Page 15 of Trapped with the Earl of Sin

Martin noticed the way her eyes flickered down to his lips as she said that, which made his heart pound a little faster.

Was she thinking about the moment they got a little close before? When it seemed like they might kiss? Because that moment was absolutely flooding his mind.

“I shall take that as a compliment,” he said, with a cheeky smile, “that you have never met anyone quite like me. I believe that is because there is no one else like me. I am one of a kind. Completely unique.”

She cocked a knowing eyebrow but did not say anything to deny the compliment.

Perhaps that was exactly how she meant it.

Mary and Luke started to walk back towards them before either of them could say another word. It always seemed like they were interrupted before their conversation got interesting, but that was alright. It just kept Martin on his toes and made him yearn for more.

He hoped Susanna felt the same way…

There was a knock on his bedchambers door as he straightened his bow tie for dinner, which had him curious. He had just left Luke and the others behind, so he could not imagine that his friend was coming to see him once more. There was no one else that Martin could envision coming to seek him out…

Unless…

No, of course, it was not going to be Susanna.

She probably wanted to talk to him as well, but she would not behave in such a risky manner. She was a Lady with a reputation to protect. Sure, they hadalmostcrossed the line earlier, but that all happened by mistake. They were supposed to be with Luke and Mary the whole time.

There was no way that she would come to his bedchambers.

But he had to admit that he was rather excited by the idea. The thought of her sneaking away to get a moment alone with him, either to talk or to perhaps finally close the gap between them to kiss, he did not mind.

Being around Susanna was electrifying, and he truly could not get enough of her.

“Oh, Mother.”

His heart sank. This was not the visit that he wanted at all. If anything, with that glint in her eyes, he knew that his mother was only here to ruin his evening before it had even begun.

“Martin, I hope you do not mind my coming to talk to you, but I have been thinking a lot. The wedding has me worried about you.”

Martin resisted the urge to roll his eyes as she stepped uninvited into his room. This was exactly what he had been trying to avoid. “Oh, Mother, I do not need you to be worrying about me…”

“But you are five and twenty years of age now, and you have shown no signs of wanting to settle down…”

“Again, Mother? We are talking about this again? Plenty of gentlemen get married at a far more advanced age than mine,” he tried to remind her, but she was not hearing him.

“But perhaps this will change things,” she commented. “Seeing your best friend happy and married. It might make you yearn for the same, and there are going to be plenty of eligible women at the wedding who may well capture your attention at long last…”

Thank goodness she knew nothing about the almost kiss between him and Susanna. That would most certainly send her spiraling. She would likely have the two of them married off before Martin could even blink.

“I am quite happy with the way my life is…”

“You will not be happy forever when you struggle to find yourself a suitable wife because of your rakish reputation. Without a wife, you will not be able to have children, and then your life will not be fulfilling. A family will make you happy, I can promise you that.”

“You know that will not happen, Mother…”

“But, Martin, please just think about it…”

Martin forced a smile, trying to mask his frustration. “Mother, I understand your concerns, but I assure you, I am quite content with my life as it is right now. I do not know what I need to do to prove that to you.”

His mother’s eyes softened, but her determination did not waver. “I only want what is best for you, Martin. I want to see you settled and happy. A good match can bring so much joy. Me and your father had so many happy years before he was taken from me.”

Martin sighed inwardly. He knew that his parents were happy, but he had also seen how much his father’s death ruined his mother for a long while. Surely it was not much of a surprise that he did not want the same for himself? Seeing her heartbreak had hardened his heart, and that was the way he wanted it to stay.

“I will consider your words, Mother. But for now, can we please focus on Luke and Mary? It is their special time, and I want to make sure everything goes perfectly for them. I do not wish to have all of these complications to deal with.”

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