His Contrary Bride (A Gentleman's Guide to One Upon a Time - Book 2)

by Charles, Jane

  “I know all that.” Sabrina waved her hand, exacerbated. “For Ramsey, I will continue with this. I just wish I had a purpose.”

  “I don’t understand. What type of purpose?”

  “I need a purpose. Nobody here has a purpose except for mindless entertainment. Does anyone have any depth? I always thought if I ever did come to London I would absorb the culture and visit museums. This is not what I had envisioned.”

  “You do have one purpose that I think perhaps you have overlooked.” Marius offered.

  Raising an eyebrow, Sabrina waited to be enlightened.

  “I am sure Ramsey would be happy to see you married. It is one of the main purposes for an unmarried lady to be in London.”

  Sabrina groaned. “I guess that is a purpose of a sort.”

  “Then, there is also a purpose to being a wife.”

  This time Sabrina gave Marius a half smile and rolled her eyes. “A wife has only two purposes. They are overseeing the servants, which is not exactly a challenging effort and producing an heir, which I can assume isn’t very challenging either. So, tell me, what is a wife’s purpose, besides gossip and shopping after she has reviewed the menu and before she must retire with her husband?”

  “In truth, I have never thought about the role of a wife, but I am assuming you are probably right. You don’t think you would enjoy a pampered life?”

  Sabrina shook her head. “No. There is no possible way I could enjoy wasting my days.”

  “Perhaps a hobby.” Marius suggested.

  “A hobby isn’t a purpose, it is a waste of time, unless it benefits others. I need to do something useful.”

  Marius sat for a few minutes. “I think I know what you need.”

  Intrigued, Sabrina turned toward him. “What would that be?”

  “I think I will arrange to take you to some museums and seek out other stimulating entertainments for you.”

  Sabrina laughed. “That is not necessary. You have done enough for me already.”

  “Nonsense.” Marius interrupted her.

  “No, I am serious.” Sabrina almost whispered. “You saw to it that I was safe after leaving the academy and reunited me with my cousin. You don’t need to worry about me any longer. I am sure you have other matters you would rather pursue.”

  “You are wrong. I would very much enjoy taking you to the museum.” Marius returned with sincerity.

  “Why?” Sabrina needed to know.

  Marius didn’t answer right way and searched her eyes for a moment. “That is what friends do.”

  “Are you my friend, Marius?”

  Marius raised his hand to her cheek. “Yes,” he whispered as he looked toward her lips. As his head started to descend, Sabrina looked deeply into his eyes, wondering if friends kissed and what exactly she was to Marius.

  “It appears we have arrived just in time, dear.” Lord Sandlin’s voice came from the doorway.

  Startled, Sabrina and Marius pulled away from their near embrace. Marius stood, while Sabrina busied herself straightening her skirts, hoping to hide her embarrassment. At least it was only Lord and Lady Sandlin. They wouldn’t force Marius into something as permanent as an unwanted marriage.

  “Were you trying to sneak away with your wife, Taylor, or has Phoebe taken to wandering again?” Marius asked.

  “We were following you, following Sabrina.” Lord Sandlin grinned, as if much pleased with himself, though Sabrina had no idea why.

  “You took your time getting here.”

  “Actually, Phoebe tended to slow me down, stopping and talking as she does, insisting no harm would come to Sabrina.”

  Marius turned to Phoebe and smiled. “Thank you for your confidence, Lady Sandlin.”

  Marius executed a bow to her and Lady Sandlin. “Now, if you will excuse me. I will return and you can escort Lady Sabrina back inside so that there is no gossip.” He was out the door before she could respond.

  Sabrina watched him leave and willed herself not to cry. She should be grateful for his friendship because she did have far too few real friends, yet her heart insisted on breaking regardless.

  * * *

  Today was the type of day Sabrina never thought she would long for. There were absolutely no plans to visit with anyone and they were staying in for the evening and she vowed to make the most of the peace.

