Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) (3 page)

With the royal horse tied to the back, and
traveling at a moderate pace, Marius finally headed toward
London.

He had been traveling for a few hours and
was becoming bored. He preferred traveling on horseback, which was
much quicker. Or, in a closed carriage while someone else drove
while he either read or slept. This was mundane. Not a soul in
sight, not even interesting wildlife. The only good thing about
this travel was that it was a clear day of mild temperatures. With
no cover, he would have been most put out if it had decided to
rain.

He scanned the road ahead, hoping to find
something of interest, not expecting anything when he saw the lone
figure walking ahead. It was a female, as identified by clothing,
and she was carrying a satchel. What was she doing out here, in the
middle of nowhere? Shrugging, he pondered the possibilities for
entertainment and glanced over as he passed her. It took just a
moment to recognize the young woman and he halted the horses. He
turned in his seat to look at the figure now walking toward him.
Surely he was mistaken.

Marius was stunned to see Cinderella, no,
Sabrina. “Good day, Sabrina. Might I ask what you are doing?”

She tilted her head to answer him.
“Walking.”

“Obviously. Where are you going and why
aren’t you at the academy?”

She straightened her head and looked him in
the eye. “I am on my way to London. I no longer work at the
academy.”

Lady Davies hadn’t mentioned Sabrina had
quit or even left for that matter. Still, she had to have been gone
when he arrived at breakfast for her to be this far on her trip. In
fact, Sabrina would have had to have left in the dead of the night.
“I take it Lady Davies didn’t know you were leaving.”

Sabrina’s spine stiffened, but she didn’t
answer.

Marius noted the apprehension in her eyes
and wondered why she was backing away from him. “What is wrong,
Sabrina?”

“Did she send you after me? If she did I am
not going back, no matter what she promised you.”

Marius was lost. “She didn’t even mention
you were gone. When the others said you hadn’t been at your duties,
I assumed you were ill.”

Sabrina relaxed slightly. “I couldn’t stay
any longer.”

Marius .jumped from his seat. “You have been
walking for hours, at night, alone?”

“I was perfectly fine.” Her chin jutted out
in defiance.

Marius shook his head. Nobody with any sense
walked alone in the middle of the night. “What will you do in
London?”

“Find another position.”

“Did Lady Davies provide a reference?”

“No, she didn’t.”

Marius couldn’t understand her lack of
concern. Had she no idea that doors would be closed to her without
proper references? “Perhaps if you had waited until morning,” he
offered, though he knew it was too late.

“Mr. Parker, I knew two years ago that Lady
Davies would never write a reference for me. I only stayed because
it was easier than striking out on my own.”

Concern grew in Marius. What would become of
her? He already could guess and he wouldn’t allow it. “Why did you
leave now?”

She turned away from him and studied his
horses instead. “She gave me a duty I wasn’t willing to perform.
Had I waited to resign this morning, she would not have allowed me
to take any of my personal possessions. She believes that
everything I have is rightfully hers.”

Marius continued to watch her with
curiosity. She already did most of the work. “What was it she
wanted you to do?”

A blush strained Sabrina’s cheeks. “I would
rather not say.”

Marius studied her, trying to guess what
could have made her leave this way. Then he recalled what Sabrina
had said about Lady Davies promising him something. “Did it have
anything to do with me?”

Her blush only deepened. Sabrina didn’t
answer him.

Marius was convinced it had to do with him.
“Tell me what Lady Davies wanted you to do.”

Sighing, Sabrina looked up at him. “She
ordered me to see to
all
your needs.” Sabrina answered in a
quiet voice.

“As in offering yourself to me?”

Sabrina’s face deepened into a dark red.
“Yes. I wasn’t willing and knew if I stayed, things would only get
more difficult. So, I left.”

Still shocked, Marius stepped closer.
“Sabrina, if you would have come to me, I would have turned you
away.”

Her eyes showed disbelief so he continued.
“I do not dally with servants, even those as attractive as you. I
would not have broken that rule, especially if I knew you were
being sent to me as if Lady Davies was your…”

Her blush returned. Marius took her arm and
escorted her to the curricle. “Let me drive you to London.”

Sabrina took a step back. “No, I
couldn’t.”

