Page 32 of Hot and Bothered in July
Maggie’s eyes widened. “Whyever not?”
Sariah walked over and flopped down on the edge of the bed. “Because I am not certain of his feelings for me.”
A sigh came from the head of the bed. “If you believe that he truly means to offer for you, then that should give you some sort of indication.”
“But does he want to marry me because he loves me? Or because of what he might gain from the union?”
When Maggie didn’t immediately reply, Sariah looked at her. When she merely stared at her, Sariah frowned. “What?”
“Do you hear yourself right now?” Maggie asked. She leaned forward, as if to emphasize her next point. “You sound as if you do not see what the rest of us have during this house party. I know I am convinced, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Mr. Carrington is head over heels in love with you.”
Sariah’s mouth fell open slightly. “Truly?”
Maggie snorted. “I cannot believe you are unaware of it.”
“I suppose because it is impossible to fathom. He is my Adonis.”
The red eyebrows drew together in a frown. “Your what?”
Sariah smiled, but her cheeks heated. “It is what I thought from the first moment I saw him. I was infatuated. It was why I was so upset by the accident at the Pond.”
“Ah. That makes sense now,” Maggie nodded. “If that is true, then you have nothing to worry about. While the Greeks had plenty of tragic love stories, like that of Orpheus and Eurydice, Adonis was merely a man of beauty who could not decide if he loved Aphrodite or Apollo more.”
Sariah rolled her eyes. “That is a myth that I am not sure is actually substantiated, but regardless of the actual Adonis, I cannot help but imagine that a union between us may be too good to be true.”
“That is where you are making a mistake. You should not think of it in those terms, but appreciate that you are able to make a true love match when so many in society are forced to wed for much lesser reasons and live unhappily. You have achance of true bliss. Do not question it, but run as fast as you can to embrace it.”
It took a moment for Sariah to realize that this was Maggie speaking. “If I did not know better, you almost sound like a romantic.”
Maggie glared at her in a stern manner. “Do not dare to spread about such untruths or I will certainly be forced to deny them.”
Sariah’s lips twitched, but she wisely refrained from commenting.
“If we are going to speak of a romantic bent to one’s nature,” Maggie countered directly. “Shall I bring about your attempts at matchmaking between Lord Michael and Ava?”
Perking up at this, Sariah asked eagerly, “Have you noticed any advancement between them?”
“After you told me you had suggested Ava as a possible marriage candidate, I did see where he appeared to give her a bit more notice.” Maggie lifted her hands. “Whether or not he pursues an association beyond that is yet to be seen.”
“I think they would make a fabulous match. Lord Michael truly is an honorable gentleman,” Sariah said in all sincerity.
“Time will tell,” Maggie noted. “For now,” she leaned back against the headboard. “If you are going to continue to hound me, at least enjoy some tea with me.”
Sariah got up and offered a formal curtsy in her day dress. “As my lady wishes.”
Together, they shared a good-natured laugh.
After his talk with Lord Richard, Reed was feeling much better about approaching the baron. He felt that his chances were good that his suit for Sariah’s hand would be met with minimal resistance.
He grinned, anticipating the moment he found Sariah and told her his plans. After all these years of hard work, blood and sweat dotting his brow, things were finally starting to look up at long last.
“…not a bit premature to offer for the lady?”
“I have waited long enough to secure my future bride.”
Reed’s steps instantly halted when he overheard the male conversation taking place in a nearby room. One he knew for certain to be Lord Michael, while the other was a bit unclear. It wasn’t Lord Richard or Lord Harville, that much he knew. Or the baron.
Nevertheless, he crept closer to the edge of the cracked door, a sensation of unease crawling up the back of his spine when it came to the soldier and his mention of a betrothal. After the recent attention he’d showered on Sariah, he intended to know what the man’s plans were when it came to usurping Reed’s agenda.
