Page 40 of Trapped with the Earl of Sin

“I am going to retire for the night,” Mary said, stifling a yawn. “It has been a long day, and I want to be well-rested for tomorrow. You should get some sleep too. You truly do look a little weary. But please, come to me if you need anything, alright?”

“I will,” Susanna promised, though she knew sleep would be hard to come by with so much on her mind. “Goodnight, Mary.”

“Goodnight, Susanna.”

As Mary disappeared up the stairs, Susanna lingered in the foyer, her thoughts drifting back to Martin and Edwin. She could not shake the feeling that something was brewing tonight, and it made her uneasy not to be there.

Maybe I foiled Edwin’s plan.Perhaps Edwin will have nothing else…

But the thought offered little comfort. Edwin was cunning and determined; she doubted he would be deterred so easily.

Deciding she needed some fresh air to clear her mind, Susanna stepped out onto the terrace. The night was calm, the cool breeze a welcome relief from the stuffiness of the ballroom. She gazed out at the moonlit garden, trying to gather her thoughts and plan her next move.

Her mind drifted to Martin, still at the ball, likely keeping a watchful eye on Edwin. She trusted him, but the uncertainty gnawed at her.

The last few days were so much easier when she was beside him, and now without him there, it was as if a part of her was missing.

Even if it was unlikely that he would dance with another woman tonight, she still hated to be without him, which was a troublesome feeling. Because soon enough, they would go their separate ways, and she would have to get used to life without him.

Which felt like a very strange concept now.

How on earth was she going to cope?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Luke, it has been such a long time since we took a horse ride to the cliffs. We should go in the morning! Reminisce about the good old days when we were always out having precarious adventures.”

Those words had stuck with Martin all night long. Hearing Edwin speak them after Susanna had knocked the drink off Luke’s hands was bone-chilling because Martin feared this might be yet another attempt to do something dreadful.

Every time he tried to imagine himself being wrong and paranoid, every time he tried to picture Edwin as a good person, he simply could not do it. He knew deep in his heart that his best friend was in trouble, and he was utterly determined to put a stop to it, no matter what happened.

Which was why he found himself seeking out Susanna after breakfast. He had not been seated near her today, so there was no way he could talk to her over the table. But time was ticking by, and he had to locate her quickly before there was an‘accident’ at the cliffs, which meant Luke and Mary could not get married.

“Susanna!” Finally, he located her, just as she was about to set foot in the library, which truly seemed to be her favorite spot. “I need your help. I need your help right now.”

Her eyes widened. She seemed to instantly understand why he needed her so badly, which was a relief. If the panic was already written all over his face, then he would not be expected to explain too much.

“We must go to the stables right away. We are needed for a horse ride up to the cliffs.”

“The cliffs?” she gasped in horror. “Luke is headed to the cliffs? I assume Mary has not been invited along on this ride?”

Martin shook his head. “It was planned after you left the ball last night, so I am sure Luke has not had a chance to extend an invitation.”

Susanna pursed her lips and nodded determinedly. “Do not worry, I shall get Mary to come with us right away.”

A small smile played on Martin’s lips. It was always amazing to see Susanna snapping into action like this. “Great, then I shall meet you at the stables. We will get there at the same time as Edwin and Luke, and simply invite ourselves along on their little outing.”

“Right away. That sounds good to me.”

Martin could not help but notice that Susanna’s eyes lingered on him a moment too long. Probably because he could not take his eyes off her beautiful face either.

The urgency of the situation hung between them, but for a brief moment, the shared glance conveyed more than words could. They were allies in this fight, bound by their mutual concern for Luke and Mary.

Susanna nodded again, more resolutely this time. “I am going to get my sister fired up for a horse ride. See you shortly.”

Martin watched her hurry off, his heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and admiration. He turned and made his way to the stables, his mind racing with potential scenarios. He needed to be prepared for anything Edwin might have planned.

He paced around the stables, his nerves tightening with every passing second. The earthy smell of hay and the soft nickers of the horses did little to calm his anxiety. Martin ran his fingers through his hair, trying to collect his thoughts as he waited for the others to arrive.

---