Page 40 of The Duke of Distraction
Chapter 7
What had started as a lovely ride across the estate had been utterly ruined when Felix had encountered his uncle.He knew he’d have to see the man, but on his first day in residence?And now Uncle Martin, his son, and—even more unfortunately—Felix’s aunt were coming for dinner.
Felix wished he could have come down with an ague.
Instead, he found himself trudging to dinner as if he were heading to be drawn and quartered.Upon consideration, that might have been preferable.Spending time with his aunt and uncle was nothing short of torture.He could only hope they would be on their best behavior for Sarah and Anthony.
And if they weren’t, well, then Sarah would have her answer as to why he rarely invited people to Stag’s Court.The only reason he’d done it this time was because they’dhadto leave London, and because taking them to Oaklands hadn’t been an option.
Anthony arrived in the dining room first.“Is no one here yet?”he asked.
The question didn’t require an answer, so Felix didn’t give one.Instead, he said, “The faster we eat, the faster they’ll leave.”
“That’s important to you, I gather.”Anthony arched a brow in question and, at Felix’s bare nod, continued, “Consider it done.”He moved closer to Felix and spoke quietly.“You rarely speak of them.I never realized it was because you didn’t like them.”
“It’s not that I don’t like them,” Felix whispered.However, before he could say more, Uncle Martin, Aunt Bridget, and their son Michael arrived.
Uncle Martin was shorter than Felix with thick hair so overtaken by silver as to appear several shades lighter than the dark brown he’d sported even five years ago.His eyes were a bit too large for his face, which gave him the impression of intensity and made him look obsessively curious.Michael had inherited those eyes, along with his mother’s coffee-colored hair.He was the same height as his father, but sported a more slender build.Felix just then realized that Uncle Martin had been putting on weight over the last few years and was now verging on plump.Aunt Bridget, however, seemed to be defying age.She had hardly any gray hair, and her form was that of a woman who had never had children instead of delivering three.Michael, who was just nineteen, had two older sisters who were already wed.
“Why, Felix, it’s been an age,” Aunt Bridget said, gliding into the room and offering her cheek to Felix.
He lightly kissed her cool flesh, trying to remember the last time he’d seen her.Last summer, at least.“Good evening, Aunt.I’m glad you could come for dinner.”That was a bald lie.While he’d hoped to avoid Uncle Martin, who lived in the dower house, he hadn’t expected to see her at all.She spent most of her time in Bath or York with one of her sisters, alternating between the two.Anything to stay away from the husband she despised.
“Yes, it was quite fortunate I was here.I’m only visiting for a few days on my way to York for the rest of the summer.Michael is coming with me.”
Felix looked toward his sallow-faced cousin and thought he really ought to invite the poor boy to London.“Now that you’re finished at Oxford, you’ll come stay with me in London soon.”
Michael’s eyes lit.“I should love that above all things.”His mother made a clicking sound with her tongue, and Michael shot her an apologetic glance.“Except for going to York.I’ve been looking forward to this for some time.”
Felix didn’t believe him for a moment but didn’t say anything.He couldn’t have even if he’d wanted to because Sarah entered just then, dressed for the evening in a stunning gown of dark purple silk.She wore a cunning feather affixed to a jeweled brooch-type accessory that was pinned into her upswept hair.He’d no doubt she’d designed it.Since learning of her passion for hat making, he found he paid special attention to her headwear.
Or maybe since he’d kissed her, he paid special attention toher.
His heart pounded for a moment until he pushed the memory from his mind.He hadn’t thought of it in weeks, and he was far better off forgetting about it entirely.
Uncle Martin and Michael had met Sarah and Anthony that afternoon when they’d come across Felix’s relatives who had been visiting a tenant.Uncle Martin had managed the estate since Felix’s father’s death—a role Felix was content to have him continue to fulfill.Aunt Bridget, however, had not met them, so Felix conducted the introduction, hesitating before he referred to Anthony as Viscount Colton.Anthony gave him a subtle nod, and Felix went ahead.
“And this is Miss Sarah Colton,” Felix said.“Sarah, this is my aunt, Mrs.Bridget Havers.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Aunt Bridget said as she cast a glance toward Felix.“He calls you Sarah?”
“We’ve known each other a very long time.Almost my entire life, actually.”
Felix didn’t remember their first meeting.He’d only been eight.He recalled the specific visit to Oaklands because there had been a tree house in which he and Anthony had spent every possible moment.Other than that, it was a distant memory.
He tried to think of his first memory of Sarah.She was maybe five or six, and she carried a doll.No, two dolls.And they’d both had hats.He smiled to himself.
“That’s right.”Aunt Bridget looked between Sarah and Anthony.“I forgot you are the friends who live nearby.At Oaklands, is that right?How are your parents?”
“Bridget.” Uncle Martin took her by the arm and guided her toward the table.He lowered his head and whispered in her ear.
She sucked in a breath and then swatted him away before glaring at Michael, who rushed forward to help her take her seat.
Felix moved to help Sarah sit, offering the chair beside his.“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
“It’s fine.”She looked at Anthony, whose expression was stoic.He took the seat next to Sarah after she sat down.
With Aunt Bridget across from Anthony and Uncle Martin at the other end of the table, Michael took the only remaining seat to Felix’s right.Once they were all situated, a footman poured wine while another served the soup.
