Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) (11 page)

“You would rather miss Cook’s Christmas
pudding for this lady?”

Marius resisted the urge to tug at his
cravat even though he was sure to suffocate shortly for the tight
bind around his throat. “Yes, Mother.”

“And the billiards?”

He stood back, unaware she knew.

She rolled her eyes and dismissed him with a
wave of her hand. “Did you think I didn’t know you and your
brother, and adult male cousins tend to get deep in your cups,
making ridiculous bets around the billiard table after we have
retired?”

His face heated. Marius believed her
ignorant of their annual gathering, fearful she would not approve.
“Yes.”

“Yes, you think I didn’t know or yes, you
are willing to miss your billiard game?”

Marius cleared his throat. “Yes, to
both.”

“And the name of this lady?” Both eyebrows
rose with question but his mother didn’t exhibit even the slightest
sign she was angry or upset.

“Lady Sabrina Chester.”

His mother pursed her lips in contemplation.
“Is she related to your friend, Lord Chester?”

“His cousin,” Marius dutifully answered.

“And why haven’t I heard of her before?
Surely she isn’t so young she hasn’t had a Season.”

Marius almost choked on the idea. He barely
tolerated the debutants that
were
old enough. “She is
twenty, mother. And, she did not have the opportunity to travel to
London.” It was best to spare his mother the details at the
moment.

“And you wish to see this lady, tonight,
knowing how important Christmas Eve is to me?”

Here it came, as soon as he uttered yes, her
disappointment in him as a son would be evident, and he would feel
like a heel. Not that he would remain home. His evening would just
be dampened. “Yes, Mother.”

A smile broke on her face, which completely
confused Marius. “Please, go, with my blessing.”

“But, I thought, well …,” he
stammered.

She approached Marius and placed a hand
against his cheek. “Do you know how long I have waited for you to
find someone you were taken with this much? I can only hope it
leads to matrimony. You aren’t getting any younger, nor am I, and I
want to see your children.”

So, that was behind her unexpected
acceptance. He shouldn’t be surprised. The woman had been trying to
get him married off for the past five years.

“Thank you, Mother.”

“Go, don’t keep this lady waiting.”

Marius didn’t wait another moment more and
bolted for the door. He had just enough time to ride to London,
change his clothing and be on the Chester doorstep by early
evening. He just hoped they were in attendance.

*

Sabrina folded the blankets and laid them on
top of each other in the crate. She and Juliet had spent the last
weeks mending them, as well as knitting scarves, when she wasn’t
out shopping for new clothing. Sabrina much preferred knitting to
being fitted for new gowns.

“I have all of the scarves in this crate.”
Juliet stood and brushed off her hands.

She and Sabrina looked around the room,
pleased with all they accomplished.

“Lady Chester,” Thomas, the footman,
interrupted, “Mr. Parker has come to call on Lady Sabrina.”

At the mere mention of his name, her pulse
increased and Sabrina wiped her hands against her gown, fearful
they were perspiring already.

“Please, send him in,” Juliet instructed
when Sabrina failed to say anything.

She certainly wasn’t expecting him tonight,
of all nights. She assumed he would be with his family. It wasn’t
as if she saw him that much as it was. He only called a few times a
week, yet those visits were lovely. He took her riding in the park
or for a stroll. If the weather was not conducive to outdoor
entertainment, he would sit with her in the parlor, discussing
whatever came to mind. If she didn’t know better, she would think
Mr. Parker was courting her. Though she wished it were true, she
was afraid he was only being polite as he was one of the only three
people in town that she knew. As Lord and Lady Sandlin would not
arrive until after the New Year, it was decided that Sabrina
wouldn’t be introduced or be taken into society until that time.
She was comfortable not to endure the Little Season and believed
with additional friends the few gathers they attended would not be
so daunting.

Mr. Parker stepped into the room, and
Sabrina’s breath stopped for but a moment. Why did he have to be so
handsome? His brown eyes were dark with warmth, a smile on his
face. He nodded to both women, took a step forward and immediately
fell over a crate in the middle of his path. If she didn’t fear he
was hurt, Sabrina would have laughed. Never had she seen someone
roll over a crate and land on his back the way Mr. Parker did. Now
he just lay on the floor staring up and she ran to his side.

