Page 29 of His Perfect Bride
Augusta didn’t respond as she reached for the second earring.
At a soft knock on the door, Augusta paused. “Come in.”
The door opened, and Jackson stepped inside, wearing a black formal suit with tailcoat, along with a ruffled white shirt and black tie. With his hair slicked back with pomade and his face still cleanly shaven, he was the picture of the perfect gentleman. No doubt he was the handsomest man in the colony now. The young women in attendance tonight would vie for his attention.
With a stiff, polite posture, he paused in the center of the room where the light seemed to shine directly on him, giving Sage an even better view of his features—the hard lines of his jaw, the angled cheekbones, the smooth chin.
“Good evening, Augusta.” He spoke to his sister, but his gaze fell upon Sage. It fell with a magnetism that tugged at her and tore down her resistance—if she had any left. He was studying her face like he’d taken to doing, as if he were exploring uncharted territory.
The attention was growing more intense with every interaction, and Sage didn’t quite know what to make of it. What would Augusta say if she realized Jackson was looking at her so often?
Regardless of what Augusta might or might not notice, Sage couldn’t keep the warm waves in her stomach from tossing back and forth.
“You look fabulous, Jackson,” Augusta said as she peered at her reflection and straightened her earrings.
“Thank you.” He darted a glance at Augusta before returning his gaze to Sage. “You do too.”
Augusta reached for a crystal perfume bottle, lifted the top, and then dabbed the stopper onto her wrist. “You’re all ready for this evening, then?”
“Yes.” He stood awkwardly, as if he wanted to say something to Sage, but then he glanced at Augusta. “I have this for you.” He held out his hand to reveal a gold bangle. Inlaid with several colorful jade stones, it looked as though it was made of real gold. Maybe it was.
Seeing the gift in the mirror, Augusta drew in a surprised breath and pivoted on her bench. “It’s lovely, Jackson.”
He crossed to his sister and tenderly slipped the bangle on her outstretched arm. “It’s not as lovely as you. But I wanted you to have it as a token of my thanks for all you’ve done for me these past weeks.”
Jackson only stayed a few minutes longer, making small talk to Augusta about the guests who would be coming that evening. Only after he left the chamber did Sage start breathing evenly again.
“Is there something going on between you and Jackson?” Augusta’s question was as forthright as always, and even though she spoke it quietly, it seemed to echo in the room.
Sage paused in hanging Augusta’s dressing robe back in the wardrobe, and her gaze shot to the chamber door. She prayed Jackson wasn’t out in the hallway where he could hear Augusta’s bold question.
“You may as well tell me the truth.” Augusta was peering at her in the mirror.
“No, there’s nothing.” The emotion drained from Sage, leaving her blood cold. “I assure you that I would never encourage his affection.”
Augusta held her gaze for several moments before nodding. “He vowed to me that he wouldn’t toy with you…”
“He’s not, ma’am.” When had Augusta had a conversation with Jackson like that? Why would the two of them discuss her? “He looks at me once in a while. That’s all.”
“And you look at him.”
Sage started to shake her head then stopped. “I’m trying not to.”
“Then you’re attracted to him?”
“As I said, I am not encouraging anything?—”
“Do you like Jackson?”
“As an employer and as your brother.” At least that’s what she hoped was true. She didn’t like him as more, did she?
“You’ve been good for him.” Augusta continued to twirl the new bangle. “His moodiness doesn’t frighten you. Neither does his intelligence nor his messiness nor his temper.”
“I regret I was presumptuous in my rebuking him.”
“No, no, no. You’re fine.” Augusta waved a dismissive hand then stood. “He needs someone who isn’t afraid to confront him and be honest with him.”
Sage’s racing thoughts came to a halt. That someone could never be her, could it? “You can’t really think anything would happen with…” She couldn’t even associate herself with Jackson. The prospect of being with him was simply too preposterous to consider for even an instant.
