Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) (16 page)

Willing herself to gain control of her
emotions, Sabrina smiled up at him. “Of course not, Mr. Parker.”
How was she going to make it through dinner? Her appetite was long
forgotten and Sabrina could actually feel her throat closing.
Taking his arm, Sabrina allowed Marius to lead her into the dining
room and assist her into a chair. The entire time Sabrina silently
lectured herself on the stupidity of her emotions. It wasn’t as if
they hadn’t already shared a number of meals together. What had
changed?

Somehow Sabrina managed to eat most of what
was placed before her, not that she recalled doing so. On one side
of her Lord Kinnsey was regaling them with racing stories. On her
other side Marius offered comments or observations, often leaning
just a little too close to Sabrina as he talked to Kinnsey. As
dessert was being served, a footman leaned over to whisper to their
hostess. Raising her eyes, the hostess captured Marius’s attention
and she smiled almost apologetically. Sabrina watched the exchange
somewhat confused. Her confusion only deepened when Marius stood
and excused himself before walking through a door that obviously
led to the kitchen. Looking around the table, Sabrina noted that
none of the other guests thought this odd and tried to hide her own
bewilderment.

“I wonder what particular dish the cook
wants his opinion on. They were all delicious,” Lord Kinnsey
captured Sabrina’s attention.

“Pardon?” What was the man talking
about?

“Why dinner, of course. It appears the cook
is interested in Parker’s opinion or suggestion perhaps.”

Sabrina couldn’t keep the bewildered look
off her face, nor could she begin to summon a comment from her
confused brain.

Luckily Lord Kinnsey took pity on her.
“Parker is known to be an expert of cuisine.”

Slowly Sabrina shook her head in agreement,
though this was news to her.

“It is rumored that his favorite hobby is
cooking and he has a flair for knowing exactly which ingredients
enhance particular flavors. Cooks are beside themselves when they
learn he is to be a dinner guest and anxiously await his opinion.
If he hadn’t been born into gentry, no doubt Parker would be a
renowned chef.”

“Mr. Parker does this often?” Sabrina could
not get over the shock, or the mental picture of Marius
cooking.

“It has occurred at every dinner and
luncheon that we were both guests.”

While the guests were finishing their
dessert, Marius returned to them smiling as he took his seat.

Sabrina watched him curiously. “Is all
well?”

“Yes.” He smiled at her.

*

“So Parker, have you learned anything new?”
Ramsey settled into the chair behind his desk.

“No, and that is not the reason I asked to
see you.” Marius was surprised at his slight nervousness.

“Oh?” Ramsey asked with an eyebrow raising
in question.

“I would like your permission to court
Sabrina.”

Ramsey’s lips quirked. “I believe Sabrina is
the one you should ask.”

Marius eyed him, realizing Ramsey was
enjoying his discomfort. “Yet, her father did name you guardian. As
such, I thought it best to follow the rules and seek your
permission first.”

Ramsey studied him. “Why the sudden
interest?”

“It is not sudden. In truth, I had already
decided that I wanted Sabrina as my wife before Christmas.”

“Then why wait so long to declare
yourself?”

Marius stated his reason in a well rehearsed
speech.

“The season hasn’t started yet. Why change
your plan now?”

Because I want her now and am not sure I
can remain honorable if I have to wait
. “I’m concerned with the
murders and the possibility Sabrina could be involved in this
somehow.”

“Then you wish to protect her?”

“Of course. I don’t doubt your ability to
keep her safe, but you also have your own wife to care for as
well.”

“Does Sabrina know of your intentions?”

“I’m not sure, though I don’t believe
so.”

Standing, Ramsey offered his hand. “The
decision is still Sabrina’s but you have my blessing.”

“Thank you.” Marius shook his friend’s
hand.

As Marius began to leave the room, Ramsey
called after him. “She is in the library if you are
interested.”

Marius stood at the door watching Sabrina.
He had never met anyone who became so absorbed in what they were
doing that the rest of the world melted away. Perhaps this was why
she was able to remain so cheerful at the academy.

