Page 22 of His Perfect Bride
“Vow what?”
“Vow to me that you will never take advantage of her.”
“I’ll never take advantage of her.” He might not have gotten along well with his father, but he did respect his father’s faithfulness and loyalty to his marriage vows and the way he’d always set a good example in treating women respectfully, even the serving staff.
“Thank you.” Augusta’s gaze softened. “I like Sage a great deal. She’s incredibly smart and sensitive and caring and giving. I just don’t want her to get hurt.”
“I won’t hurt her.”
“I shall hold you to that, brother.” This time she gave him a tender smile.
“You have nothing to worry about.”
“Thank you.”
After Augusta headed upstairs, Jackson pivoted and faced his desk, now immaculate and organized. Immediately his thoughts filled with the vision of Sage as she’d looked sitting there bent over his drawings, listening to him with rapt attention as he’d rambled on and on.
She’d been genuinely interested in what he was saying and had asked him astute questions in return. Augusta was right in saying she was incredibly smart—smarter and more interesting than any woman he’d ever talked to before. Most women didn’t care about his engineering or his work. Admittedly, it was technical and complicated and probably dull to most people. But Sage had seemed to want to understand it.
In addition, she’d been humble enough to come to him today and apologize even though he’d been the one who needed to apologize to her. He’d been working up the courage to talk to her all day, had tried on a couple of occasions, had known he needed to tell her he was sorry for being such an oaf. Because it had taken him all of five minutes after she’d stormed out of his study yesterday for him to realize how proficient and organized she truly was and what a benefit that would be.
Even though he’d apologized to her today, his words had been weak and insufficient. He’d have to try again, and this time make sure he was clearer. If he could find a way to show her he was sorry, that would be even better.
* * *
The next morning, Jackson’s stomach pinched nervously as he squinted through the darkness of his bedchamber at his outline in the dresser mirror and attempted to straighten his cravat.
The heavy draperies were closed to block out the sunshine, just the way he preferred so that he didn’t have to view himself. First of all, he didn’t want to waste time worrying about his appearance. Secondly, he loathed seeing the man he’d become.
Why, then, this morning was he straining so hard to take in his image through the darkness? Because he wanted to appear his best when he located Sage and apologized to her again?
He snorted and backed away from the mirror. That was ridiculous. He didn’t give a dash how he looked around Sage. Not in the least. She’d already made it clear that she saw him as a shaggy beast.
He combed his fingers through his hair, the strands wiry and wild and in much need of a haircut. Then he brushed his fingers over his beard, the hair coarse and long and requiring a trim, or even a shave altogether. In the past, he’d always kept his face cleanly shaven the way most gentlemen of his rank did. Maybe it was time to return to his daily shaving and grooming.
With one of the draperies in reach, he yanked it open, letting light spill into his chamber. Then he faced the mirror again and forced himself to stare at his reflection.
An overgrown moose peered back. He looked worse than he’d realized. Today it wouldn’t matter how well he tied his cravat or what color suit he wore. None of that would diminish the fact that he resembled a wild creature who belonged more in the mountains than in an elegant home like his.
He scowled at his reflection. Then he spun away, stalked across his room, and threw open his chamber door.
Passing through the hallway, Augusta paused with Sage halting directly behind her. Both of them startled, as if they hadn’t expected to see him in the doorway. He supposed that was only natural since he hadn’t spent much time in his chamber in the weeks they’d been visiting Fairview.
“Good morning, Jackson.” Augusta recovered quickly and smiled at him tersely. She reached for his arm, tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow, then guided him down the hallway toward the stairs. “Will you join me for breakfast?”
The two women were attired in lovely day gowns, their hair perfectly fashioned, ready for the morning ahead. Somehow today, at the sight of them together, he felt even more like a moose, or perhaps a buffalo.
He could hear Sage’s quiet footsteps behind them, and he wanted to stop and greet her and allow himself a longer view than the brief one he’d taken in passing. But after Augusta’s warning yesterday about treating Sage with respect and not taking advantage of her, he didn’t want to give his sister any reason to call into question his motives.
As he took his place at the table in the breakfast room, he couldn’t keep from hoping Sage would stay. But she disappeared before he could manage even a nod, leaving him alone with Augusta to eat the simple fare of poached eggs, fruit, and oatcakes.
After they finished, he retired to his study. For a reason he couldn’t explain, he left his door open, so that when she passed by later with his sister, he halted in sketching his newest diagram and listened to their conversation about how Augusta would be fine on her errands without a companion. Augusta was rattling off a list of things that yet needed to be done before the upcoming dinner party the following evening.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you?” Sage’s voice held a note of concern. “I can assist you this morning and work on the list for the party this afternoon.”
“No, no.” Augusta spoke as firmly as always. “I shall be just fine on my own. My errands will only bore you.”
Augusta had hired a driver to take her around town but was looking for a permanent coachman. She’d mentioned the previous evening that she was also still attempting to hire another maidservant.
