Page 20 of The Duke of Distraction
A moment later, he delivered her to the viscountess and then took his leave.Sarah’s mother watched him go and clucked her tongue.“I still say he’s a fool not to marry you.”
“Mother, keep your voice down,” Sarah said, though she hadn’t spoken loudly.“I don’t want to marry him.”
Mother gave her a resigned, somewhat disappointed look.“You don’t want to marry anybody.”
“Not yet.”Sarah shook away her annoyance.“There’s to be a small party at Darent Hall next Wednesday and Thursday.I’d like to go with Lavinia.”
“What sort of party?”She sounded suspicious.
Given her mother’s fixation on Sarah finding a husband, she blurted, “The matchmaking kind.Felix has arranged for many bachelors to attend.”
“Then I should go with you.”
“You don’t really need to—Lavinia will chaperone, as will the Countess of Dartford.Furthermore, Anthony will be there.”
“No, Anthony will be traveling to Oaklands to oversee the repair to the stables.”
He was?“Still, I will be well chaperoned.”She didn’t want her mother to come—she’d loathe the races and put a damper on the entire event.
“I suppose,” her mother said slowly, her eyes narrowing.“I expect you to return to London with a suitor—a titled suitor, if at all possible—by whatever means necessary.”
Sarah let her jaw drop momentarily.“Are you suggesting I arrange to be compromised?”
The countess lifted a shoulder and moved her gaze about the ballroom.“Excuse me, dear.I must go speak with Lady Ellensworth.”She departed, leaving Sarah to stare after her—and wonder if she’d been serious.
Surely she wasn’t.And yet…
Perhaps the shop in Vigo Lane had lodgings large enough for DollyandSarah, for she began to think that was where she’d end up.