He slowly walked into the room, waiting for
her to notice him. She didn’t and continued reading while she
delicately nibbled on a chocolate as if she were savoring each
bite. She had the same look that night at the inn when she sipped
the wine. So, now he knew two of her likes. Not much, but it was
something to work with. Coming to stand beside her, he looked over
her shoulder to see what she was reading. A smile came to his lips.
Romance. What else would Cinderella enjoy after all?

*

Feeling a presence, Sabrina glanced up,
surprised to find Marius standing so close and startled in her
seat. “Do you make it a habit of sneaking up on everyone or do you
only save this particular talent for me?”

Grinning, Marius took a seat across from
her. “You made such a pretty picture sitting there, absorbed in
your book and the chocolates.” He gestured to the box on the table.
“I hated to disturb you. I couldn’t resist finding out what kept
you so captivated.”

Propriety demanded she no longer remain
curled in the chair but she could think of no way of righting
herself without revealing a good portion of her legs. Not that he
hadn’t already seen both of her legs, but those were dire
circumstances. Modesty was a minor concern when one was about to
crash through a roof, unlike now, sitting safely in a library. “It
is simply a book, nothing all that interesting.” She refused to
admit she was captivated with a romance of all things. He would
think her silly and simple if he knew the truth of her tastes in
reading material.

“Ah, not just any book. It is a romance.
Tell me Sabrina, are you a romantic at heart?”

Sabrina dismissed him with her hand while
she fought the urge to fan her heated face. “Don’t be
ridiculous.”

“I see you like chocolates as well.”

She grew warmer with embarrassment. How
frivolous she must appear to him and turned the topic away from
herself. “Is it true that you enjoy being in a kitchen and cooks
across London seek your approval and suggestions?”

“It is true. I enjoy cooking.”

Sabrina smiled at his discomfort. “That is a
bit unusual isn’t it, given your place in society?”

Marius simply shrugged his shoulders. “My
parents were gone when I was a boy and I was often in the kitchen,
where there was companionship since I was several years younger
than my brother. One day our cook told me that if I was going to be
hanging about then I should be useful. Thus I learned to cook.”

“How old were you?”

“That was right after my seventh birthday I
believe.”

Though she kept her smile in place, Sabrina
couldn’t imagine how lonely he must have been as a child if he had
to seek out companionship in the staff.

Marius must have noted the sadness in her
eyes. “You misunderstood. Truthfully, I preferred being in the
kitchen. Even when my family was in residence I could be found
there. It became the first place my mother looked when she wanted
me.” A smile spread across his face. “I taught her how to make
bread.”

“That is why you didn’t dismiss my presence
simply because I was a servant.”

“We are all people with feelings and dreams,
despite our station in life,” Marius said with such complete
sincerity and seriousness that Sabrina was taken aback.

“The difference is,” Marius continued, “the
privileged tend to treat everyone with disdain while the servant
station tends to be more understanding and accepting of the
failings of us mere humans. In whole, servants make better
friends.”

That hadn’t been her experience. Though the
servants at the academy seemed close, she hadn’t been included.
Clearly, their experiences had been different.

“So tell me, what is your favorite meal,
Sabrina?”

Startled by the question, Sabrina took a
moment to answer. “I don’t believe I have any particular
favorite.”

“Then food perhaps. What do you enjoy
besides chocolate and wine?”

Sabrina thought about the foods she enjoyed
and smiled that he would remember the wine. “Raspberries and
strawberries.”

“Go on.” Marius prompted with a smile.
“Though delicious, it isn’t much of a meal.”

“Cheese, I love cheeses.”

“What of beef or pork or chicken?”

“Chicken I suppose, though I don’t eat all
that much meat.” She couldn’t understand why he was asking except
her eating and his cooking gave them something in common she
supposed. “I do like warm bread, fresh from the oven with raspberry
preserves.”

“Back to raspberries again.” Marius offered
with a grin.

