Page 3 of When She Loved Me
“Papa says no woman should be allowed there, but in my opinion—”
“That is enough, Nicole,” Sabrina said, without sharpness, but with great result, just as Trevor took up the seat opposite the young ladies.
Sabrina’s clipped command silenced her sister with about as much effect as the suddenness of a pistol shot taking the words and thoughts out of a person.
Nicole Kent cast her eyes down, into her lap, where she fidgeted mindlessly with her own hands. Trevor knew these ladies not at all but discerned immediately that it was quite troublesome for Nicole to be so instantly quieted, as she seemed to struggle with her efforts. Sabrina, on the extreme other hand, seemed unperturbed by the small matter, and less concerned by the very uncomfortable silence that now reigned within Trevor’s open carriage.
They drove through Hyde Park as planned, a total of more than an hour sharing company, in which time so few words were uttered by either sister, he might have needed only one hand to count the instances. Trevor tried at first to make conversation, to learn of his fiancé, but to no avail. She answered his politequeries with monosyllables, and though her tone was neutral, he sensed in her an adamant refusal to make any attempt to consider him. Nicole, for her part, offered him several grimaced smiles, an apology lingering in the depths of her green eyes whenever he tried to converse with her, but still, she kept her answers brief, when Sabrina allowed her to speak at all.
Chapter Two
TWO DAYS LATER, DETERMINEDto make this union not only happen, but thrive as well, Trevor again found himself waiting in the front parlor for Sabrina Kent to appear.
He thought not to invite her again to ride in Hyde Park, as their last endeavor had proved almost painful. Perhaps, he imagined, something other than being seen with a man she’d rather not know at all, something that might spark some interest in her, would be more to her liking. Perhaps a thaw would begin today.
A thaw, indeed, Trevor thought, while he waited.
The door to the parlor opened and revealed to him not Sabrina, but her sister, Nicole.At least someone is happy to see me, he surmised. Nicole Kent burst into the room with a barely contained excitement, the shiny mop of her hair bouncing along with her. Without giving it much thought, Trevor smiled at seeing her.
“Hello, Lord Leven,” she greeted him, as warmly as she had two days ago, removing her gloves and bonnet as she apparently was just coming in. “What a lovely surprise.” And then her face fell. “Oh, but Sabrina is not here. Perhaps she didn’t know of your intent to call,” this, hopefully.
“She knew,” was all he said. He was not surprised that Sabrina was making it exceedingly hard to imagine a marriage between them might bring anything other than the misery he suspected. And, of course, the money he so desperately needed.
“Had you a date planned?” Nicole asked, her expression conveying well her embarrassment over her sister’s impoliteness.
“I had, but not another ride through the park,” he said with mock severity, hinting at no fondness to repeat the near-offensive occasion of their first outing. “I had planned to take Sabrina to the picture gallery.”
Trevor noted how quickly her pretty green eyes brightened with keenness.
“The Dulwich Picture Gallery?” She asked. “Excellent choice, my lord. I haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit the gallery, but I’ve heard much about it. They house Rembrandt and Gainsborough and Van Dyck, among others—oh, my, Sabrina wouldn’t have enjoyed that one bit,” she informed him pertly.
Trevor laughed, amused by her tone, which indicated it was a good thing Sabrina wasn’t available for this outing. “But you would,” he guessed.
“I would,” she was quick to assure him, a rather hopeful expression overtaking her.
“Perhaps you would care to accompany me?” Trevor asked, his only thought just then that perhaps he might find an ally in Nicole Kent, one whom might at the very least, have some suggestion how to go about wooing her sister, or—with greater hope, but less expectation—might actually be able to convince his betrothed to at least give him a chance.
Her answering smile, which accompanied her quick bobbing nod, stirred Trevor away from wondering at the prudence of such an invitation. To Trevor’s eyes, she appeared rather fetching in her blue day dress and gingham spencer, her jaunty little hat perched crookedly atop her riotous curls. He decided that her enchanting grin only amplified her allure. She would break hearts one day, he predicted.
“Shall we?” Trevor offered his arm when she’d replaced her gloves.
They passed through the front hall and by the butler, who held the door open with nary a question in his glance.
Once inside the carriage, when he’d given the driver leave to take off, Trevor settled across from Nicole Kent and probed what had been in the back of his mind for two days. “Why did you allow Sabrina to silence you so thoroughly the other day?”
He noticed that now, as she had two days ago, her eyes did not meet his, but seemed to find great interest in the small beaded bag, which had previously dangled from her wrist and now sat in her lap. “I forgot myself.”
“What does that mean?” He wanted her to be as animated as she’d been when first they met. Obviously, Sabrina’s warning carried weight and longevity, making him sorry he’d broached the subject, dampening her initial congenial mood, but hopefully not her eagerness for their destination.
“I am only to chaperone your outings. I do not need to contribute to the conversation, and my opinion is not to be given unless solicited.”
Inwardly, he chuckled at her recitation, but he was surprised by the spark of anger that grew inside him as well. “You are repeating verbatim instructions from either your father or your sister,” he accused, knowing he was correct when her creamy cheeks pinkened and her green, expressive eyes darted quickly to him. “Which is it?”
“They are right,” she contended, giving away more than she’d intended.
“Ah, a dual attack, was it?” At her frown of confusion, Trevor waved this aside and said, “Perhaps you’ve noticed that yoursister seems less enthusiastic about this betrothal than she would about... say, having her head lopped off,” Trevor said, causing her dimples to appear momentarily. “You could ignore the dire warnings of both your sire and your sister and give some assistance to your new brother,” he suggested with a raised brow. “Help me to convince Sabrina that this marriage can be good, if she but gives it even minimal effort.” Even as he said the words, he wondered if they were truth or not.
“Sabrina is very lucky to have you,” was all Nicole said, making no promise to aid him. She did add, “You must realize, I am sure, that Sabrina listens to not a word I say. I shan’t be any help to you at all, I’m afraid.”