  Without a definite plan for the day, by mid-morning Sabrina was becoming restless and found herself wandering from room to room. Everyone had a task or a purpose. Juliet had taken advantage of the freedom and retired with a book to read when she wasn’t dozing. Perhaps a book would relieve her of the restlessness as well. Sabrina turned toward the library. After all, she had enjoyed Sense and Sensibility and wondered if the author had written anything else.

  The room was in a state of chaos. Books had been completely removed from one wall and Helen, one of the maids, was busy dusting the books and the shelves. “Surely more than one maid is assigned to this task.”

  “Oh no. Only I, Lady Sabrina,” Helen answered cheerfully.

  Sabrina looked around the room and noticed additional walls of books had yet to be dusted. Closer inspection revealed the entire room was in need of a very thorough cleaning. When her attention returned to Helen, the maid was just climbing onto a small stool to begin putting books away. Walking to the maid’s side, Sabrina requested which stack the maid needed first.

  “Lady Sabrina, you shouldn’t be helping me. It isn’t right.”

  “Nonsense. You’ll have the books back on the shelves in half the time if I hand them to you.”

  Helen smiled gratefully down at Sabrina and indicated to a stack on the floor. When Sabrina handed her the books, she waited as they were placed on the shelf. Helen swayed slightly and had to grab a shelf to steady herself. “Is anything the matter?”

  “It is nothing. I just tend to get dizzy when I have to look up.”

  “Does this happen often?”

  “For as long as I can remember. Strange it is.”

  Sabrina looked around the room and realized Helen would spend a good part of the cleaning looking up. The maid was liable to fall. “You come down and hand me the books.”

  “No, I couldn’t.” Helen’s hands came to her chest and her face paled as if Sabrina had shocked her somehow.

  “Yes, you can. I am quite used to working and it would serve nobody’s purpose if you fell and injured yourself.”

  Helen looked between the shelves, the books and the stool a few more times before she reluctantly returned to the ground. “Thank you, my lady.”

  The next two hours flew by as Sabrina and Helen both cleaned the library. Ramsey came by only once and Sabrina cheerfully explained the situation to him before sending him on his way. For the first time in a long time she was actually enjoying herself. That is all she needed all along – something to do.

  Sabrina had pulled a sturdy pedestal table over to clean the dust away from above the windows. It was higher than the stool she had been using and would give her better access to the ceiling where some cobwebs had collected. Standing on tiptoes, she set about her task as Helen hovered behind.

  “Oh, do be careful, Lady Sabrina.”

  “Don’t worry Helen. I’ll be fine.”

  * * *

  Marius stood in the doorway, unable to believe his eyes. Didn’t Sabrina realize this part of her life was over? Ramsey stood next to him. “Do you have any idea what she is up to?”

  “Yes.” Ramsey continued to watch his cousin.

  “Why didn’t you stop her?”

  Ramsey shrugged and turned to Marius. “Because it is the happiest she has been in some time.”

  “Oh, Lady Sabrina, I do wish you would come down from there.” Helen exclaimed as she wrung her hands together.

  The maid’s voice brought Marius’s attention back to Sabrina. She stood on her toes and was trying to reach the far corner of the window. As she reached, she stepped further to the edge. Marius held his breath and began wa
lking toward her. He knew she was completely unaware of him and remained quiet so as not to startle her.

  He reached the pedestal table just as Sabrina stepped too close to the edge, upsetting the balance, causing the table to tilt to the side. With a screech, Sabrina’s arms flayed as she toppled from the table and landed in Marius’s arms. Startled, she looked into his eyes.

  Marius couldn’t have planned this better. The woman he longed for had just landed neatly where he would like to keep her. He wished he could just walk out the front door and to his own home, cradling her this way. “I think that is enough cleaning for the day, Cinderella.” He smiled at her, not yet willing to put her down, even though propriety demanded he did.

  She grinned back up at him. A second later she stiffened and her lips pursed for a moment. Marius couldn’t comprehend her sudden changed mood. Had he done something wrong already?

