Page 25 of A Wish Upon an Earl
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Once they were out of sight of the party, Jack wrapped his arm about Sarah’s waist.He didn’t want her overtasking her leg.And if he were honest, he just liked holding her.She fit against his side, as his hand settled into the hollow of her waist.
Ash entered his study, and Jack paused just outside the door, glancing down at Sarah.She looked back, her face taut with lines of tension.It pulled at her mouth and eyes.“Don’t worry,” he whispered.“Everything is going to be fine.”
But her frown only deepened.“This isn’t like Ash.”
That was true.But his friend likely had a good reason for calling him here, and he was a sensible man.They’d work out whatever problem had arisen.
He gave her waist a squeeze before they stepped into the room.
“Sit,” Ash said, gesturing toward two chairs even as he remained standing by the hearth.
“What’s happened?”Sarah asked as she took the seat.The last thing Jack wanted to do was sit down, and so he stood behind her chair, his hand on her shoulder.
Ash gave him a quizzical glance.“Have you talked with Sarah?”
“Not yet,” he answered, his unease growing.
“Talk to me about what?”Sarah asked, glancing over her shoulder.He gave her arm a light squeeze of comfort.
Ash drew in a breath.“That’s a matter for later.Let’s start with what just happened and the reason I called Jack here.”And then he pointed at his large oak desk.
Jack managed to take his gaze off Sarah’s profile long enough to follow Ash’s gesture, his eyes widening in surprise.
“My gauntlet,” Jack said, staring at the metal glove sitting in the center of the desk.“You’ve found it.”
Ash cleared his throat.“Actually, Lady Victoria found it.”
The first inkling of dread made Jack’s fingers tingle.
“And she claims that she had it because the two of you were alone in the garden the night of the masquerade.”Ash stopped, his face set in a deep frown.
“But that isn’t true.”Sarah looked back at him with wide eyes.“We both know it isn’t true.”
The weight of it settled in his stomach.He’d been with Sarah that night.But he couldn’t say that without compromising the woman he loved.And he would never do that.He’d sworn to protect her.
“She’s going to insist upon a match, Jack,” Ash continued.“Her mother is already contacting her father, the Earl of Reston.”
“No.”Sarah stood then, her hand reaching for his.Her fingers weaved into his larger ones, clasping his tight.“She can’t do that.”
Ash shrugged.“She can try, but it doesn’t matter.When you were outside, others were with you.”He gave them an encouraging smile.“Yes, Jack will be revealed as the bumbling knight, but that’s just party talk.”
Jack gave his head a small shake.“I don’t give a whit about the bumbling knight business.”But Sarah’s integrity, that was another matter.
“Who else was out there?”Ash asked.“Aubrey, obviously.”
Sarah grimaced and Jack understood why.Aubrey had joined them, but not soon enough.There had been a span of time they’d potentially been alone.It hadn’t been planned, but it was becoming increasingly obvious that it had likely happened.
“We should marry,” Sarah said in a rush.“That is to say, if we marry, I could save you from Lady Victoria’s plans.”Her fingers tightened.“If you want to be saved.”
He looked at her then, her brow marked in deep lines of concern.
His sweet Sarah.Always worried for others.Always helping everyone but herself.
It was tempting to take her offer.He wanted to marry her, and here she was offering herself to him.But not for the reasons he’d hoped.He didn’t want her hand in marriage to avoid the schemes of another woman.He wanted Sarah because she’d realized what he had, that they were perfect together.He wanted her love, not her pity.
And what was more, it was his job to start protecting her, not the other way around.