Marius pulled her along. “Yes, you can. I
feel partially responsible for you being in this predicament and, I
could use the company.”

Sabrina stood rooted in her spot.

“I promise to be on my best behavior.
Besides, I am not about to leave you out here alone. If you didn’t
get into the curricle, I will simply walk along beside you.”

Sabrina narrowed her eyes as if she didn’t
believe him.

He stood and waited. He would wait all day
if necessary.

With a deep sigh, Sabrina allowed him to
assist her onto the seat. She moaned once she was off her feet. “It
feels good to sit down.”

Marius merely chuckled and set he horses
into motion once again. “There is a village further down the road.
Have you eaten recently?”

She dismissed the need to stop. “I had some
bread and cheese a short while ago.”

A short while ago could have been hours as
far as Marius was concerned and he wasn’t going to let her starve
either. “Good, I am famished and we both could use a good
meal.”

Her eyes widened. “I am not really
hungry.”

Marius suspected she probably didn’t have
funds for food, and he wasn’t about to let her go without a meal.
“We shall see.”

Sabrina was happy to ride rather than walk.
Her feet did not throb nearly as much, though her back still ached.
Who would have thought the walk would have made her so sore and
weary? It wasn’t as if she wasn’t used to doing chores all day
long. She climbed stairs and ladders, carried water, cleaned
floors, chimneys and everything else. Simply walking shouldn’t have
tired her out. It must just be the lack of sleep.

The village was small but Mr. Parker located
a coaching inn and escorted Sabrina inside. After taking seats in
the back of the room, he proceeded to order for both of them before
she could form an objection. Sabrina knew she should save every
shilling, still she couldn’t deny the hunger gnawing at her belly,
nor hide the grumbling as the aromas drifted toward her from the
tables where other patrons were eating.

Mr. Parker chuckled and leaned toward her.
“I thought you weren’t hungry?”

With half a smile, she shrugged. “I suppose
I am.”

After they ate in silence, Sabrina excused
herself. When she returned, Mr. Parker waited for her. “I’ve seen
to our meal.” He offered his arm and escorted her outside to the
curricle.

Sabrina opened her mouth to argue. Mr.
Parker held up a hand to silence her before he helped her up into
the seat. “I assume you have few funds. As I feel partially
responsible for you being in this situation I insist on seeing to
the expenses until I deliver you safely to London.”

“It is not necessary.” She was thankful yet
it wasn’t easy for her to take charity.

Mr. Parker slid into the seat. “I beg to
differ, so humor me.” He set the horses into motion once again.

Sabrina didn’t have the energy to argue and
his assistance would save her precious funds. “Thank you,” she
finally offered with sigh. “I promise to pay back each shilling
once I have secured a position.”

*

After they were away from the village,
Marius began with his questions. “So Sabrina, do you have a last
name by chance? I am not sure Cinderella did.”

She laughed. “She must have, but I don’t
know what it was. My last name is Chester.”

Marius knew a few Chesters and it wasn’t an
uncommon name. “Do you have any family?”

“My mother died when I was young. My father
was killed at Køge.”

Marius nodded. “What regiment was your
father in?”

She sighed. “None. He shouldn’t have even
been injured, let alone killed.”

Marius turned, looking at her oddly. “Why do
you say that?”

“My father was fascinated with war and
strategy. When he could, he would visit Wellesley.”

“Your father knew Wellesley?” Marius was
astonished her father knew someone of such importance.

“They met in Eton and renewed their
acquaintance at the
French Royal Academy of
Equitation
. When Wellesley enlisted, my grandfather forbade
my father from doing the same. So, my father would visit Wellesley
whenever he could, staying in the background, listening to
Wellesley’s difficulties in war, sharing a drink or two. I suppose
simply being a friend.”

Marius was bewildered. Her father had been a
friend of Wellesley and attended Eton with him? That alone meant
she had not always been poor, or at least her father hadn’t been.
Why would her grandfather have refused to let his son buy a
commission, unless he was the heir? “Did you have no other
family?”

“Only my Uncle James and Cousin Ramsey,” she
answered with a shrug.

Marius shook his head. No, it couldn’t be
the same family. Could it? “The Earl of Chesterfield is your
uncle?”