“Are you hurt?”

“Would you take care of me if I were?” His
voice was low and silky. Butterflies beat their wings in her
stomach.

“I am sure I could find you a capable
nurse.” She pulled away but his hand came up and clasped her
arm.

“I would have you tend me. I was injured in
your house by a crate you left in the middle of the floor.”

Sabrina suspected he was completely fine but
went along. “It is my cousin’s house, and Juliet left the crate in
the middle of the room.”

“And I would certainly object to my wife
taking care of you,” Ramsey’s voice bellowed from the door way.

Marius sighed and sat up. “Very well.”

“You aren’t hurt?” Sabrina asked one more
time, wanting to make certain.

“Only my pride.” He stood and straightened
out his clothing before he studied the room. “Why are there so many
crates in here?”

“They are for the soldier’s home,” Julie
chirped.

“Soldier’s home?” He directed his question
to Ramsey. It was Sabrina who answered.

“Juliet founded a soldier’s home for the men
who came back from war but were no longer able to find gainful
employment. So that they didn’t have to fend for themselves on the
street, she gives them a place to live.” Sabrina gestured to the
boxes and crates around the room. “We are taking blankets and
scarves to them tonight.”

“Why a soldier’s home?”

“It was for my brother.” Juliet answered.
“When he came home to visit once he was outraged by the way men
were treated after serving their country. He vowed that when he
returned again he would do something about it.” She pursed her lips
and blinked a few times. It was a moment before she spoke again.
Ramsey gently put an arm around her shoulders in comfort. “He
didn’t come back and I established the home in honor of my
brother.”

“That is very generous of you, Lady Juliet.
I am sure your brother would be well pleased.”

She offered him a grateful smile and turned
away.

“We were just about to have the wagons
loaded and head over.” Ramsey announced. .“You are more than
welcome to join us.”

“Yes, please come,” Lady Juliet added.

He turned to Sabrina. She wanted him to go,
but not if it would be out of politeness only. “I would be happy to
join you.”

A moment later the servants entered to carry
the crates out to the wagon. Marius bent to pick one up but placed
it back on the floor so that he could get a better grip. “I didn’t
expect blankets to weigh so much.”

Sabrina and Juliet giggled. He frowned at
them.

“My husband pretends that I don’t know, and
I pretend that I don’t know, that he fills the bottom of each crate
with whiskey or brandy.”

*

The house itself wasn’t overly large, but
was staffed with a number of servants who helped bring in the
crates for distribution. All the former soldiers were gathered in
the parlor playing cards or reading as they did every night of the
year. Their faces brightened when Lady Chester entered. The home
had been founded a year before Juliet and Ramsey had married, and
they all still referred to her in the manner they had when she was
unattached.

Ramsey made the rounds, greeting each man on
a first name basis. Along with his greeting, he introduced Marius
and Sabrina. Following this, Sabrina helped Juliet unpack and
distribute the items to each of the gentlemen. Though they thanked
them for each thing, Marius suspected they appreciated the liquor
the most.

When they broke into small groups and Juliet
visited with each of the men, Sabrina was summoned by an older man
who had been sitting in the corner. Marius accompanied her to the
man’s side, not willing to relinquish her to any man regardless of
age or infirmity.

As Sabrina took a seat next to him, he
studied her with faded blue eyes. “You are Lady Sabrina Chester,
correct?” The man asked as if he wasn’t sure he had heard
correctly.

“Yes,” Sabrina answered with a smile.

“By chance, was your father Jonas
Chester?”

Sabrina’s face brightened. “Yes, it was. Did
you know him?”

The older man smiled at her in the same
manner of a beloved uncle. “We spent some time together. He talked
of you often and showed your miniature to everyone.”

Sabrina blushed. “When did you last see my
father? How did he look?”

The smile faded from the old soldier’s face.
“I was with him the night before…” The man trailed off, unable
to complete his sentence.

