Page 10 of Trapped with the Earl of Sin

Mary looked like she had a few questions to ask about that topic, but Susanna was grateful when they were distracted. There was no chance she would be able to answer any of those questions. She had absolutely no idea. The only advice that Susanna would be able to offer her was stories that she had heard, and there was no telling what was accurate and what was not.

If Mary wanted some advice, she was going to have to go to someone else.

“Oh, look!” Mary suddenly declared with a lightness to her voice. “Luke is coming back from a horse ride. And he is not alone.”

Martin.

Susanna’s heart sank.

She had wanted to spend time with her sister, not her nemesis. She had been doing everything that she could to avoid Martin, but Mary was already making her way over to her husband-to-be.

“Luke, how are you, my dear?”

Because she did not wish to be rude, Susanna followed Mary, but every step was begrudging and heavy. If anyone was paying any attention, they would have been able to see the disdain in her eyes.

“We will come with you,” Mary called out happily, “to the stables while you drop off the horses. Then perhaps we can go for a walk.”

Much as this was a little better than having Edwin continue to follow her, Susanna was not keen on the walk either. But she was stuck, there was nothing that she could do.

Susanna forced a smile as she approached the stables with Mary. She could see the joy in her sister’s eyes as she greeted Luke, who dismounted his horse with effortless grace.

Martin, following closely behind, gave Susanna a nod of acknowledgment that she returned with a curt nod herself.

“Mary, you look radiant,” Luke said warmly, his eyes sparkling with genuine affection. “I hope your day has been pleasant.”

“It has been lovely,” Mary replied, glancing at Susanna with a smile. “We were just taking a walk to enjoy the gardens. You really do have the most wonderful home, Luke. There is always so much beauty to look at, no matter where I go.”

“Wonderful,” Luke said smilingly. “Then we must join you for your walk. That sounds lovely.”

He took Mary’s arm and instantly started on their journey, which of course left Susanna and Martin walking slightly away from the couple, to one side, a little awkwardly left with only one another’s company.

“Are you enjoying the sunshine?” Martin asked in his typical teasing tone, which always left Susanna on edge, wondering what he wasnotsaying. “It is a lovely day.”

Why is it that even the simplest comment from him is enough to infuriate me?

“Yes, the weather today reminds me of the heath of Highbury.”

She waited with bated breath to see if he would understand what she was referring to.

“Ah, so you enjoy the works of A Lady also?” Martin responded, proving that he knew exactly what Susanna was talking about.“AndEmmanonetheless. I did not peg you as a reader of quality novels. Although I have to admit, I have always preferredMansfield Park.”

“Is Emma too much of a strong character for you?” Susanna shot back, having heard that comment from men before. “You prefer the meeker Fanny Price?”

“Now you have gotten me all wrong,” Martin insisted, with his hand to his chest in mock horror. “I am not like that at all. I merely prefer the setting and description ofMansfield Park, that is all. It has nothing to do with the strength of character.”

But Susanna was not sure that she believed him one bit. “I am surprised you are not more of aGulliver’s Travelsreader. All men enjoy the novels by Jonathan Swift, right? I can only imagine that you have a lot to say about that work.”

“Oh, but my dear Lady Susanna, you must have noticed that I’m not like other men.” He smirked at her and she felt her cheeks flush.

The nerve of this man.

“I definitely have, My Lord. But I wouldn’t be so quick to take it as a compliment.”

“Being different is better than being like everyone else. Even if it’s in a bad way. I expect you, more than anyone, to agree with that.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Susanna was willing to pay any price just to see his confidence crumble. But every time she tried, all she managed was to feel even more irritated.

But before she had time to form a better retort, they both seemed to realize that within the heat of the conversation, they must have wandered away from Mary and Luke without noticing it. Although it was clear that the betrothed couple had not noticed either.

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