Page 18 of A Wish Upon an Earl
Tempting.
But no.
She’d learned the hard way, thanks to him, thatherselfwas exactly who she needn’t be at all.
* * *
Two days passedwhen Jack didn’t see Sarah at all.
He had noted that her friends were making frequent trips up to her room to keep her company while she was “ill,” but he’d not seen her since the delivery of that chair.
Which was fair.Ash had only granted permission so that he might apologize and give her his peace offering, but he found that being so close made it even more difficult to stay away.
For the last five years, he’d not spent time with her, and now…now that they’d arrived at some sort of understanding, all he wanted to do was be near her.
He watched Aubrey make her way up the stairs.As a married woman, she had more freedom than the rest of their friends, and she used that to spend a great deal of time with Sarah.
He hated to bother the duchess, but he’d asked Ash earlier if his sister was improving and he had been no help at all.
In fact, if he were honest, Ash had been uncharacteristically cold.He’d not been rude in any way, but he’d not answered a single question Jack had asked before he’d announced that his bride-to-be was waiting, and he needed to quit to their private lunch.
He didn’t blame Ash for pushing him away.He deserved far worse.And he knew that Ash was unlikely to allow him to court Sarah, no matter how much he wished for the chance.But even if she couldn’t be his, he’d help her find her way back to herself.That much he could do.
He had an idea of how to go about bolstering Sarah, but he needed some help and information.Jack had no choice but to seek out the only reliable source when one needed real knowledge.A woman.
He found a spot in the foyer where he was tucked away but had a view of the stairs.It took three quarters of an hour, but Aubrey finally returned to the party.
He pushed off the wall and headed straight for her.She saw him coming and stopped, eyes growing wide.
“Your Grace,” he said, giving a short bow.
“My lord,” she returned.“S-so nice to see y-you again.”
He heard her faint stutter and stopped.He’d never heard the duchess stutter before, and he wondered why she’d done so now.Had he been too aggressive in his approach?He hoped not, but it seemed to be a theme for him at this house party.Desperation was not sitting well on him.He took a breath, forcing himself to relax and observe the niceties.“And you as well.Enjoying the party?”
“Yes,” Aubrey answered, giving him a very kind smile and visibly relaxing.“Though I am missing my friend.”
The tension in his shoulders eased.She knew exactly why he’d sought her out and she’d given him the perfect excuse to dive into his request.“As am I.”
Her smile broadened.“Are you?I’m glad to hear it.”
His brow furrowed.What had the duchess read into his comment?Had she guessed at his feelings?“I’m assuming Sarah is also tired of being cooped up in her room.”
“Very much so,” Aubrey said as she stepped closer.“I know that she works very hard at her responsibilities, which is why it’s hard for her to miss the party she put so much work into.”
He cocked his head to the side.“She doesn’t enjoy the events?”
“Oh.”Aubrey blinked as her lips pressed together.“She handles it all so effortlessly, I’m not certain if she does or doesn’t.”
He grimaced.“I’d hoped you would tell me she loved them.She used to be so full of?—”
“What?”Aubrey asked.
“Fancy,” he answered.“It’s a side of herself, as far as I can tell, she’s lost entirely.”
Aubrey shook her head.“That’s not true.It’s still there, though you’re right.She does try to hide it.”Then she moved closer again.“Can I tell you a secret?”
He nodded, exceedingly glad he’d sought out the duchess.
