Page 61 of The Duke of Distraction
Sarah stood in front of a table upon which sat a half-made hat.The form was covered in a pale yellow fabric she was clearly in the process of stitching to the straw.She turned to look at Felix, as did Anthony.
“What the hell are you doing supporting this ridiculous notion of a millinery shop?”Anthony asked.
“It’s not ridiculous,” he and Sarah said in unison.Their gazes connected, and an undeniable warmth passed between them.
“Our parents wouldn’t approve.”Anthony frowned.“This is no way to honor their memory.”He glowered at Sarah.“I thought you were going to marry.”
“I plan to.In the meantime, I will start a millinery shop.I have it all sorted, Anthony.I have an assistant who will manage the store in Vigo Lane.It will be called Farewell’s and have no outward connection to me at all.No one will know I own it or that the designs are mine.”
“In Vigo Lane.”Anthony blinked at her in disbelief.“You already have the store?”
“Not yet, but Felix was working on it.”
Felix winced as Anthony turned his ire toward him.“You’ve been in on this for some time.”
“Just since I offered to help her find a husband.Anthony, she doesn’t want to marry just anyone.She wants to marry for love.If that doesn’t happen, she has a plan to support herself and live happily in the pursuit of something shedoeslove.What could be wrong with that?”
“Just because you’re content to lead an unmarried life, doesn’t mean she should.Christ, Felix, you can’t force your unorthodox behavior on her.”
“Why is Felix unorthodox?”Sarah said, springing to his defense.“Plenty of men—and women—don’t marry.”
Anthony looked at her with condescension.“Plenty of women, yes.There are more of them due to the wars.Men, particularly men in Felix’s and my positions, must wed.It’s our duty.That Felix chooses to shirk his is unorthodox.”
Felix stared at his oldest friend and wondered who the hell he was.He knew how hard Anthony had taken his parents’ death.“I think your grief is driving you to the brink of insanity,” Felix said quietly, hoping to calm Anthony’s anger.
“Or at least foolishness,” Sarah said, exchanging a hopeful glance with Felix.
Anthony snorted.He looked toward Felix.“So you think I’m a lunatic.”He transferred his gaze to Sarah.“And you think I’m a fool.”
Sarah stepped around the table toward her brother.“No, I think you’re sad and angry.I am too.I gave up on making hats after Mother and Father died.Felix has been trying to encourage me to start again.Today, I finally wanted to.Anthony, we can’t spend the rest of our lives wallowing, nor can we live under the pressure of making Mother and Father proud.We did that before, and I, for one, wasn’t happy.”
“So you don’t care what they think?”Anthony sounded beaten, his eyes glazed with defeat.“You’d dishonor their memory and take advantage of their death?”
Sarah paled, and she drew in a sharp breath.
Felix moved forward, instinctively wanting to protect her.“Of course Sarah cares what they think.Ensuring her own future happiness is something they would want.”
“Through marriage,” Anthony grumbled.
“And what if that isn’t possible?”Felix said, allowing his voice to rise.“We can’t force someone to marry her, and we shouldn’t force her to marry.”
Anthony glowered at him.“You said ‘we.’Do you think you’re somehow involved in what happens with Sarah?”
Hell and the devil.Did he?Hehadbeen involved when he’d played matchmaker for her.He inwardly winced at that word—now evenhewas using it.“I offered to help her,” he said evenly.“And I still will, if she wants it.”
“Anthony, I do still want to marry.”Sarah took another step toward him, her gaze and tone compassionate.“But I’m also going to make hats and open a shop in Vigo Lane, and that’s final.”
Anthony stared at her for a moment, the tension in his shoulders lessening.He massaged his forehead.“I don’t know…” He let out a soft growl, then spun on his heel and quit the room.
Sarah watched him go, her face creased with worry.“I thought he was feeling better being here, but perhaps I was wrong.”
“His guilt is immeasurable,” Felix said.“He thinksheshould be dead, not your parents.Absent that, he thinks he has to take over where they left off, particularly with you.”
“He’s just not the Anthony we know.”Her voice was soft, anguished.
Felix moved toward her, but was careful not to get too close.He knew what happened when he tried to comfort her physically, and he needed to keep his distance—for her as much as for him.“He will be again.”Felix didn’t know when, but it would happen.It had to.He wasn’t going to let death and grief crush his friend the way it had done his father.
Sarah stepped toward him, and Felix’s body came alive with awareness.She was close enough that he could reach for her, but he didn’t.Instead, she reached for him, touching his sleeve.