  “What brings you here Mr. Parker?”

  Marius quirked an eyebrow at the sudden formality, but dismissed it due to the presence of the maid. “I have business with your cousin. Luckily I happened by at the right time.” Marius knew he should set her on her feet, but couldn’t bring himself to do such a thing. Besides, Sabrina seemed perfectly content.

  Ramsey stepped further into the room. “Yes, Parker. Now that Sabrina is safe, why don’t we discuss the matter you mentioned?”

  A slight blush formed on Sabrina’s cheeks.

  Marius walked to the closest chair and deposited her into it. “Stay off tables, Sabrina. Your Season would be quite ruined with a broken neck.” Bowing, Marius took his leave.

  * * *

  Marius took a seat across from Ramsey, while he tried to erase the feel of Sabrina in his arms.

  “You said there was a situation that concerned you?” Ramsey prompted.

  Marius shook the thoughts of Sabrina from his head and faced her cousin. “Yes.” He answered and proceeded to tell Ramsey of his investigation and the deaths.

  By the time he was finished, Ramsey was sitting back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. “What do you make of it?”

  “I am not sure, but it can’t be a coincidence.

  “No, I suppose you are right.” Ramsey drifted off into thought for a moment and turned to look out the window. “I don’t like this Marius. My uncle dies, yet my other uncle offers no explanation. Then Uncle James lies to both Sabrina and me. Now, with the deaths, they have to be related.”

  “That is what has bothered me. I am not completely convinced that you, Sabrina, and your uncle fit into this. But, I do believe the other deaths must be linked to Jonas Chester. Why else would the man at the home have been murdered just two days after Sabrina asked him how her father died?”

  Ramsey nodded his head.

  “I’ll continue looking for the last two. I know who they are and they should be close to London.”

  “Let me know what you learn.”

  As Marius was leaving, he passed the library once again. He was too close and couldn’t ignore the fact that she was there. Stepping into the room, he found Sabrina standing on a stool while the maid handed books up to her. What had Ramsey meant that it was the happiest she had been in weeks? Could he hope she missed him as much as he missed her?

  Though he knew he should continue on out of the house, and stick with his plan to allow her to be courted and admired without his constant presence, Marius couldn’t bring himself to do so. Soon he found himself standing directly beside her as she placed the last book on the shelf. Today she looked more like the woman he had first met with smudges of dirt on her hands and dust on her work gown. Far different from the elegant lady who appeared in society, but just as desirable.

  Chapter 13

  After putting the last book on the shelf, Sabrina dusted her hands together to erase any remaining dirt. The library had now been cleaned thoroughly and she felt a sense of accomplishment that had been lacking since she had left the academy. Perhaps she should involve herself in household duties more often. It would certainly keep the boredom at bay.

  Turning around to survey the room she spotted Marius standing at her side. He had to be the quietest man on earth. Sabrina stepped down from the stool. “Is your meeting finished with my cousin?” Sabrina asked with reserved politeness.

  Marius quirked his lips. “Yes, we just finished.”

  She folded her hands before her. “I hope the meeting was productive.”

  “Why the formality, Sabrina?”

  Her brows knitted together as she studied him. After he had caught her earlier, Sabrina had decided that the best way to deal with her own feelings was to keep him at a distance, and treat him no differently than any other gentleman. “I simply felt it more appropriate, now that we are in London.”

  “Perhaps, when we are in society. Here, we are virtually alone and I have given you leave to use my name.”

  “Very well, Marius, I shall do as you wish.”

  He studied her, looking into her eyes, as if he wasn’t quite sure of her. “Would you care to walk in the park?”

  Panic rose within her. She couldn’t spend time with him and fight her feelings at the same time. Nor could she be his friend. That was not where her heart lay. “I couldn’t leave this house dressed as I am, though I thank you for the kind offer.”

  “I would be happy to wait while you change.” Marius grinned at her, an odd glint in his eye as if daring her to come up with another excuse.

