Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) (12 page)

Marius’s eyes narrowed as one hand reached
up to pluck a berry from the mistletoe. Another hand snaked around
her waist to bring her close to him again. “Perhaps I wasn’t
specific enough. I should have said kisses.” He glanced up at the
mistletoe again. “At least until the berries are gone.”

Sabrina hastily looked up and counted. There
were eight berries. Could she kiss him eight more times without
becoming involved? Well, she would certainly give it a try. After
all, Marius deserved at least that, after the lovely necklace he
had given her.

As she pursed her lips together and started
to stand on her toes, Marius stopped her. “Not like the kiss you
just gave me.”

She had learned only two ways of kissing.
Surely he wasn’t requesting the other.

“I want a kiss like the first ones we
shared.”

Sabrina opened her mouth to protest and his
lips were on hers and he pulled her against his body before she
could respond. At first, he was gentle, molding his lips to hers,
tracing his tongue along her lips. It took no time at all for
Sabrina to be drowning in a sea of sensations and was soon
returning the kiss with the same passion. Marius molded her body to
his before he began kissing her cheeks, ear, and neck while one
hand massaged her lower back and the other trailed up her side. As
he cupped her breast, he brought his lips back to hers, devouring
her.

Sabrina had run her hand further up and was
clutching his head and hair, needing more as if her very existence
depended on what they were sharing. Her legs grew weak and soon she
was leaning into him, afraid she couldn’t stand on her own any
longer. Her heart was racing and her insides were in turmoil.

Ever so slowly, he pulled away, resting his
hands at her waist and taking a step back to look at her. A smile
came to his lips as he studied her. The reality of the moment began
to intrude on Sabrina’s mind. Horrified at her actions, she stepped
back further.

“That was almost the best Christmas gift you
could have given me.”

Somewhat stunned, Sabrina studied him. He
wasn’t reacting at all like he did the last time she had acted in
such a wanton manner. “Why did you want me to kiss you that way
when you admitted it’s aggravating?” Why were men so difficult to
understand?

Marius chuckled. “Frustrating and it still
is.”

Throwing her hands in irritation, she
countered. “Aggravation and frustration. I don’t see the
difference, and why anyone would want something knowing they would
end up feeling that way is beyond me.”

“I hope to be able to explain it all to you
one day.” He grinned down at her.

Even if he did explain, Sabrina doubted she
would understand. “I don’t understand you, Marius Parker.” She
crossed arms over her chest.

Still smiling at her, Marius stepped forward
and kissed the top of her head. “I can see you are set to be
disagreeable so I will take my leave.”

“I am not disagreeable.” Sabrina
blustered.

“I’ll call on you in a few days. Enjoy your
Christmas Sabrina, and thank you for the gift.” Reaching above his
head, Marius picked every last berry from the mistletoe and placed
them in his pocket before he let himself out of the house.

For most of the night Sabrina tossed and
turned, unable to sleep. Marius Parker had to be the most
aggravating man in the country. To think she had thought him the
most charming of all gentlemen. Obviously she had not known him at
all. She still didn’t know him. If only she could forget the way it
felt when he held and kissed her, she knew she could think more
clearly. Unfortunately, her mind kept returning to the kisses and
she became warm just from the memories. It was aggravating and
wonderful and if she as smart, she wouldn’t allow it to happen
again.

*

Two days later Marius met Ramsey outside the
soldiers’ home. They had agreed to find out how Jonas Chester had
died together. Unfortunately, upon their arrival they learned the
man they came to speak with had died earlier that morning,
apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The servants were
still waiting for the authorities to come and collect the body.

Why would the man kill himself after he had
told Sabrina he would talk to her again? Was the truth so horrible
that he didn’t want to have to face her? If that were the case, the
man could have simply refused. Something wasn’t right and Marius
had an odd feeling with unanswered questions. After glancing at
Ramsey to see if the situation disturbed him more than it normally
would, Marius requested to see the body. A nod of Ramsey’s head
indicated his agreement and the two men followed the servant up the
stairs.

