Page 28 of A Wish Upon an Earl
“I thought of that,” he answered with a smile.“Why don’t we reenact ‘Rapunzel’?”
“The children’s story?”
He shrugged.“A kinder version anyhow.Then you can sit in your tower, hardly having to move.”
Her mouth opened and then closed again.She began worrying her lip as he patiently waited for her to respond.“I have to confess, that’s a good idea.”
Sir Henry chuckled.“Are you going to volunteer to be the prince?”The older man’s eyes glinted with a hint of mischief.
“Of course,” Jack replied, glad for Sir Henry’s assistance.Playing Sarah’s hero was perfect for what he had in mind.
Sir Henry clapped.“I’ll begin fashioning a tower.Lady Esquire can assign other roles.We’ll need copies of the story, of course.”Sir Henry continued on with more directions as he walked away.
“I think we’ve found our director,” Jack chuckled.
But Sarah didn’t reply.She had folded her hands as she looked at the floor.
“Sarah,” he said, touching her back again.“If you don’t tell me what’s wrong, I can’t help you.”
She sniffed.“Are you certain there isn’t another you wish to play Rapunzel?”
He narrowed his gaze.Was she jealous?“I’m certain.”
Her chin tipped up toward his.“Honestly, Jack…” She drew in a gulp of air.“I don’t think I can play this part next to you.”
“I am confident in your abilities to be a wonderful Rapunzel.”
She shook her head.“I meant the part of your friend.”
Confusion and pain coursed through him.Not be his friend?How could she even say that?Was she still so hurt from their past?“Why is that?”
She shook her head.“I just can’t.”
He leaned closer.The hurt that laced her voice made him ache.“I meant what I said yesterday.I’d protect you no matter what.If I am what’s ailing you…” He hated the words.They tasted bitter in his mouth.
But confusion clouded hers.“How can you speak like that and then reject me?”
Reject her?
But Sir Henry had returned.“Come on, old chap.We need to head down to the library and see if we can find a copy of the story.”
The last thing he wanted to do was leave Sarah’s side now.“I’ll join you in just a moment.”Then he bent closer to Sarah.“I know this isn’t the place, but I’m wracking my brain and I can’t for the life of me figure out how I rejected you.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open as she shook her head.Snapping her mouth shut, she lifted her skirts, turned, and walked away, joining a group of women discussing various parts.
Jack watched her go, struggling to understand what had just happened.
He had little choice but to either make a scene or follow Sir Henry, and so he started for the library, but this conversation was far from over.
He puzzled as he walked, catching up to Sir Henry.Fortunately, the man allowed the silence to linger as Jack continued to puzzle out what Sarah might have meant.
He’d rejected her?
How?
Sure she’d offered to marry him, but he hadn’t rejected her proposal, he’d only refused because… He stopped, his boots halting on the thick carpet.He’d refused her offer to marry him.
And while he had very sound reasons in his head, he had not shared them out loud.
