Page 6 of Trapped with the Earl of Sin

“Perhaps I am trying to see if there is any intelligence in there,” she shot back.

“And what are your conclusions? Have you decided yet?”

She smirked at him. “I am still trying to work it out.”

“Well, we are going to be here for a while. I am happy for you to spend all the time you want working it through.”

Susanna shook her head like she could not quite believe Martin. But he could not help spotting the small smile playing on her lips. He knew now for sure that she enjoyed this game just as much as he did, even if she did not want to admit it to herself.

But they were going to have fun here, she would soon see that too.

Martin’s mother had seamlessly walked him into the drawing room after breakfast, where everyone was engaged in wedding plans. This was not particularly where Martin wanted to be, but the challenging, beautiful Lady Susanna was in the room, so hestayed just to watch her and try to figure out what he could do to get a reaction out of her again…

“So, what do you think?” Luke demanded, reminding Martin that there were in fact other people in the drawing room. Not just him and Susanna over the other side of the room. “Shall we have morning tea now that breakfast is over? Me and you, Mary and her sister, Susanna? I would like to get to know Mary and her family better.”

Martin’s heart skipped a beat. It appeared that Luke really had not heard his conversation with Susanna. “Yes, that sounds like a great plan.”

He would much prefer to be in a room with just the younger people because the conversation could flow much more freely there. Also it would give him a chance to tease Susanna some more instead. Chatting to her at the dinner table had been the most fun he’d had at Standen Abbey thus far.

“I would like you to spend more time with Mary as well,” Luke continued. “So you can get to know her before everyone else arrives. I really do want to hear your opinion on my bride-to-be. Although I am sure you are going to love her because she is wonderful. I just want you to reallyseeher before the house is packed out.”

Martin felt his stomach sink. The more people arrived at the house, the less fun this was going to be.

“Yes, let us do it now. I will go to the parlor and ensure we have some tea prepared.”

Luke nodded and headed off to find his future wife. As Martin backed out of the room, he caught sight of his mother eyeing him inquisitively.

“Where are you going?” she asked him curiously.

“I am going to spend time with Luke.”

“And his bride-to-be as well?”

“And her sister,” Martin admitted, hoping this would not lead to the typical conversation with her about his own future.

“I see… well, Lady Susanna seems like a very lovely lady. Now that Luke is getting married, I am sure you are thinking about your own future.”

“Oh, no,” he shot back rapidly. “I am not thinking about anything…”

“Well, you know I want you to be happy, and it would be lovely to have grandchildren.”

She did not seem to understand that Martin did not want that for himself. Every time he tried to express as much, she continued pestering him until Martin had to end the conversation abruptly.She did not seem to believe that he could be happy any other way. And yet Martin had no intention of another tiring discussion about an heir with his mother.

Martin had been happy for years. He was content to engage in short-term flings with women who did not want any commitment from him.

That was easy. No complications. Just pleasure.

“I know you would like that, but I will not talk about it now, I am expected in the parlor.”

He headed towards the parlor without giving the dowager any chance to reply. He wasnotgoing to get dragged into anything he did not want, just because she had caught wedding fever.

“So, who did you say is arriving today, Luke? There are so many new faces…”

Martin heard the voices drifting down the hallway, which suggested that everyone else was about to join him. He took a seat and smiled as he prepared himself for them to come. This was going to be his chance to get to know Mary, to ensure that everything was right.

But of course, his eyes could hardly stay on Mary when her sister entered the room behind her. From the very first moment he had been introduced to Susanna, he had been constantly drawn towards her like there was an intense magnetic pull there.

But again, she did not meet his eyes.

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