Page 63 of The Duke of Distraction
Chapter 10
Sarah hesitated outside Anthony’s bedchamber.What if he didn’t want to see her?He probably didn’t, but she couldn’t let him suffer alone.And she absolutely believed he was suffering.
Why else would he treat her the way he had earlier?
Gathering her courage, she lifted her hand to knock on the door.It suddenly opened, surprising her and making her take a step back.
Anthony stood on the other side of the threshold, his hair tidy, his clothing immaculate.He smelled as if he’d just bathed.His face was nearly impassive.There was just the faintest crinkle around his mouth and eyes to indicate he even registered her presence.
She clasped her hands in front of her waist and offered him a sunny smile.“Good evening.I wondered if you might want to dine with me?Alone.Without Felix, I mean.”
“I had meant to dine alone, in fact.But I was going to drive into Ware.”
“To The Golden Bear?”Sarah asked hopefully.“I could go with you.Is the chef really French?”
Anthony’s brow furrowed.“Is the chef—?”He shook his head.“I have no idea.”
“But didn’t you and Felix go there the other night?”
“Yes, I suppose we did.But I scarcely remember the food.”His skin turned pink just above the top of his collar.“Er, never mind.Perhaps tomorrow we can go for a ride,” he suggested.“Alone.”
“Anthony, I’m not letting you leave after what happened earlier.I understand this is a challenging time, but I don’t want us to fight.I don’t have enough emotion to be upset with you in addition to everything else.”
His gaze softened, and he took her hand.“I’m sorry, Sarah.I don’t know why I reacted like that.Even so, you must agree that you opening a millinery shop is rather outrageous.”
“Perhaps.”She wasn’t sure she would sayoutrageous.“It’s definitely unusual.”
The corner of his mouth ticked up.“You are nothing if not unusual—and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.”
“Thank you.”She exhaled.“Who knows if I’ll actually open the shop?Right now, I’m just trying to get back to something I enjoy, which is making hats.”Doing so also distracted her from Felix—the other thing she apparently enjoyed.And wasn’tthatrevelation perhaps the most confounding thing about her emotions right now?
Not that she was working terribly hard to distract herself from him.No, she was actually looking for ways in which they might find themselves alone together.But he was right—they shouldn’t.And so her brain had driven her here, to her brother.To safety.
“I’m glad you enjoy it,” Anthony said.“That doesn’t mean you need to profit from it.I will ensure you are always taken care of.”His gaze was sober and intent.“Even if you’re a spinster.”He cracked a small smile then, and she laughed softly.
“Well, that’s a relief.I do think you should apologize to Felix.”
He winced.“Yes, I probably should.”
“Ahem,yes.”
Sarah turned as her heart skipped over itself.Just the sound of his voice was apparently enough to provoke a response from her.Felix stood a few feet away.He was also perfectly groomed, as if he too had just completed an intensive toilet.She could smell the soap he’d used, and the scent did scandalous things to her body.
“You can’t seem to help but eavesdrop today,” Anthony said.
“You two can’t seem to stop talking about me today,” he said jovially.“Should I be concerned?”
Anthony shook his head, smiling.“You’ve saved me the trouble of finding you.I’m sorry about earlier.However, I must ask that you cease anything to do with this millinery shop.”
Sarah snapped her attention back toward him and opened her mouth to protest, but he held up his hand.“Only because if anyone is to help Sarah, it will be me,” he said.
“Then I should tell you I already leased the shop in Vigo Lane,” Felix said, drawing Sarah to whip her attention back to him.
“What?”She hadn’t known he’d done that.
Felix shrugged, his expression just a bit sheepish.“I did so a fortnight ago—just in case.”
Sarah was thrilled but also annoyed at his presumption.“I didn’t ask you to do that.”
