Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) (8 page)

Marius looked over to see what Sabrina was
looking at, but didn’t even want to know. Phoebe was Taylor’s
problem.

“Oh, Phoebe, you’re bleeding again,” Sabrina
called down.

Touching her head, Phoebe brought her
fingers down and noted the blood once again. “Damn.” As if
remembering she wasn’t alone, Phoebe blushed and retrieved the
handkerchief again.

Marius turned his attention back to Sabrina.
“Carefully, move back down the ladder, and watch your skirts so you
don’t trip.”

“I can do this on my own. It isn’t the first
time I have been on a roof.” Sabrina stopped half way down to look
into the hole and inspect the roof.

“What are you doing now?”

“Seeing how rotten the wood is.”

“Well, come on. There are guests at the
house and Taylor sent me to find and retrieve the two of you.”

“Why didn’t you say something in the first
place?” Sabrina asked

“You are assuming I had an opportunity
before now.” He turned to Phoebe once Sabrina was safely on the
ground, and escorted the ladies outside into the sunshine. As he
looked at Phoebe’s injury he opened his mouth to ask what happened,
then shut it instead. Shaking his head he started walking back to
the house.

He assumed and hoped Sabrina and Phoebe
followed behind him.

“I thought you were only grumpy in the
morning.”

Marius stopped in his tracks and turned to
look at Sabrina. Never had he been so frustrated and irritated with
any female in his entire life. Did she have no idea how shaken he
had been to see them up there, or how worried he was about her
going through the roof, or that display of her legs and thighs were
enough to tempt a saint or that he couldn’t completely relax until
she was safe on the ground? All of those thoughts raced through his
mind while she faced him, clearly waiting for an answer. He
couldn’t tell her any of those things. Clamping his mouth shut,
Marius turned around and marched toward the house, trying to ignore
Phoebe’s laughter.

Both Phoebe and Sabrina dashed up the back
stairs to freshen up before greeting the new arrivals. Marius had
barely gotten his emotions under control when he joined Taylor and
the Chesters.

Taylor arched an eyebrow in question. “Do I
dare ask?”

Marius sighed, shook his head and walked to
the table to pour a drink. “Sabrina got it into her head to fix the
roof on the shed and Phoebe was helping her.” Marius explained.
“When I came upon them, Sabrina’s foot had gone through the roof.
Phoebe was standing at the top of the ladder trying to pull her
out.”

Taylor started to laugh.

“I wouldn’t laugh. Your wife almost tumbled
off that ladder. Besides, her head is bleeding. I didn’t ask and
they didn’t offer.” When Taylor sobered considerably, Marius
continued, “If it is of any consequence, neither one of them
appeared to be concerned.”

“Excuse me,” Juliet, Lady Chester said from
her chair. “Did you say the ladies were fixing a roof?” Her eyes
sparkled with delight.

Ramsey turned toward his wife. “Since she
was a girl, Sabrina always said that if you see something that
needs fixing and can, then fix it. I can see that hasn’t
changed.”

Here Marius had thought being a servant had
made Sabrina industrious. Apparently, it was her very nature.

Phoebe walked into the room a short time
later, smiling brightly and was introduced to her guests. Taylor
looked her over carefully. “How did you hurt you head, dear?”

“Sabrina and I were walking by the old shed.
You know, the one at the back of the orchard?”

Smiling at his lovely wife, Taylor
nodded.

“Well, as we were passing, a shingle fell
from the roof and struck me.”

“Is that when Sabrina decided to fix the
roof?”

“Yes.” Phoebe’s face lit with excitement.
“There was really nothing to it. She even showed me how.”

“Except she almost fell through the roof,”
Marius reminded from where he stood by the door.

“I did not almost fall through. Only my
foot, if you recall,” Sabrina insisted when she stepped into the
room.

Marius looked her up and down, noticing the
change in dress. This one was soft lavender, which complimented her
coloring beautifully. “You changed your dress.”

“I ripped the other one.”

His smile faded. “That wouldn’t have
happened if you wouldn’t have gotten the foolish idea in your
head.”

“It was not foolish.” She planted her hands
on her hips as if she were ready to argue, not about to back down
and admit she could have been hurt.