The servant explained as he opened the door
that after the body had been discovered, nobody had gone in the
room. Marius walked in followed by Ramsey. The old man lay on his
bed, definitely dead and Marius averted his eyes from the man’s
head, trying to forget the gory sight. The man’s right hand was
hanging off the bed. Below it, on the floor lay a pistol. To any
observer, it would appear that after shooting himself, the arm had
simply fallen and the pistol from the hand. The man’s left hand
rested on his upper chest, the palm facing out.

Marius walked to the side of the bed and
studied the man’s posture and gestured Ramsey to his side. Pointing
to the left hand, “If you were going off into eternal rest,
wouldn’t you place your hand, palm down over your heart?”

“One would think” Ramsey nodded in
agreement.

Marius squatted and studied the man from the
level of the bed, something wasn’t right. Standing once again, he
walked around to the other side. Still, it didn’t come to him.
Studying the room and the body on the bed, Marius was sure
eventually he would remember what wasn’t fitting with the picture.
For the moment, it eluded him.

Thanking the servant, he and Ramsey left the
house and hailed a hackney. Together they traveled to Whites.
Neither was anxious to return and inform Sabrina that the man who
held her answers was dead.

As they both took a seat after asking for
coffee to be brought, Marius asked Ramsey what his thoughts were
regarding the death.

“Something about the entire situation
bothers me.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Marius agreed,
looking off into the distance. Something was very wrong with the
scene they had viewed, but for the life of him, he didn’t know what
it was.

“Would you like me to break the news to
Sabrina or will you?” Ramsey asked.

Though it was another chance to see her,
Marius didn’t relish having to tell her. Still, if everything went
as he had planned, they shared a future of good and bad news and he
might as well begin to deal with them now. “I will. After all, it
was my idea to find out the answers before Sabrina did.”

Ramsey sat back into his chair as if
relieved that the duty didn’t fall to him. “Speaking of Sabrina,”
he began.

Marius raised his eyes to Ramsey,
immediately interested in anything having to do with her.
“Yes?”

“By chance did you two argue the other night
or did you do anything to upset her?”

Marius’s eyebrows drew together, confused.
“No. Why do you ask?”

Sighing, Ramsey slumped further into his
seat. “It must be a womanly thing then.”

By now Marius’s interest was amplified and
he wasn’t about to let this conversation lapse. “Why?”

“Oh, nothing really I suppose. Yesterday
morning she rose late and when she did appear, Sabrina certainly
wasn’t her best. Ever since, she has been irritable and claiming
she hadn’t been sleeping well.”

Marius bit the inside of his cheek trying to
keep his expression impassive while he waited for Ramsey to
continue.

“As you are not the cause, I suppose this
mood will pass soon enough.”

So, that made two of them that hadn’t slept
well Christmas Eve. It was the best news he had received that
day.

*

Sabrina hadn’t expected Marius to call on
her so soon. His visits were usually three days apart and scheduled
in advance. She willed her stomach to quit fluttering at the
announcement of his name.

Marius made light conversation as the tea
was delivered. It wasn’t until the maid had left that he became
serious. Sabrina noticed his change in expression and wondered what
could possibly be wrong. Had he regretted the other night? If so,
it was his own fault since he was the one who had insisted.

“Sabrina, there is something I need to tell
you.”

Sabrina braced herself, though not certain
what to expect from him this time.

“I went to visit the older man you spoke
with on Christmas Eve today.”

“The one who knew my father?” Her interest
rose.

“Yes. I thought if I found out how your
father had died, I could help you deal with it better.”

“Marius, that was not necessary. My father
died a number of years ago and I was able to deal with the loss on
my own. I can certainly handle the manner in which he died just as
well.”

“I am aware of that. However, there was
something about the man’s manner that bothered me and I thought to
protect you from or help you deal with the pain his information
would cause.”

“I do not need you to protect me.” Sabrina’s
voice rose with agitation. “This is the second instance that you
have made a decision that directly involved me, without consulting
me first.”

