would have
to believe she was unmoved by his attentions. “What is the matter,
Sabrina? I know your kisses can be warmer.” He was trying not to
let the humor he felt be heard in his voice.

“Nothing is the matter. I am simply more
prepared and am trying to behave like a lady.”

“Does that mean your kisses last time were
unladylike?”

“Exactly. After a good deal of thought, I
would say my behavior was wanton. Lady Davies had warned that could
happen. So, I will not kiss like that again. You will no longer
have any need to be aggravated with me.”

“The word is frustrated, Sabrina.” Marius
laughed at her misguided notions, though she had read the situation
somewhat accurately, whether she realized it or not.

Stiffening further, Sabrina looked him in
the eye. “I am glad you can find the circumstances entertaining.”
Sabrina turned and made her exit.

Marius collapsed onto a bench in the gazebo
as he watched her walk away, with her skirts swinging suggestively
in her wake. Soon, he found himself laughing at their conversation.
“Yes, Sabrina. You are definitely frustrating, aggravating, and
irritating.”

*

Sabrina, along with her cousin, Ramsey, his
wife Juliet and Mr. Parker left the Sandlin estate as the sun rose
in the east. Juliet had no desire to spend the night in an inn so
they pushed forward, only stopping when absolutely necessary.
Sabrina was in complete agreement, not wishing to prolong the
trip.

For the most part, Juliet dozed off and on
while Marius and Ramsey engaged in conversation over various
topics. Phoebe had loaned Sabrina
Sense and Sensibility
to
finish, which she tried to concentrate on during the daylight
hours. Unfortunately, Marius’s presence beside her made the plan
next to impossible, and she used every effort she possessed to
block him from her mind, or at least, ignore him.

Each time she succeeded and became absorbed
in the story, Marius would do something to remind her he was there.
Once he yawned and stretched, bringing his arms across the back
seat, resting one directly behind her. As soon as she was involved
in the story once again, he brought his arms down. The day
continued in that manner until it was too dark to read and she had
given up. If he wasn’t stretching, he would move as if to find a
more comfortable position, momentarily brushing her thigh with his
own. All of the touches and gestures probably appeared innocent to
Ramsey and his wife, if they were paying attention at all. A couple
of times Sabrina had even shot Marius an irritated look, only to
have him return an innocent one.

Maybe all his movements were innocent and it
hadn’t been his intention to distract her. Either way, by the time
they were on the outskirts of London, Sabrina had finally admitted
to herself it wouldn’t have mattered if he had sat perfectly still
because his very presence was a distraction. Since he had tried to
kiss her in the gazebo, Mr. Parker had been less short tempered, if
not downright considerate. Sabrina didn’t know what to make of his
sudden change in mood and, on numerous accounts wished he had found
somewhere else to be.

Perhaps with Parker away from her, she could
deal with this new situation better. During the last few days in
the country, though he had not tried to kiss her again, he often
escorted her from the room, placing his hand, if only momentarily,
on the small of her back. Other times, he held her hand just a bit
too long. Maybe his actions were unconscious, and he had taken it
to heart not to kiss her again. Sabrina’s problem was that she was
too aware of his presence. It didn’t help that her skin tingled
wherever he touched her. She just hoped it wouldn’t be this way
with every gentleman she met or she would never make it through the
next months with her sanity.

“Mother,” Marius began. His voice broke, as
if he were a lad of twelve again. This would not be easy and he
felt no different than when he stood before her as a child, ready
to confess, or admit something he knew would disappoint her.

She looked up, a sweet smile on her lovely
face, soft lines crinkled around her eyes, and Marius almost
changed his mind. “Yes, dear?” She was straightening the greenery
along the mantel in preparation for Christmas Eve. His older
brother, sister-in-law, their children, along with aunts, uncles
and various cousins had descended on the household just yesterday
for the holiday festivities. Marius tried to enjoy their company
but his mind was on Sabrina.

He swallowed and clenched his fists. “You
see, I, well … you see …”

Her eyes sparkled with humor. “Well, what
has you in such a dither, dear?

“Well…” Marius stopped, cleared his
throat and straightened. He was a man after all. “You see …
there is a lady.”

His mother straightened. “Go on, dear.”

“You see, I would, well, I want to return to
London, tonight, to see her on Christmas Eve.” He closed his eyes
and waited. This was his mothers’ favorite holiday, and she always
insisted everyone in the family be present. He knew that in a
moment after she absorbed the enormity of what he just announced
she would make clear her disappointment. There would be a tisk, a
sad shake of her head, and she would tell him to do what he thought
best, though her tone would be low, depressed. His shirt was damp
with the waiting but all he received was complete and utter silence
from his mother. He dared to open his eyes. She had sat in a chair
next to the fire, the gentle smile back on her lips and an eyebrow
lifted with intrigue.