“My favorite. There is a patch behind the
academy where they grew wild. Nobody knew they were there and I use
to sneak off and eat my fill.”

Marius laughed before he stood. Taking her
hand, he bowed, kissed the back. “It was a pleasure seeing you
again, Sabrina.”

Sabrina stared after him. That was one of
the oddest conversations she had ever experienced with a gentleman.
Well, at least he didn’t make her palms sweat here.

Sabrina pulled the curtains back to look out
into the street. Rain streamed down the glass and the outside had a
depressing grey hue to it. With a sigh she let the curtain drop
back into place and turned to face the empty room. The restlessness
was eating at her. She wanted, no needed, something to do. Some
form of activity. She had been fine until Marius visited yesterday.
After he had gone she had been unable to concentrate on the book.
In fact, he completely unnerved her and she was trying to determine
exactly what she was to him.

Sabrina strolled to the settee and
straightened the pillows, not that they really needed to be
straightened, she just needed something to do, anything. Her mind
was occupied enough already, what she needed was to be physically
occupied as well. She turned and inspected the room hoping to find
a stray cobweb that had been missed but the room was in perfect
order.

With a sigh she sank down into the stuffed
green chair next to the fireplace and stuck her feet toward the
flame in order to warm herself. The dampness from outside left a
permanent chill in the air. Slouching back against the upholstery
she wondered at her future. She was convinced there was none with
Marius, and even though others paled in comparison, she was still
determined to move past these feelings and seek a better companion
for the future. But who?

Sabrina straightened and pulled her feet
back. She was attending the Thornton’s ball this evening. What
better place to find a proper gentleman. In this venue she would be
able to give her gentlemen callers more consideration. Perhaps even
become acquainted with other gentlemen and completely block Marius
from her mind.

With new determination, Sabrina turned
toward the foyer in search of something to occupy her restlessness.
She would comb the entire house if she had to. Not everything could
be in such perfect order.

The footman was just closing the front door
and turned to place a package on the table just inside the door.
Since she had made her debut, gifts had arrived on a regular basis.
Usually they were flowers or a handkerchief. Taking the package she
wandered back into the parlor, wondering what it was and who had
sent it.

A gasp escaped as she unwrapped the book.
Opening the cover she gasped again as she read the inscription.

“
Everyone needs a little
romance.”

Marius

The gift puzzled her. Clearly this was a
romantic story, but what had prompted him to buy it for her? Did
the inscription mean that he knew how she felt and was subtly
reminding her that the only romantic gesture he was willing to
offer was through her reading material? Sabrina was horrified at
the thought. It was the only explanation she could come up with so
she renewed her vow to put him from her mind and seek love
somewhere else.

*

Once again Marius was looking forward to a
ball. If anyone would have told him six months ago that this was
his future, he would have confidently wagered against it. The truth
was, he couldn’t wait to see Sabrina and find out if she liked his
gift. He had never courted a woman before, yet giving gifts she
would enjoy certainly figured in, didn’t it? Another difference
tonight was that he had given his valet free reign to bring
Marius’s appearance up to snuff. Previously Marius had only cared
if he was presentable. Tonight was different and he wanted Sabrina
to notice him.

Sabrina had barely arrived before he was at
her side requesting her dance card. Hesitantly she handed it to
him. He marked two dances, one being the supper dance, and he bit
back a triumphant smile. When finished, he bowed, smiled, and
walked not five feet away to resume his stance.

“Cinderella seems to have gained quite a
following,” Chambers observed.

Marius briefly glanced in her direction. Six
gentlemen surrounded her. None were worthy of her. Marius knew
without a doubt that he wanted Sabrina as his wife. At one point he
would have thought her agreeable. Except now he wasn’t so sure. She
had changed since coming to London and was more reserved. Perhaps
he should remind her how things could be. After all, it had been a
number of weeks since Christmas Eve.

“Why the frown, Marius? I would think her
success would be pleasing,” Phoebe asked with a secretive smile.
What was going on in her mind? It was probably safest not to
contemplate the possibilities.