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.
Chapter 11
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.
During the last set before the supper dance, he noticed Chester and his wife disengaged Sabrina from her circle of admirers and led her in his direction. Marius smiled when he saw she wore his gift. The necklace complimented the gown and Sabrina complimented the necklace.
Beside him Noah murmured to Dillon that she looked vaguely familiar but couldn’t seem to place her. Marius chuckled to himself as the Chesters stopped before them and made the introductions.
As Noah raised her hand to his lips, he looked at her closely. “Have we met previously, Lady Sabrina?”
She grinned mischievously. “Yes, we have Lord Felding.”
Felding frowned and Marius knew this was a first for his friend. Felding never forgot a lady once introduced. “Forgive me, but I can’t seem to recall where or when.”
Marius for his own part was enjoying his friend’s discomfort as the man rarely found himself in this predicament. Nobody had discussed how Sabrina’s past would be mentioned so Marius left it to Sabrina to decide what story she would like to tell.
“Actually, Lord Felding, we were never officially introduced and I am surprised you even recognize me from that inconsequential meeting.”
Marius noted Felding relaxed when he learned they had never actually been introduced.
“Where was that, Lady Sabrina?” Felding asked.
Smiling even more brightly, Sabrina answered. “Lady Davies Academy for Young Ladies.”
Both Felding and Chambers got a curious expression on their face, trying to place her. Marius enjoyed the spectacle very much.
“You did not dine with us. I would certainly have remembered,” Chambers insisted.
Sabrina chuckled softly. “No. I did not, nor would it have been my place.”
The two men were even more confused by the statement from the lady standing before them.
Sabrina turned to Marius. “Shall I explain Mr. Parker?” She was enjoying this.
Marius returned her smile. “May I offer a few clues?”
“By all means.” Sabrina laughed.
Turning to his friends, he gestured toward Sabrina. “Picture a cobweb in her hair and a smudge of dirt on her nose. Replace the gown with an overly large wool dress, and then put her on the roof of a cottage.”
Felding and Chambers stared at her critically before the light dawned in their eyes. It was Chambers who spoke first, “Cinderella?”
Sabrina sank into a curtsey. “It is I.”
“But how . . .?” Felding began to ask, though apparently not sure how he should proceed with such a delicate question.
Marius patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll explain everything later. Tonight Cinderella is attending her first ball and we won’t discuss that previous life further.”
* * *
As the next dance was to be a waltz, Sabrina refrained from dancing due to another odd rule amongst society. Soon, she found herself standing alone with Mr. Parker after Ramsey and Juliet took to the floor as the others did.
Sabrina felt slightly uncomfortable given her cousin had asked Marius to remain by her so he could dance with his wife. If Marius had wanted to spend time with her, wouldn’t he have sought her out earlier? She had known he was here as soon as she had entered, having spotted him across the room. Their eyes had briefly met and he had nodded his head in greeting. Yet, he had not walked over to her and Sabrina doubted they would have even spoken if Ramsey hadn’t escorted her to them. It was unfair of Ramsey to ask Marius to forgo the waltz on her behalf and told as much to Marius.
“As you cannot dance this particular set Lady Sabrina, I find I have no desire to either.”
“Why is this dance any different than the others?” Sabrina thought he was just being polite.
Marius raised an eyebrow. “Did you not know this is the supper dance?”
“No, I did not. Is it significant?” Clearly not everything had been explained to her yet.
“Most certainly.” Marius answere
d in seriousness. “When the music ends, all the couples will adjourn for dinner.”
“I believe that much I understood.”
“Did you also know that the person you happen to be dancing with or, in our case, speaking with, at the time, is the person they will sit with during the dinner?” A smile began to form on his lips.
“No. I had not been told that particular detail.” Sabrina’s pulse quickened slightly.
“I can think of no one else I would rather escort, Lady Sabrina.”
She prayed he wasn’t just being polite because Ramsey had stuck her with him.
