Page 23 of His Perfect Bride
Maybe he ought to get involved and locate a Native woman. He’d built relationships amongst the Songhee who had been helpful to him during his explorations of the colony during his first years here. Of course the smallpox epidemic of the past year had brought death to many Natives, and he didn’t know if his acquaintances had survived. If so, he suspected at least one of the wives or daughters would appreciate an opportunity to work in his house.
As it was, Sage shouldn’t have to do so much. In fact, as Augusta’s lady’s maid, she wasn’t supposed to be carrying the bulk of the housework and should be free to focus solely on Augusta.
With consternation rising inside, Jackson pushed back from his desk.
“Don’t worry about me,” Augusta insisted from near the front door. “The men aren’t interested in me the way they are in you.”
“That’s not true,” Sage chided softly, probably assisting Augusta into her coat and bonnet.
Men interested in Sage? Of course all the fellows in town were ogling her just the way he’d predicted. Who wouldn’t notice her? Evenhewas interested in her, although he had no plans to act upon that interest and not just because he’d vowed to Augusta that he wouldn’t.
Moreover, Sage wasn’t the type of woman he would consider, at least for a serious marriage relationship. Men of his social standing didn’t marry the hired help. They might have dalliances with maidservants, but that’s as far as such relationships ever went.
Jackson wasn’t the dallying type. Even if he were, he’d vowed to his sister he wouldn’t have a dalliance with Sage. Maybe he hadn’t said so in those exact words. But he knew as well as Augusta that’s what they’d been talking about.
“You’re a fine catch.” Sage spoke earnestly. “And the men would call on you if you spared them a moment of your time.”
Augusta huffed. “I don’t have time to spare.”
“You have to make the time.”
He hadn’t thought to ask Augusta about her relationship history, and she hadn’t spoken of any man in particular. But surely a woman like her from a prestigious family and with an extremely large dowry would have attracted many men. So at thirty-one why wasn’t she yet wed?
Yes, Augusta had been away from London for long months at a time with her traveling. But that wouldn’t stop Mother and Father from finding a suitable man for her to settle down with. Most likely, they had tried, but Augusta had refused their efforts for one reason or another.
“Let’s not focus on me,” Augusta said. “Let’s focus on you instead.”
“I already told you. I’ve decided to become a spinster.”
A spinster? Jackson couldn’t hold back a scoffing sound.
The two women grew suddenly silent.
He knew he should feel remorseful for eavesdropping, but he felt only irritation at himself for getting caught.
“Nonsense.” Augusta spoke again. “You’ll never be a spinster. You’re much too young and pretty and kind. You’ll make a lucky man a wonderful wife, and you’ll be a wonderful mother.”
“No, I’ve already decided I won’t get married.” Sage’s tone was kind, but her voice contained a note of determination that was oddly jarring.
“Not every man is like David.” Augusta’s voice dropped to a whisper.
If she thought by whispering he wouldn’t be able to hear, then she was wrong. And if she thought he’d ceased eavesdropping, she was wrong about that too. This conversation about Sage was much too important to ignore.
Who was David, and what had he done? Sage had obviously conversed with Augusta about her past. Did he dare ask Augusta about it the next time they shared a meal together, or would it be impolite of him to pry into Sage’s private life?
“Thank you, Augusta,” Sage whispered back. “But I’m happy as your lady’s maid, and I have no wish to do anything else.”
“You will eventually when the right man comes along.”
The front door opened, and moments later, Augusta stepped outside, and the door closed behind her. Sage seemed to linger by the door before her footsteps padded quietly down the hallway, drawing closer.
Jackson bolted up from his chair and frantically eyed his study. Should he sit back down and pretend to be busy? He certainly couldn’t stand frozen in place. If she glanced inside, she would find him gaping like an idiot and doing nothing.
Before he could make up his mind over what to do, she was passing by. She didn’t spare a glance his way but continued down the hallway as if she didn’t realize he was there.
A strange desperation seized him. He couldn’t let her go past without talking to her. He had to at least use the opportunity to apologize again for his bad behavior from the previous day.
“Miss Rhodes?” he called out.