Sabrina turned to question Marius, surprise
lit in her eyes. “Do you know my uncle then?”

Hesitantly, he answered. “Yes, by
acquaintance only. Chester, Ramsey to you, on the other hand, I’ve
come to know fairly well these past few years.”

Her eyes brightened at his name. “How is he?
Did he do well in school? He wrote that he had married. Have you
met his wife? Is she nice?”

The thoughts tumbled over in his mind and
Marius didn’t know what to say first. Why had Lord Chesterfield let
his niece become a servant? Why had Ramsey allowed it? He knew
Ramsey rather well and couldn’t believe he merrily went through
life while his cousin was made to wait on others.

“Mr. Parker?” Sabrina asked, intruding on
his thoughts.

Hesitantly, Marius answered. “He is well and
his wife is charming.”

“Good. I so want him to be happy.” Sabrina
relaxed beside him. A moment later she straightened again and
turned toward him. “Could you do me a favor?”

“What?”

“When you speak with Ramsey, don’t tell him
I was working as a servant at the academy.”

This was becoming more and more bizarre.
“Why not, doesn’t he know?”

Her shocked eyes beseeched him. “No. He must
never learn. I promised Uncle James never to tell him.”

“Why wouldn’t he want your cousin to
know?”

Sabrina sighed and sat quiet for a moment.
“Can I trust you not to say anything?” Marius did not like where
this was going and never promised anything without knowing exactly
what he was promising and why. “I’ll try.”

This assurance must have been good enough
for Sabrina. “When Uncle James inherited the title, after my father
was killed, I was a student at the academy.”

This at least explained, somewhat, how she
came to be Cinderella. There was still a large gap in the
history.

Sabrina continued. “The family was in a bad
financial situation according to Uncle James”

Marius was dumbfounded. Lord Chesterfield
was a very wealthy man and had been since he could remember, or at
least he certainly gave that appearance. Ramsey wasn’t lacking
either. Quietly, he waited for the rest of the story.

“Ramsey had not been out of school all that
long and Uncle James wanted him to have the best of everything. All
the right connections, be embraced by the
ton
, and
everything that went with it. Uncle hoped Ramsey would marry an
heiress to help save the family.”

Marius only nodded. Was she really talking
about the people he knew?

“Uncle could no longer pay for my schooling
and I couldn’t return to his home because his wife was frail and
ailing.”

Marius tried to keep his face impassive.
Lady Chesterfield had always been a healthy and very robust
woman.

“I agreed to stay on at the academy to earn
my own way so Ramsey wouldn’t have to suffer.”

Marius looked down at her. “Ramsey knows
nothing of this?”

“No. If he knew, Ramsey would never have
agreed and sacrificed his own future to protect me. It was
necessary that he marry well to save the family and our
property.”

“So, he thinks you stayed at school all this
time? Didn’t he suspect anything when it was time for you to have a
Season?” Marius asked, still boggled from all that he was
hearing.

“He did write and ask, several times. I
insisted that I was happy where I was and considering a teaching
position. I knew he didn’t have the funds to finance a Season.”

Marius was amazed, stupefied, outraged and
confused all at once. “That was very unselfish of you, Sabrina. Or
should I say, Lady Sabrina.”

She laughed then. “Sabrina is fine. I
haven’t been addressed as Lady in a long time.”

It didn’t bother her, which was painfully
obvious. However, Marius knew the truth and wondered why she had
been kept at the academy.

The silence stretched between them and soon
Marius felt Sabrina on his shoulder. She had fallen asleep. Who
could blame her? She hadn’t slept the night before and after all
the walking, she should be completely exhausted.

While she rested, Marius made some
decisions. He certainly was not taking her to London to fend for
herself. If what she said was true, then Ramsey had no idea what
had become of his cousin and Marius felt it a duty to inform him.
He still couldn’t understand the why. Though it was farther away,
Marius decided to take her to Lord and Lady Sandlin. He didn’t want
to risk Sabrina being in London and a chance meeting with her uncle
or cousin until he had figured things out. Besides, the only place
he could take her in London at that moment would be his own
townhouse and that certainly wouldn’t do. It was bad enough she had
to work as a servant all these years, he wasn’t going to ruin her
as well. As it was, they would need to keep their trip a
secret.