* * *
Following that first ball it appeared Sabrina had been embraced by society. Ladies called on her for friendship, or that is what she believed. Gentlemen called as well, usually leaving flowers along with their card. Her days were filled with visitors, shopping, or riding in the park. The nights included dinners, balls, routs and on occasion the theater. It was rare that Sabrina found time for herself and she could not comprehend how the Season could be busier than this.
Only one dark cloud hung over her new found happiness. Sabrina rarely saw Marius. He did not call on her during the day as he had before. When she would meet him at an evening gathering, he was polite but remote. While she found herself surrounded by interesting and entertaining gentlemen, Marius remained away except for the one dance they would share at each event. Things were turning out exactly as she had been afraid they would. Marius had only spent the time with her until she found her footing. Now he was slowly disappearing from her life.
By the end of the three weeks, Sabrina was finding it more and more difficult to find enjoyment in her outings and entertainments. Her face began to ache from forced smiles and she constantly disciplined herself to keep from looking for Marius amongst the gatherings. Unfortunately, he was everywhere she went. He never failed to approach her for a short time nor failed to ask for a dance if it were appropriate for the gathering. But this was always done towards the end of the evening, as if he had put it off until the last moment and his addressing her was more a requirement than a desire. Not that his attitude betrayed his intentions for he was always courteous, charming, and a gentleman.
* * *
Marius’s irritation and frustration grew with every evening. His biggest fear with Sabrina making an early entrance had come true. She had almost every available gentleman panting after her. Who could blame them? She was a beautiful woman, intelligent, young, and innocent. Yet, she lacked the silliness young ladies usually possessed when making their debut. He didn’t doubt Ramsey would be receiving a number of offers for her hand in the weeks to come. If Ramsey hadn’t already assured Marius that no offer would be considered until they were officially into the Season, he would not have held back. It still wasn’t easy to stay in the background while she was courted by mostly worthy gentlemen. Nor did he like hearing about her from the men at the various clubs, knowing they were visiting her even during the day. Did she even miss him?
Marius had watched closer than he probably should, but he didn’t want to be taken by surprise if she became overly attentive to anyone in particular. If that occurred, Marius was ready to step in and remind her of him.
His other pursuit was eating at him as well. After the old man had been murdered, Marius had gone to the war office to obtain a list of anyone who would have been with Jonas Chester around the time of his demise. The list was not very long and Marius had been tracking each man for these past weeks hoping one could tell him how Sabrina’s father had died. Of the ten names listed, three had not returned from the war and five died after returning to England and under questionable circumstances, recently. Until the remaining two were found, Marius would not be able to relax.
While his quest had started simply to know how Sabrina’s father died, the situation had grown far beyond that. Besides Jonas Chester and the man at the home, five men were dead and Marius had a sick feeling it wasn’t all a coincidence.
* * *
Sabrina searched the ballroom and found Marius across the room, talking with an exquisitely beautiful young lady. Why did she do this to herself? Tearing her eyes away, she returned her attention to the seven gentlemen surrounding her. She couldn’t pretend tonight and she felt like the room was closing in on her, they were closing in on her. Politely, Sabrina excused herself and walked toward the ladies retiring room. She knew if she didn’t escape at that moment she would surely scream.
Not even the retiring room was vacant and Sabrina stepped back into the ballroom in search of Ramsey. She just wanted to go home. To crawl in her bed and forget about Marius, the young lady he was about to dance with, Christmas Eve, his kisses.
Sabrina could hear Ramsey’s boisterous laugh but could no longer see him and the Lord and Lady Sandlin were dancing. The first of the suitors she escaped from approached from across the room. She could not be surrounded by them again. Not now anyway and she turned on her heel and marched toward the open doors. It may not be the wisest choice, but she needed to get away.