Marius gritted his teeth in aggravation.
“Lady Sabrina, do you realize that since I picked you up on the
side of the road, you have argued with me over almost
everything?”

“I have not.” She folded her arms in front
of her and tapped her foot.

“You have. You are the most argumentative
female I have ever met.”

“I am not argumentative.”

“See.” Marius offered with a triumphant
grin. “You just proved my point. To think I would have bet you
didn’t have a disagreeable thought in your mind when I met you at
the academy.”

Sabrina opened her mouth to argue back, but
must have thought better of it and closed her mouth.

“What do you mean about picking her up on
the side of the road?”

Sabrina turned from Marius. She took a step
back. “Ramsey?”

“It is me, Sabrina. It is good to see you
after all of these years.”

“Oh, Ramsey. It’s good to see you too.” She
looked at the woman beside him. “Is this your wife?”

“Yes, Juliet.” Ramsey took his wife’s arm.
“This is my cousin, Sabrina.”

Sabrina could only smile at them. Pleased
and overwhelmed to see her cousin after all the years. Slowly it
began to dawn on her that she shouldn’t be seeing him at all and
wondered why they were here. What had they learned? Luckily she had
the dresses from Phoebe’s sister so at least her clothing supported
the story she had led him to believe these last years.

Marius stepped forward to answer Ramsey’s
question. “I did meet your cousin at the academy. I picked her up
on the side of the road as she was walking to London.”

Sabrina clenched her jaw and balled her
fists behind her back. She knew her eyes widened at his statement
and she wanted to strangle Marius. She wished to explain Ramsey in
her own way, without Ramsey becoming suspicious of what had really
transpired these last few years.

“Surely you could have taken a coach,
Sabrina,” Ramsey suggested. “Or sent a note to me? I could have had
my coach retrieve you.”

Her face heated and she turned away from her
cousin. She hated to lie, but it was for the best. “It was a sudden
decision, and I didn’t think it was necessary to spend the
funds.”

“It was kind of you to give her
transportation, Parker.”

“It was a pleasure.” Marius quirked an
eyebrow at Sabrina then added, “Despite her disposition.”

She gasped. “You are one to talk. You were
quite disagreeable that morning we were leaving the inn.”

Taylor and Ramsey both raised a speculative
eyebrow at Marius, while Phoebe bit her bottom lip, her eyes a bit
wide, as if she were amused. “Do you know that he actually struck
the innkeeper, though I still don’t understand what the man
meant?”

“Enough Sabrina,” Marius bit out. “I am sure
they understand.”

“I didn’t know you had stopped at an inn
with my cousin, Parker. Apparently, you didn’t tell me everything
regarding my cousin and the time you spent with her.”

Sabrina sighed with relief. Thank goodness
Marius had kept his promise not to tell him of her reduced
circumstances.

“I can assure you my behavior was honorable,
and I never intentionally touched her, except to examine her foot
and carry her down the stairs.”

Ramsey stiffened and Sabrina wanted to
groan. Her cousin didn’t need to protect her from anything or
anyone, especially Mr. Parker. But, Ramsey wasn’t looking at her.
He was looking at Marius, his posture erect, all humor gone from
his face. She did not need him making matters worse.

Marius straightened as well and looked
Ramsey in the eye. “I understand if you feel this situation should
be addressed, and I am willing to discuss the options.”

“If that is the case, why did you fail to
mention it to me previously?”

“I only thought to save Sabrina the
embarrassment, especially since I was a complete gentleman,
regardless of the circumstances.”

Ramsey nodded and Sabrina tried to follow
the conversation.

“Does anyone else know?” Ramsey rubbed his
chin.

“Only those in this room. The innkeeper
never knew Lady Sabrina’s name,” Mr. Parker answered dutifully.

Finally, Ramsey nodded. “I don’t see any
reason to be concerned at this moment. However, if others learn…”
He didn’t finish and Sabrina was afraid of what he eluded too.
Thank goodness nothing would come of that evening because it wasn’t
possible anyone would ever find out.

Mr. Parker looked the man directly in the
eye. “I was well aware of what would be expected when it was
necessary to stop. You have my word to do the right thing.”

