Page 45 of Trapped with the Earl of Sin

Tears pricked her eyes as she gathered herself, grabbing her undergarments as she went. Humiliation burned within her. She could hardly breathe as she raced away from the stables, needingto get as far away from Martin as humanly possible. She could not stand to evenseehim any longer after that.

Why would Martin do such a thing? Why would he play with me in such a way?

He had already let her know that he did not really believe in love and that he found the idea of marriage laughable. Susanna had not wanted to put her heart on the line either, because of what she had witnessed with Mary after Duncan’s death, but it still did not feel good to have her heart stomped on in such a way.

I will not be able to face him again,she thought sadly to herself as she headed inside and made her way to her bedchambers.That might truly have ruined everything. What on earth are we going to do now?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

In fact, darling Susanna, one might even dare to say that I am falling for you.

Those words had stuck in her mind ever since Martin had said them to her. They might as well have been her mantra over the last few days. Which had not helped her every time she had been forced to be around Martin.

Much as Susanna had done everything that she could to avoid him, there were times when they simplyhadto look one another in the eyes. It was as if that magnetic force kept pulling them back together, even if they did not want that.

“Susanna, are you even listening to me?” Mary demanded, snapping Susanna back to the present moment. She was supposed to be helping with the flower arrangements to be placed in the center of all the tables, but clearly, she had not been doing a good enough job. “My goodness, what is with you, Susanna? I cannot seem to get any conversation out of you at the moment.”

“Sorry,” Susanna murmured as she attempted to get back to work. “I guess I am tired.”

“No, I believe it is more than that,” Mary mused as she rested her hands on her hips. “There is something on your mind, I can see it. Something that you are not really sharing with me.”

Susanna shook her head, but she could feel a heat burning in her cheeks. She did not want to give herself away, but she could not seem to stop her blood from burning up. It did not help that she was keeping too many secrets from her sister. “I do not know what you are talking about.”

Mary narrowed her eyes, studying her sister’s flushed face. “Oh, come on, Susanna. I know you better than that. You have been acting strange ever since we went riding.”

Susanna tried to focus on the delicate roses and peonies in her hands, but her mind was still stuck on Martin’s words. She placed a sprig of baby’s breath into the arrangement, hoping it would hide her trembling fingers.

“I am fine, really.”

Mary did not seem to be buying it. She stepped closer, her voice softening. “Is it Martin?”

Susanna’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprise. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” Mary began, glancing around to make sure they were alone and no one could overhear them. “I do notice things, you know, and I have noticed the way you two look at each other. And the way you avoid him too… It is not hard to see that something is going on. I have tried to talk to you about it a few times, but you have been resistant. I did not want to push you… but if he is causing you issues, then I need to know. I will not stand for it.”

Panic flared in Susanna’s chest. She had not realized they were so obvious and that Mary was just waiting for her to say something.

“It is nothing, Mary. Just… complications.”

Mary placed a hand on her sister’s arm, her expression earnest. “You can talk to me, you know. If something is happening, or if he did something?—”

“No, no,” Susanna interrupted quickly. “He did not do anything wrong. It is just… confusing. He said something to me, and I cannot stop thinking about it.”

Mary’s eyes softened with understanding. “You care about him, am I right? You might even… like him… I have thought that for a while now because I have never seen a man get under your skin in the same way that Martin does.”

Susanna bristled. She never intended tolikeanyone. Especially not after seeing how hurt love had left Mary… but then Susanna could also see how happy love made her sister now. It was all sovery confusing and hardly any wonder that she felt like her head was spinning all the time.

Eventually, she sighed, feeling the weight of her emotions pressing down on her. “I think I do. But it is more than that. It is like… he sees me in a way no one else does. And I am not sure how to handle it. I do notwantto like him. I have been actively tryingnotto like him, but I cannot seem to stop myself.”

Mary smiled gently. “Love can be scary, especially when it is unexpected. But maybe it is time to face it head-on. Talk to him, Susanna. You might be surprised by what you find.”

Susanna bit her lip, considering her sister’s words. Could she really be brave enough to confront her feelings? To risk her heart? The thought made her stomach twist with anxiety, but there was also a flicker of hope.

“Maybe you are right,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe I do need to talk to him.”

Mary gave her a reassuring squeeze. “You will figure it out. And whatever happens, I am here for you. If you need any help or advice, I will do what I can to assist you.”

Susanna managed a small smile. “Thank you, Mary. I needed that. But please, do not say anything to anyone else.”

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