* * *
Lady Naomi had barely been holding Marius’s attention as it was, but when Sabrina disengaged from her following, he had only half listened to what the young woman was saying and marked Sabrina’s progress across the room. When he saw her moving in the direction of the retiring room, he attempted to concentrate more fully on Lady Naomi. This lasted less than a minute when he saw Sabrina return, far too soon by his estimation, and walk in the direction opposite of her family and court. When he saw her slip out the back doors, onto the terrace, he politely excused himself and discretely followed. Irritation grew that she would act so foolishly and he wondered if this is how Sandlin had felt, often.
When he arrived on the terrace, no one was about, especially Sabrina. He looked toward the grounds, straining to see into the darkness. Certainly she wouldn’t have been so reckless as to wander the dark, barren gardens on her own?
At one end of the terrace stood a greenhouse with a few lights by the door. Perhaps she had gone in that direction. It was too cold to remain out doors for long without a cloak. Even if she had gone in there, it was still just as dangerous as the gardens.
Chapter 12
Sabrina took a deep breath to relax and settled on the bench among some greenery. Alone at last. The air heavy with humidity and musty smell of fresh dirt made Sabrina long for the country. She’d had enough of the London entertainments. All she wanted now was peace and quiet. She would never make it through a true London Season and considered telling that to Ramsey and Juliet. As much as they wanted her to have a Season, Sabrina didn’t see how she could possibly enjoy it since the activities would be increased twofold, twice the boredom. Sighing, she let her shoulders drop. What was wrong with her? All ladies enjoyed the London activities, why was she so different?
“May I ask what you are doing?” Mr. Parker leaned against the door frame.
Sabrina had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t heard the door open and jumped at the sound of his voice. “Are you always so quiet?”
“You seem to bring that trait out in me.”
What was he doing here?
Marius stopped just before Sabrina and stood over her. “I had assumed Ramsey, Juliet, or at least Phoebe.” He paused for a moment. “Though perhaps not on second thought, warned you about leaving a ball alone, unchaperoned.”
Sabrina rolled her eyes. She was not in the mood for a lecture and certainly not from him. “Nobody saw me.”
“Oh?” Marius raised an eyebrow. “I did so I can assume others did as well.”
Sabrina tilted her head up to look at him. “So you came out here to scold me like a child. Well your point has been made and you may return. I doubt anyone else will follow me.”
“Actually I am surprised one of the gentlemen that are constantly surrounding you hasn’t already.”
Sabrina was surprised Marius had even noticed. “I don’t expect any of them to risk ruining me. They all need an heiress, which
I am not.”
“They aren’t the only gentlemen in the room. Any number of men could have followed you and some would not consider it necessary to marry you if you were caught alone with him.”
“Your point is taken. May I suggest you leave before someone finds you with me?”
“I would do the honorable thing.” Marius stated, indignantly, settling onto the bench beside her.
Sabrina offered a half smile, her heart was torn that his offer would only come if forced. Why would he just not go away and leave her be?
“What is wrong Sabrina?”
His voice was soft, caring, and her chest tightened with emotion. “Why did I come out here?” She countered instead of explaining. She wasn’t sure he would understand. She wasn’t even sure she understood.
“Yes, why did you need to leave the ball?”
“I had to get away from the people. It is too much and I am tired of these entertainments.”
“Perhaps you should refrain from activities for a few days.”
“I would love to, but I don’t think it would be enough.”
“Do you dislike London?”
“Not London itself. Only the mindless, purposeless entertainments.” Sabrina tried to explain.
Marius grinned. “You are bored.”
“Yes, to the point that if Lord Lindsey tells me one more time how his horse won last year, I am sure I will scream.”
Marius laughed beside her.
“I don’t know what I am doing here.” Sabrina moaned in misery.
“You have entered Polite Society, which is where you belong. Ramsey wants you to have the best of this world to make up for the years at the academy.”
His Contrary Bride (A Gentleman's Guide to One Upon a Time - Book 2) Page 10