Page 9 of Allured By a Lord's Touch

“I’m sure Lord Edward Guilford would never know.”

“I’m sure he would because Father says that he fancies you.” Lisbeth took another dainty bite of her ice cream.

“Perhaps he does. Why should I care?”

Lisbeth protested, “Because he’s a wealthy man.”

Just then, from where they sat on the bench, Sarah watched as the four men exited the Hamel Haberdashery and Millinery. They carried bags as they laughed and teased one another. They appeared as though they were working men, to Sarah’s eye. Upon closer inspection, there were smudges of dirt on their faces and clothes. What on earth were they doing at a haberdashery? It was a mystery.

“You don’t seem to show any interest in men,” Lisbeth mused.

“That’s not true.” Sarah shook her head. “They’re merely not the centre of my world. I admire handsome men, and I enjoy flirtation, but I don’t spend my days dreaming of marriage as some others do.”

“I dream of marriage.” Lisbeth turned wistful.

“What part of it do you dream about?”

“Having a dashing husband, not needing a chaperone, spending your days in blissful love.”

“I promise you that is not what marriage is like in the slightest. From what I hear, marriage is a cage of sorts. Your life is no longer your own. You’re paraded around like some sort of trophy.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I can’t make you believe me.”

Once their ice cream was done, Sarah and Lisbeth ventured towards their carriage, and away they sped to the duke’s estate. It was only a ten-minute ride from the main part of town.

The estate was massive, with perhaps as many as fifty bedrooms. They were the first guests to arrive, which Sarah supposed was on purpose, either her father’s or the Duke of Faversham’s doing.

Once they reached the sweeping roundabout at the front of the estate, Sarah noted that a great line of footmen awaited them outside with their silver wigs and black jackets. It was all rather formal for Sarah’s taste.

The carriage stopped, and the duke emerged from the estate, wearing a fine blue coat, then approached to help the girls out of the carriage.

The Duke of Faversham put out his hand for Sarah to take.

“My Lady, good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” Sarah replied, feeling his strong hand grasp hers.

“I trust that the journey was pleasant.”

“It was,” Sarah said. “And we were able to do a bit of shopping in town.”

“I’m delighted to hear it.”

Although people spoke of Lord Edward Guilford as being handsome, Sarah was not entirely sure. He was very distinguished, but his face was lacking in character, and as she remembered from former encounters, hischaracterwas lacking in character. That being said, he was very polite and hospitable.

The girls were led inside and met by a stunning entrance corridor with lavish paintings on the walls and fine rungs on the marble floors. There was a light and airy quality to the estate, which Sarah enjoyed, if only so that it wouldn’t give her the impression of being trapped.

The duke explained, “You each are provided a lady-in-waiting, and my head footman, Charles, will show you to your rooms.”

“You’re most kind, Your Grace,” Sarah replied.

For all her dislike of society and its trappings, Sarah had to admit that her pedigree was so distinguished that no one could possibly tell what she was thinking. Sarah was able to carry on as she was expected to do, all the while wishing that she was in the library, enjoying a good book and silence.

She imagined that the food would be rather rich, which Sarah didn’t care for either. But throughout her life, she’d learned to pretend that these things were to her liking, if only for the outside eye. Lisbeth and Lord John were the only ones that knew better.

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