Page 11 of The Duke of Distraction
Mother stood.“Why not think about it, Felix?”she asked.“Sarah would be the perfect wife for you.You already know each other quite well.There will be no awkward expectations or discomfort.”
Sarah snorted.There was already awkward discomfort.“Mother, please don’t put Felix—or me—in this position.”
“You, my girl, are already in this ‘position.’I simply do not understand why you aren’t married.You’re pretty, you dress exceptionally well, you possess many talents, and you’re of at least average intelligence.”Mother placed a hand on her hip, and her neck turned pink with agitation.“Felix, you’re a man—and apparently one of many who won’t marry our daughter.What is wrong with Sarah?”
Oh dear God.Sarah prayed she would simply melt into the floor, into very oblivion, and never emerge.
“There’s nothing wrong with her.”Felix turned his attention to her.“She’s beautiful, exceptionally talented, and brilliant.”
A bright sense of pride filtered through the horror of the moment and filled Sarah with warmth.Brilliant?She looked toward Felix, who gave her a subtle nod.
“You’ve just convinced me you should marry her,” Sarah’s mother said, looking pleased.
“Mother.” Anthony growled the word.
The viscountess shot an irritated glance toward her son.“Since youaren’tgoing to help, this doesn’t concern you.”
Sarah had suffered quite enough.She stood from the settee, and now they were all standing.“I’m not marrying Felix.”
Mother and Father swiveled their heads toward Sarah and gave her matching expressions of annoyance.“What’s wrong with Felix?”Father asked.“He’s an earl.”Nothing about his looks or talents or intelligence.Apparently, a title was all a man needed to be marriageable.
“We don’t want to marry each other,” Sarah said.“Don’t you think we would have done so already?”
“It’s not a question of want, dear.”Mother’s tone held a note of condescension.“You’re both inneed.It’s a perfect solution, you must agree.”
“It isn’t.And I mustn’t agree to anything.You can’t force me to marry him.You can’t force me to marry anyone.”And with that, Sarah was finished with this farce of a discussion.She turned on her heel and exited the library through the closest door.Which meant she was heading to the garden.
Anger and frustration raced through her, making her shake as she propelled herself into a circuit of the small walled garden.The roses had begun to bloom, and they filled the air with a lush, spicy scent.She took several deep breaths in an effort to calm her racing heart.
On her second time around, she saw Felix leave the house and walk toward her, his expression pulled into a somber mask.
When he caught up to her, she said, “I’m sorry about that.”
“No more than I am.”He steered her to a bench that was situated next to her mother’s favorite rosebush.They sat, and Sarah arranged her skirt around her ankles.
She glared at the plant as a proxy for her mother.“That was absolutely humiliating.And unnecessary.Who says I have to marry at all.”It wasn’t a question but a defiant statement.More than ever, she wanted to open her shop and become a truly independent woman.
“Your parents, but I would argue their opinion is not all-important,” Felix said softly.
Sarah rotated herself to face him.“But you think it’s somewhat important.”
Felix lifted a shoulder.“I don’t have parents anymore, so don’t ask me.I know you love them, and they love you.That’s all I meant.”
“Parents can be a pain in the arse.”She gave him an apologetic look.“I didn’t mean to suggest you were better off.”
His mouth curled into a half smile.“I didn’t take it that way.”
“I’m sure you miss your parents very much.”She realized he never mentioned them.Perhaps he didn’t miss them.
“My mother died when I was born.How can I miss what I never knew?And my father…” He glanced away, and she found herself waiting expectantly for the rest of what he would say.Only he didn’t continue.
“Your father what?”
He looked back at her, his green gaze carrying an edge of steel.“My father has been dead a long time.”When he said nothing more, she accepted that was all he wanted to express on the subject.
“I’ll help you find a husband,” he said, startling her.“If that’s what you want.”
She blinked at him, surprised at the offer.“Why?Did my parents ask you to?”She narrowed her eyes at him.
