Page 35 of His Perfect Bride
The woman scowled at him like a mother bear protecting her cub. “Who wants to know?”
“Her sister Sage.”
The woman made a point of scanning the trail behind him. “I don’t see no sister.”
“She’s in the canoe.”
At that, the woman froze. “Here? Now?” Her voice wobbled with emotion.
“Yes. I’m trying to locate her sister Willow. Do you know where she lives?”
A man ducked out of the low barn door in simple garb and a neckerchief tied over a shaven head. Shielding his eyes with a hand, he straightened to a full, towering height. He glanced first to the woman with the baby in the sling, then his attention narrowed upon Jackson.
“Elijah!” the woman called again. “Go get Willow.”
“Why?”
“Just go on now and do as I say.”
The man with the neckerchief—Elijah—hesitated a moment, then began to cross his farmyard toward a bridge that spanned the river. A trail cut through the woodland on the other side. Did Willow perhaps live here after all?
With his muscles tensing with sudden anticipation, Jackson turned and made his way back along the path toward the shore to fetch Sage. The thought of her elation at finally being reunited with her sister brought him a sweet sense of satisfaction. He wanted Sage to be happy today and always. In fact, for a reason he couldn’t explain, her happiness meant more to him than anything else.
Twelve
From her spot in the canoe, Sage’s heart gave an extra beat as Jackson hiked out of the woodland. Even as a wealthy gentleman, he seemed so at ease in the wilderness, his footsteps certain, his stride unwavering.
He made a dashing picture in his blue suit with his gold watch chain hanging from his waistcoat pocket, his fine felt hat, and his polished shoes. Although he had changed his clothing before leaving on their trip, he hadn’t shaved, and now a dark layer of stubble coated his jaw and chin, making him look only more darkly handsome in that brooding, moody way of his.
Not that she minded his brooding, moody way. In fact, the more she got to know him, the more she appreciated how his mind worked. She was coming to realize that sometimes his silence meant he’d retreated into his brain and was likely solving a complex problem, coming up with a new invention, or figuring out details that she couldn’t begin to understand.
At other times, his silence meant he was probably thinking too deeply about past pains and problems. For as intricately as he thought about the positive things, he also apparently thought just as intricately about all the negative, making it difficult for him to move on.
She appreciated that he was complex and deep and emotional. During his especially quiet moments, she didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with idle chatter and instead was content to let him speak when he had something to say.
Regardless of his shifting moods, he’d been kind and polite to her since leaving Victoria, so much so that she felt like a real lady and companion, not the maidservant she really was.
Although she hadn’t wanted to leave Augusta behind, Sage could admit she was glad to have Jackson accompanying her.
It was possible Augusta was trying to facilitate something between her and Jackson. After all, Augusta’s behavior had been odd since awakening. Had she feigned tiredness so that Jackson would have to step in and do the gentlemanly thing and travel with her? After the conversation the previous day about Jackson, Sage wouldn’t put it past Augusta to start meddling.
In spite of Augusta’s possible scheming, Sage had no intention of letting herself get carried away by the trip with Jackson. She also wouldn’t let herself get carried away by his intensity toward her at times. She had to remember that was just the way he was and that it didn’t mean he was attracted to her.
Well, maybe it did hint at some attraction. She would be naïve to deny the measure of awareness that had developed. But just because desire was developing didn’t mean they needed to act upon it.
No, they would both remain professional and polite.
Even so, as he crossed the embankment toward the canoe, she admired his handsomeness once again. There was nothing wrong with admitting to his good looks. It was an undeniable and undisputable fact that everyone could see, and she was merely acknowledging it.
He reached the edge of the canoe and nodded at their guide, the quiet Native who’d expertly handled the canoe and was now sitting with his paddle across his lap.
“Any news of Willow?” She couldn’t hold back the question any longer. The anticipation had been building inside her with every passing mile. When they’d first stopped on the island, she’d nearly gone faint with the possibility of seeing Willow. After they’d started on again, she’d realized that finding her sister might not be as easy as she’d first believed and that she needed to be patient.
But patience was difficult to facilitate today. She’d been so excited to get going this morning, that she’d almost decided not to pay a visit next door to the Firths’ and try to restore the jewels to their rightful owner. While Jackson had been getting ready, she’d gathered the bracelet, the hairpin, and the brooch and placed them into a velvet pouch that Augusta had discarded after the purchase of a new necklace.
With the velvet pouch containing the pilfered jewelry, she’d been bold enough to knock on the Firths’ front door rather than the servants’ entrance, mainly because she’d wanted an audience with Mrs. Firth and not any of the servants.
As it turned out, the butler had sent her away without letting her step a foot inside. Even though she’d indicated it was a matter of great importance, he’d frowned and told her coldly that the lord and lady of the manor were still slumbering and could not be disturbed.
