Page 78 of The Duke of Distraction
“You bloody well will live with them,” Anthony said with considerable venom.“You’re getting married.”
“We’re not doing that either,” Sarah said firmly.“Really, Anthony, this is between Felix and me.”
While Felix appreciated what Sarah was trying to do, there was no point.However, before he could say so, Anthony continued on, his eyes raging with fury and a dozen other gut-wrenching emotions.“I am the viscount now, Sarah, head of our family.It is my responsibility to ensure you aren’t ruined and to see you safely, if not happily, wed.I can’t allow Felix—or any other man—to take advantage of you and walk away without concern.”
Felix saw the guilt, already a daily challenge for Anthony, rise to the surface and knew there was nothing he wouldn’t do to ease his friend’s suffering.“We’ll marry.”
Anthony’s body relaxed the slightest bit, but not as much as Felix had hoped.He was still furious, and he had every right to be.Felix was the worst sort—he had taken advantage of Sarah.Whether he wanted to acknowledge it or not, she was incredibly vulnerable right now, and he never should have allowed her to persuade him.
As if he’d required much persuasion at all.
Sarah moved to the side and turned her head to frown at first Felix and then at Anthony.“We will not marry.Felix doesn’t want to—”
“It doesn’t matter what he wants.”Anthony kept his gaze pinned on Felix, and Felix worried their friendship was forever damaged.
“No, it doesn’t.”Felix bowed his head briefly before looking Anthony in the eye.“I humbly beg your forgiveness.”
“You’re a cad and a reprobate.I never imagined you could take advantage of a woman in Sarah’s position, let alone my sister.”
“He didn’t,” Sarah said, her voice rising.“Stop talking about me as if I’m not here.”She looked at Anthony.“You don’t speak for me.”Then she turned her attention to Felix, her eyes blazing.“And if you want to marry me,ask.”
“Will you marry me, Sarah?”Felix didn’t even recognize his own voice.
“No.”
“It’s what our parents wanted!”Anthony shouted.“If they were here—” He didn’t finish, but he didn’t have to.The damage was quite done.
Sarah paled, her lips parting in horror.Then she turned and fled the room.
“I know you’re angry,” Felix said, his own ire now pricked.Sarah hadn’t deserved that.“But trying to make her feel as guilty as you do is cruel.”
“Fuck you, Felix.”Anthony stalked from the room next, leaving Felix alone.
Emotion swirled in his chest.He took several deep breaths and briefly closed his eyes.Then he went around and picked up the discarded items of his clothing, slowly putting everything back on.When he was finished, he sat back down at his desk and began to read the correspondence George had given him.
Distraction was the key to harmony and peace.Distraction was all he knew.
Thankfully, Sarah had managed to keep the tears from flowing until she’d left the house.She didn’t cry for long—angry tears never lasted as long as sad ones.
It was her own fault.She never should have pressed Felix.The look on Anthony’s face… Angry as she was at him, she felt awful.She was a wanton and selfish, and her parents would be horrified.
No, she wasn’t going to think about them right now, because then the tearswouldturn sad and she would dissolve into a puddle and likely never find her way back to the house.As it was, she was striding purposefully along the path toward the pond without actual purpose.And she didn’t want to return to the pond.
She cut across the lawn instead and mentally chided herself for not bringing a hat, for it was both warm and bright.Indeed, she’d begun to perspire, so she slowed her pace.She ought to return to the house for a bath, particularly to clean herself up from earlier.
She stopped and closed her eyes, allowing the enormity of what she’d done to settle on her shoulders.Guilt and shame threatened, but why should she surrender to those emotions?
Because that was what her mother would want her to feel.Her throat began to clog.
“Miss Colton?”
The feminine voice rescued Sarah from falling into a well of despair.She opened her eyes and blinked against the bright afternoon.“Mrs.Vane?”
“Please, call me George.”The woman’s warm smile gave Sarah a dose of much-needed comfort.“You forgot your hat.”She was still smiling, which made it feel like they were sharing a joke.
“I did, which is rather ironic.”
George cocked her head.“Is it?”
