Page 29 of A Wish Upon an Earl
“Everything all right?”Sir Henry asked.
“I’m a fool,” he answered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Sir Henry chuckled.“Most men are.”Then he slapped Jack on the back.“She’ll come around.”
Jack would have liked to ask the man how he could make that happen, but another woman caught his notice.Lady Victoria.
“Sir Henry,” he said.“Would you mind chaperoning quickly?There is someone else I need to talk to.”
“Of course,” the man chuckled.“As I said, this is a delightful house party.Mystery, romance, and the like.I shall have to visit the marquess again soon.”
But Jack was already entering the sitting room, where Lady Victoria and several ladies were gathered.It was time to get some answers on just what that minx was up to.
* * *
Sarah triedto pay attention as they discussed costumes and settings, but her thoughts drifted back to Jack.
He’d looked confused.
How could he not know how he’d rejected her?
Had she misunderstood?
She played the conversation over and over in her thoughts, but she still didn’t see the entire exchange in any other light.She’d offered to wed him and he’d refused.
Granted, it wasn’t entirely her place to make such an offer.
But still…
With a sigh, she looked at the clock.Sir Henry and Jack had been gone for nearly three quarters of an hour.Their library was well organized.What was taking so long?
They walked in again, their arms laden with books and Jack looking far more serious than when he’d left.His brow was low and his mouth was set into a frown.
She’d just declared their friendship over and yet, even now, she wished to ask him what was wrong.
She sighed.She was never going to outgrow that part of her that insisted on clucking over the ones she loved.
Books were distributed and lines pulled.The play would be short.A simple distraction, but as they had a party of fifteen participating in the production, several extras had to be worked in.She’d hoped Rose would join in, but her artistic friend had declined.
Sarah frowned now at the thought of Rose.Another loved one she was worried about; Rose had been acting oddly.First refusing to come down for dinner the other night without explanation, and then hiding away in her room rather than joining in the fun.
Sarah would make it a point to seek out her younger friend just as soon as she could to see if there was anything seriously wrong.But for now…
Sarah sighed as she attempted to pay attention to the details being bandied about around her.Selfishly she wished any of her close friends were among the actors in this little show.Then, at least, she might have had someone to distract her from her maudlin thoughts.
By the time they broke for lunch, they’d only just begun to rehearse, and Sarah had to confess that she longed for the quiet of her room once again.
As she took a seat at the table, Jack slid next to her.She clenched her jaw to keep from asking a tumble of questions.She’d informed him that they should not be friends just before he’d left the library.That meant that she would not inquire after his wellbeing.Period.
But she could feel his gaze on her, and she shifted away, trying to put distance between them.
“Sir Henry has agreed to chaperone a turn about the terrace,” he whispered.“Would you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you?”
She wanted to go with him.But she was wiser and more mature, and the prudent thing was to stop this now.Cease trying to be his friend before she sustained more damage.“I should stay here with the rest of the guests.”
“Sarah,” he whispered, a touch of pleading in his voice.
She held her chin higher, not meeting his gaze.