  “I couldn’t impose on you. It would take much more than a few minutes to wash the dust away and change my gown.” Why was he being so persistent? If he was thinking to fill an empty day in case she lacked entertainment it certainly was not necessary. Perhaps he was acting this way because he had seen her so vulnerable the night before. After all, he did say he was a friend. That bothered her most. If he had any clue to how she felt he would run for the door. As much as she liked being within him, she wanted to avoid humiliation that much more.

  “I find myself entirely free this afternoon, Sabrina, so take your time. I’ll be happy to wait.” Marius’s smile widened and his eyes glinted with mischief as if he knew she was making excuses. Well, Sabrina wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of thinking he was right. He couldn’t begin to guess why she wanted to suddenly avoid him.

  “Then I’ll try to be quick.”

  In her room Sabrina scrubbed quickly and allowed the maid to repair her hair. When it came time to dress, she faced another dilemma. She could wear the walking gown that was most flattering, a pale blue that the seamstress insisted complimented her eyes, hoping he would take notice. Or, she could wear the most modest and dull gown of sage, proving that she didn’t care what he thought. In the end she settled for dull. The situation was bad enough and how much more could her heart take if she wore the flattering gown and he failed to acknowledge her as an available woman.

  When she finally descended downstairs Marius stood in the foyer, waiting. “Do you not have a chaperone?”

  The thought had never occurred to her. This was Marius and he was the last person she would ever think to try and take advantage. “I didn’t think we needed one.”

  “Do you always accompany gentlemen outside the house without a chaperone?”

  “Of course not. They are different. They are courting me.”

  Marius raised an eyebrow at her. “I appreciate your faith in me, Sabrina. However, we will be walking in the park where a number of people could see us. What would they think if you didn’t have a maid trailing along behind us?”

  Her face heated with embarrassment. Of course he was right. She just hadn’t considered how it would look. Turning to the footman, she had him summon her maid.

  * * *

  They walked without any conversation between them because they were constantly greeting acquaintances. Marius steered her further into the park until they came to the Serpentine. Her simple comment that the other gentlemen were courting her meant she did not realize he was. An error on his part. While he had
n’t wanted to be obvious at first, he still wanted her to know he had some interest.

  Turning, he studied her profile. He would like to chisel away at the polite wall she had erected but first he needed to find out why. “I couldn’t help notice all the gentlemen that are constantly at your side.”

  “They are all charming, I suppose.”

  “Are you taken with any of them?” He asked with slow contemplation, hoping he hid the edge and concern in his voice.”

  “I hold no deep or lasting interest in any of them, if that is what you are asking.”

  Inwardly Marius sighed with relief and quickly turned the topic of conversation to the people she had met and their perceptions. By the time he was escorting her from the park her formal attitude had disappeared and they were both laughing. Marius enjoyed seeing her dimpled simile again and wished he hadn’t insisted on the maid. If they had been alone, he knew he would have been able to find a private place where they could share another kiss.

  * * *

  Marius finally located one of the two remaining men who had been in close vicinity to Jonas Chester at the time of his death. Or, he actually found Marius. Prior to the war, Timothy Shields had been fairly wealthy and owned a nice piece of land. Rumor had it that Shields had since let the place fall to ruin, surprising those who were acquainted with him. Now, he lived along the docks and Marius was told to look for him in the back corner of this pub. The years since the man’s return had not been good to him and he looked much older than his five and twenty years.

  After taking a seat across from Shields, Marius ordered them each a pint of ale. The young barmaid exposed her assets as she set the tankers on the table, practically brushing Marius face with her breasts. Lovely though they were, Marius could raise no interest in what was being offered. Strange, since it had been months since he had been intimate with a woman. Stranger yet was that a smile from Sabrina brought his entire being practically to attention. Any doubts about marrying her in the past were now at rest. These last few weeks in London had proved beyond a doubt they belonged together. They suited each other perfectly. No woman had ever interested him to the point that he would not be satisfied until he had her. He just never expected that he would cease to be aroused by other women.