“I knew you would be angry, but try to
understand why I did this.” Hopefully one day soon she would learn
to let him take care of her or at least the more unpleasant
tasks.

“I understand perfectly. Being a gentleman
you didn’t think I could face the harsh truths of reality. You are
mistaken.”

“I never thought you couldn’t handle the
truth. I was concerned and wished to help.”

She harrumphed. “I can see we aren’t going
to agree and I would appreciate it if in the future you wouldn’t
decide something for me and that I at least be consulted.”

Marius nodded his head, there was no use
arguing over his decision at this point anyway. “I’ll do my
best.”

“Good. Now that we have that out of the way,
you might as well tell me what you learned.”

“Nothing.” Marius answered simply. “He died
this morning.”

The tea cup in Sabrina’s hand rattled and
she set it to the table before her. “Was he ill?”

Gravely Marius shook his head. “He took his
own life.”

Sabrina felt the blood rush from her face.
“No.”

“I’m sorry. I saw the body and the pistol
under his right hand.”

Sabrina relaxed slightly. “Then you saw the
wrong man. Don’t you remember that the one who knew my father had a
crippled right hand?”

*

Marius sat forward. That is what had
bothered Marius in the man’s room, now being able to recall how the
man’s right hand had laid curled and useless in his lap. When he
had spoken with Sabrina, it had been his left hand that had reached
out to her. It was impossible that man could have used his right
hand to shoot himself. A chill ran down Marius’s spine and he
considered telling Sabrina what he suspected. Glancing up into her
hopeful eyes, he disregarded the thought. Once he had more facts he
would enlighten her. “I’m sure it was the same man and I am just
confused over which hand had held the gun.”

“Still, you could be mistaken.” Sabrina
offered hopefully.

Marius shook his head sadly. “I am sorry
Sabrina but I am positive it is the same man.”

Sabrina slumped back against the seat. “I
suppose I’ll just ask Uncle James when he returns.”

“Why haven’t you asked him before?”

“He didn’t think it necessary that I be
bothered with the how as it would change nothing.”

This piece of information intrigued Marius.
It is not like Lord Chesterfield had to supply bloody details.
Couldn’t he have simply stated that Sabrina’s father had been shot,
thrown from a horse, or whatever the case had been? Not even Ramsey
had been told the circumstances, which only furthered Marius’
interest. “I’m sure now that you’re older and able to deal with the
truth, your uncle will tell you.” Marius tried to assure her.

This was the first ball Marius had actually
ever looked forward to. Tonight Sabrina would make her entrance. He
just wasn’t clear how long he needed to wait to make his intentions
known. As her uncle was still out of the country, Ramsey could
assume the role of her guardian. No, Ramsey was her guardian in all
the ways that mattered to Marius. Even if the courts disagreed,
Marius would still deal directly with the man Sabrina’s father had
chosen.

From the far side of the ballroom Marius
stood with his friends. Among them were Taylor and Phoebe who had
arrived a few days earlier. He was surprised to see both Dillon
Chambers and Felding in London so early in the year. The presence
of Martin and Janine had come by way of insistence from Phoebe who
thought Janine could open any doors that happened to remain closed
to Sabrina. Janine was the daughter of a duke and married to
Martin, another very good friend of Marius. The only person missing
was Richard, their more reclusive friend who spent more time with
his wife than any other man in England. Marius didn’t expect an
appearance from him until the very first day of the Season.

Marius watched her through the first half of
the evening while she danced and made introductions. Tonight she
was nothing short of beautiful. She wore a deep blue gown, trimmed
in white. Her dark blue eyes sparkled in the candlelight and she
bestowed her dimpled smile on far too many gentlemen. They had
flocked around her early in the evening and Sabrina had not sat out
one dance. It unsettled Marius to watch from afar and it took every
ounce of restraint not to march across the room and, yank her to
his side. To do so would be unfair to Sabrina and he had promised
himself to allow her this time that all young ladies craved in
London.