Page 21 of Trapped with the Earl of Sin

Martin could see how fiercely Susanna cared about her sister, which only drew him to her more. He loved seeing passion in other people, he was excited by anyone who could speak their mind and freely care enough to show it. Society ladies usually did not allow themselves to behave in such a way.

But then Susanna was not like anyone he had ever met before, which perhaps was why he could not stop his heart from skipping a beat.

“Wewillsolve this,” he reassured her, just as determined. “We will figure out if Edwin is up to anything. Hopefully, we will find out that there is nothing to worry about. With a bit of luck, we will discover that he has recovered from his obsession with your sister, and then we can concentrate on the upcoming wedding.”

Susanna nodded, but she did not look like she believed that would be the outcome of this investigation. “I do hope so. I want Mary to be happy. I really do.”

As they continued to walk, Martin tried to think about their plan with Edwin and who he was going to talk to about him, but he continued to find himself distracted by the beautiful and strong woman beside him. She really was incredibly intriguing. He was not sure how he was going to ensure that he kept a respectable distance from her while they completed this mission. All he really wanted to do was feel her close to him again, to know that they could kiss at any given moment.

Even if that was not something they couldreallydo.

Eventually, they reached a small café at the edge of the park. Luke suggested they stop for tea, and everyone agreed. They found a table outside, shaded by a large umbrella. Martin sat next to Susanna, once again hyper-aware of her proximity.

“So, as I was saying,” Luke continued, obviously referring to a conversation that he had been having with Mary, but now bringing Martin and Susanna into it. “My cousin, Edwin, had invited these wealthy investors to his estate, hoping to secure their support for a business venture. He was determined to make a great impression. So, he went all out—hired the best chefs, imported the finest wines, and even arranged for a string quartet to play throughout the evening.”

Susanna and Martin exchanged glances, both eager to hear more. Martin, in particular, was keen to glean any insight into Edwin’s character.

“The only thing he had forgotten to do was plan what he was going to say.” Luke clutched his stomach and laughed. “It was a mess. A disaster. I imagine one of the worst investment meetings that anyone had ever gone to.”

Even as Mary joined in the laughter, Martin could see caution in her eyes. It left him a little more certain that Luke did not know a thing about the way Edwin had pursued her.

“Is he always that disorganized?” Susanna asked, a little coldly. It was clear that she wanted to know more, but that it was hard for her to keep her tone in check.

“He usually has a way of charming himself out of tricky situations. But not that time. It is safe to say that the business never got anywhere.”

Martin leaned back in his chair, absorbing Luke’s story with an air of casual interest, but inside, his mind was racing. This was precisely the kind of information he needed to better understand Edwin. Charm without substance, a penchant for grand gestures with little follow-up—these traits painted a picture of a man who relied on superficial impressions rather than genuine capability.

“He seems to have quite the knack for theatrics,” Martin remarked, aiming for a light tone. “But how does he handle failure? That must have been quite the blow to his ego.”

Luke shrugged, taking a sip of his tea. “Edwin has always been resilient, I will give him that. He bounced back quickly and started planning another venture almost immediately. It is like he never lets anything truly get to him. But,” he added with a chuckle, “sometimes I think he lives in his own world, where everything always works out just because he wills it to.”

Martin exchanged a meaningful look with Susanna. This insight was crucial. Edwin’s resilience, or perhaps his inability to accept failure, might drive him to more desperate measures. This could explain his relentless pursuit of Mary, seeing her as another challenge he needed to conquer to prove himself.

Eventually, they finished their tea and started a walk through the town, so Luke could show Mary where she would soon be living. They visited bookshops and flower stalls, bakeries and a lovely marketplace.

Mary looked utterly thrilled at the life that lay ahead of her, but now he was even more concerned that she might not like it there.

“That bit about Edwin was telling,” Susanna said quietly as they paused near a stall selling delicate hand-painted ceramics. “It aligns with everything we have suspected about his character. He does not seem to know when to give up.”

Martin nodded, his eyes scanning the surrounding crowd to ensure they were not being overheard. “Yes, and that worries me even more. If he is that determined, and he really did harm his best friend, then his cousin might also just be ‘something in the way.’”

Susanna’s brow furrowed. “I agree. We are going to have to work really hard to find something on him.”

They followed Luke as he excitedly showed Mary some jewelry he thought she might like, stopping talking for a moment because they might be overheard by the people they wanted to protect the most.

“Look at this one, Mary,” Luke said, holding up a delicate silver necklace adorned with a sapphire pendant. “I think it would suit you perfectly.”

Mary blushed, clearly pleased with Luke’s choice. “It is beautiful,” she murmured, allowing him to fasten it around her neck.

Strangely, it left Martin wondering if he should do something kind for Susanna. He never partook in romantic gestures, but he had the urge to do something nice for a change.

He wanted so badly to reach out for a necklace, but he could not. Just because he had the strange urge did not mean it was the right thing to do.

But as his eyes ran all over Susanna, he knew that her neck would look utterly ravishing with a chain around it.

What is happening to me?

Martin’s thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and desire as he watched Susanna admire the delicate ceramics. The notion of giving her a gift, something as simple yet meaningful as a necklace, gnawed at him.

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