Ramsey simply nodded his agreement and
Phoebe sighed.

Sabrina looked between the two men in
confusion. “Would you quit speaking so cryptically?” Shaking her
head in disgust, Sabrina walked past them and took a seat by
Juliet.

Ramsey smiled at his cousin and followed. “I
was just assuring your future and reminding Parker why this
conversation will not be repeated.”

Sabrina let it go. She was beginning to
believe men had some of the strangest notions. Her years at the
academy certainly hadn’t prepared her to understand gentlemen, and
she was beginning to wonder if she ever would.

Phoebe sat when the tea arrived and the
gentlemen took various seats to accommodate conversation. Once the
maid had closed the door, Ramsey turned to his cousin once again.
“Sabrina, I am going to get to the point of this visit, besides
wanting to see you again.”

Sabrina set her teacup and saucer on the
table before her. “To what are you referring, Ramsey?” She pasted a
smile on her face. This was becoming more difficult now that she
had to actually face him.

“I know that Uncle James has asked you to
lie to me these past years.”

He knew. The only way he could know was if
Marius had told him. Instead of answering her cousin, she turned
accusing eyes on Marius. “You promised not to tell.” Her world fell
apart. The secret had been kept to protect Ramsey and for the
future Chesterfield line. What would his wife think of marrying
into a family who was so destitute that one had to become a
servant? It was all too horrifying to imagine, once word got
out.

Standing ready to defend himself, Marius
replied, “I did not promise. I said I would try.”

She stood as well, mortified that they all
knew everything. “I thought I could trust you. I’ll never forgive
you for this. You have ruined everything.” Choking on her words,
Sabrina ran from the room.

*

Ramsey found her beneath a tree, sitting on
a bench. She swiped the tears from her eyes when he took a seat
beside her. “Are you upset that I know the truth or that you think
Parker betrayed your trust?”

Sniffling, she looked up at him. “Both, I
think.” How could she explain that Mr. Parker had destroyed
something in her heart when he betrayed her wishes on keeping the
family secret? It hurt deeply that he would disregard her feelings.
She was also horrified at having to face Ramsey and explain. Her
world was crumbling right before her.

Ramsey picked up her hand. “Parker didn’t
betray you, Sabrina.”

“Yes, he did. I asked him to promise not to
say a word.” Sabrina searched her pocket for a handkerchief. Before
she could find one, Ramsey produced his own, which she gratefully
accepted, wiping her eyes and nose.

“When you asked him to keep your secret, he
already knew who you were and that we were related.”

“That shouldn’t have mattered,” Sabrina
argued, finally in control of her emotions, for the moment.

“Ah, but it did. I have known Parker for
some time. He has never made a promise he couldn’t keep, which is
why he said he would try, not that he would.”

“You are speaking cryptically again.”
Sabrina sniffled.

“Hear me out.” He grasped her hand tighter.
“It was beyond Parker to understand why you were a servant and my
cousin, which is why he promised nothing. He had yet to hear the
entire story from you on how you came to be where you were. After
you had told him, it was clear a number of things did not add up,
which is why he brought you here and sought me out.”

Stiffening, Sabrina looked at her cousin.
“That was not his place. Are you telling me that Marius Parker went
directly to you, and he has not been looking for a new position for
me?”

“That is exactly what I am telling you, and
it is precisely what he should have done.”

Sabrina groaned. She would never trust
anyone again, at least not a gentleman. “That is the last thing he
should have done. You don’t understand.”

Ramsey smiled down at his cousin. “No,
Sabrina. You don’t understand.”

For the next moments Ramsey explained
everything he had learned after Marius had come to him and what
their uncle had done. “Unfortunately, the funds that had been set
aside for your education, introduction to society, and dowry are
gone.”

Stunned, Sabrina could only stare at him.
The only question that kept coming to her mind was “Why?’

“All we can figure is that uncle needed your
wealth enough to sacrifice you. His actions were criminal.”

“I’m not sure what he did could be
considered criminal. After all, as my guardian, he had the option
to use my funds at his will.” She thought Ramsey was blowing this
horrible situation out of proportion.