Sabrina’s smile faded as well “Sir, how did
my father die? Nobody has ever told me.”

Discomfort passed over the man’s face.
Reaching over, he patted Sabrina’s hand. “It is Christmas Eve and
not a time for this type of discussion. Perhaps later, after the
New Year.”

Sabrina opened her mouth as if to say
something but closed it after a thoughtful moment. Marius suspected
she wanted to insist on an answer, and he wished he could spare her
this. How could she not know how her father died?

The man squeezed her hand one more time
before adding, “Remember that your father was a good and brave man
and how much he loved you.”

Tears were in her eyes. “He was a wonderful
man, and I was blessed to have had him as my father.”

Marius had been concerned the conversation
would dampen Sabrina’s spirit, but it hadn’t. As soon as she was
engaged in conversation with others and joined in some carols, her
dimpled smile returned. Marius only wished he could be at ease as
well, but something in the old soldier’s eyes had bothered him. He
decided that he would pay a visit right after Christmas to learn
how Jonas Chester had died.

After they returned to the house late that
evening, Marius requested some time alone with Sabrina.

“Leave the door open,” Ramsey insisted.

Juliet pushed Ramsey toward the stairs.
“Have a pleasant evening.”

Marius nodded his head and escorted Sabrina
into the parlor. The room was decorated in greenery and bows he
hadn’t really noticed before, probably because it was full of
crates. It appeared that Lady Juliet embraced the holiday as no one
he had ever seen. Sprigs of mistletoe hung in every door and were
already missing a few berries. Marius hoped it had been Ramsey and
Juliet doing the kissing and not Sabrina and some other man.

As Marius sat on the settee next to Sabrina,
he couldn’t help but notice that she moved away from him. Her
insistence at this rigid ladylike behavior was beginning to wear on
his nerves, and he was going to bring an end to it tonight. For the
past weeks he had been on his best behavior and not once attempted
any liberties. Not that she had given him a chance. But, enough was
enough and if he didn’t kiss her soon, he might go insane.

Sabrina wasn’t sure why he had requested a
private moment with her. Nothing good could come from this. Ever
since they had arrived in London she had been able to remain in
control of her emotions. It wasn’t easy when he was near. Still, he
could not fault her behavior and she didn’t seem to aggravate him
any longer. She clasped her hands tightly on her lap and waited
while Marius seemed to search in his pocket. She wished he would
say something.

“Merry Christmas, Sabrina.” Marius handed
her the black box, tied with a white ribbon.

Surprised, Sabrina looked into his warm
brown eyes. “I can’t accept this. I have nothing for you.” She
never dreamed he would have gotten her a gift.

His smile deepened. “We will discuss that
after you have opened this.”

It had been years since someone had actually
handed her a gift. In the past, Ramsey had remembered her on
special occasions, but those had arrived through the post and she
hadn’t anyone to share the occasion with. Reluctantly she held out
her hand and accepted the box.

When she simply stared at it, Marius
prompted her. “You are supposed to open it.”

Her face heated and Sabrina pulled at the
ribbon until it came loose and slowly opened the box. Inside lay a
delicate string of pearls. She knew it was not proper for a
gentleman to give a lady such a gift, but she wasn’t going to
refuse his generosity either.

For a moment Sabrina was overcome with
emotion. Never had she received such a beautiful or expensive gift.
“It is beautiful.” She lifted her eyes, unable to hide the
emotions. “Thank you. I only wish I had gotten you something as
well.”

Marius stood and offered his hand. “There is
but one gift I want for Christmas, Sabrina, and you are the only
one who can give it to me.”

Sabrina placed her hand in his and followed
as he led her to the door to the foyer and stopped in the
center.

Marius looked up at the mistletoe and
Sabrina’s eyes followed. Her face warmed further.

“A kiss,” he whispered.

Sabrina wouldn’t deny the thrill that went
through her at that one request. It appeared as if she would get
two presents this Christmas. Standing on her toes she placed a
chaste kiss on his lips and then stepped back. Inwardly she sighed.
That wasn’t so difficult. She had been able to kiss him and keep
her composure.