Page 9 of His Perfect Bride
“I’m sure it will be just fine.” Augusta waved a dismissive hand. “After staying for four months in a cramped berth on the ship, your home will feel like a luxurious palace.”
Jackson tried to remember if he even had furniture in his guest room. If not, he could give up his bedroom to Augusta. He didn’t sleep much anyway.
“Besides,” Augusta said as she motioned toward the hackney driver, who was carrying a trunk, “we shan’t stay long. Only until the wedding.”
His heartbeat stuttered to a stop. He’d written home last autumn about his plans to marry Meredith this coming October after a year-long engagement. But he hadn’t corresponded to let his family know he’d ended the relationship. Even if he had, the letter wouldn’t have reached Augusta before she’d set sail on her voyage to Victoria.
“I’m so looking forward to meeting Miss Hodges.” Augusta pushed past him into the house.
He wanted to grab her arm and stop her, wanted to warn her, needed to tell her the truth about Meredith and the wedding. But he could only stand back as she stalked into the entryway.
She only took four long steps inside before halting abruptly. She scanned the entryway, likely cataloging his discarded, dirty clothing draped over the stairway railing, socks balled up on the floor, shoes tossed in every direction, and hats sitting atop stacks of unopened mail and newspapers.
She was at the right angle to also peer into his front parlor. Although he hadn’t been in the room in days, he guessed it was in the same state of disarray as the rest of the house.
The hackney driver halted just inside the door too, and had grown wide-eyed as he took in the disorder. Only the lady’s maid remained outside.
Augusta was silent for several long heartbeats before pivoting with a frown. “Jackson Lennox, you have some explaining to do.”
Four
On the front stoop, Sage held herself as motionless as possible, wishing she could disappear. All along she’d wanted to give Augusta privacy for her reunion with her brother and had offered to wait in the hired carriage. But Augusta had insisted on including Sage in everything like always.
The moment Jackson Lennox had thrown open the front door and greeted them with a scowl, Sage had retreated several steps. He was fiercer and wilder than any man she’d ever met, certainly not thesensitive soulAugusta had claimed that he was. With his tall and imposing build, he wasn’t overly muscular, but neither was he as lanky as Sage had pictured for an educated, aristocratic man. In fact, with his midnight hair sticking on end and his thick dark brows and bushy beard, he was what she imagined a dangerous pirate looked like.
He was just missing the bandanna and eye patch. And the sword.
With the surprise and consternation on Augusta’s face, clearly she’d been taken aback by the state of her brother’s home and appearance. Did his unkemptness have to do with the bridge accident they’d heard about at the livery?
“Well?” Augusta persisted. “What is going on here?”
Jackson’s shoulders slumped, and he hung his head as though defeated, sadness rolling off him in waves. For several long heartbeats, he didn’t reply. Then he straightened his shoulders and faced Augusta, a hint of belligerence returning to his demeanor. “I called off the wedding.”
Sage wasn’t entirely surprised by the news. She couldn’t imagine too many women who would find a man like Jackson appealing—not with how disheveled he was. And intimidating. Not only that, but he had an air about him that was off-putting, as if he had no desire to interact with anyone.
Of course, he did seem genuinely glad to see Augusta. But already, just minutes after being reunited, he’d encouraged them to stay at a hotel.
“What do you mean you called off the wedding?” Augusta’s tone was controlled and calm, and Sage had learned that nothing ever ruffled the woman, that her inner strength was as stiff and strong as a ship’s main mast.
“I broke my engagement with Meredith—Miss Hodges.” Jackson’s back remained rigid. He had that in common with his sister. “Now she’s married to someone else.”
According to Augusta,Meredith Hodges was the daughter of Vancouver Island’s Surveyor General, a titled Englishman who’d brought his family to Victoria about the same time Jackson had moved there.
Had Meredith secretly been seeing someone else the same way David had with her? Was that what was causing the sadness that emanated from Jackson?
Augusta cast a glance at Sage, her eyes filled with tenderness. Sage hadn’t intended to bare her heart to Augusta about all that had happened with David, but the long days and weeks together during the ship’s voyage had provided too much time, and eventually Augusta had been able to pry the sad tale from her.
“I’m sorry, Jackson.” Augusta spoke gently. “That must have been difficult.”
“Not at all. I was not suited for her and am relieved she’s found someone else.”
“Oh.” One of Augusta’s narrow brows rose.
“She deserved someone better than me.”
Augusta didn’t immediately respond. She was probably trying to understand the disparaging comment and was also probably wondering if it also had to do with the bridge accident. Although Augusta was refreshingly direct at times, she was still polite and wouldn’t push for more information right away. She would bide her time and learn more details soon enough.
“Either way, I’m sure recent months have not been easy on you.” Augusta surveyed the disorderly entryway as if making her point. “Now that I’m here, I shall assist you with putting things in order.”
