Page 92 of The Duke of Distraction
“Fine, then I’ll be angry at you until you stop.Felix is going to be my husband, and even if he wasn’t, he’s your oldest and dearest friend.I seduced him, and he’s trying to do the right thing, even though it’s killing him.”Her voice broke, and she felt Lavinia’s hand on her shoulder.
Sarah took a deep breath to regain her equilibrium.“He needs me, Anthony.He needsus.Surely we’ve learned how important family is and how tightly we must hold and cherish it.Felix, even if we didn’t marry, is our family.”
“But you just said doing the right thing was killing him.Why should I—or you—want that for Felix if he’s family?”
She didn’t want that.And itwaskilling him.She could see it in the fleeting looks of terror in his eyes, in the way he’d revealed a depth of emotion today that he never had before.“He shouldn’t be hurting.Which is why I have to save him.”If she could.God, she prayed she could.
Anthony pressed his lips together and stared at the glass in his hand.“Go after him, then.I won’t stop you.”
“No, you wouldn’t even if you tried.But will you support me?Will you supporthim?”She moved toward Anthony, desperate to reach the brother buried beneath the fury and the sorrow.She had to save him too, she realized.“Mother and Father tried to include Felix after his father died, as much as his uncle would allow.They would want us to stand together.As much as he needs us, we need him too.Please, Anthony.”
At the mention of their parents, his gaze had snapped up, locking onto hers.His eyes were full of sadness but also love.“When do you want to leave?”
Sarah exhaled.“After we visit Mother and Father.I’m going to fetch my hat, and I’ll meet you in the garden.”
She turned and gave Lavinia a brief hug.“Thank you.”
“Do you want us to stay here?”Lavinia asked.
Sarah shook her head firmly.“No, you’re coming too.Tomorrow is Felix’s birthday, and we’re having a party.”
She only hoped he would come.
