getting any younger, nor am I, and I
want to see your children.”
So, that was behind her unexpected
acceptance. He shouldn’t be surprised. The woman had been trying to
get him married off for the past five years.
“Thank you, Mother.”
“Go, don’t keep this lady waiting.”
Marius didn’t wait another moment more and
bolted for the door. He had just enough time to ride to London,
change his clothing and be on the Chester doorstep by early
evening. He just hoped they were in attendance.
*
Sabrina folded the blankets and laid them on
top of each other in the crate. She and Juliet had spent the last
weeks mending them, as well as knitting scarves, when she wasn’t
out shopping for new clothing. Sabrina much preferred knitting to
being fitted for new gowns.
“I have all of the scarves in this crate.”
Juliet stood and brushed off her hands.
She and Sabrina looked around the room,
pleased with all they accomplished.
“Lady Chester,” Thomas, the footman,
interrupted, “Mr. Parker has come to call on Lady Sabrina.”
At the mere mention of his name, her pulse
increased and Sabrina wiped her hands against her gown, fearful
they were perspiring already.
“Please, send him in,” Juliet instructed
when Sabrina failed to say anything.
She certainly wasn’t expecting him tonight,
of all nights. She assumed he would be with his family. It wasn’t
as if she saw him that much as it was. He only called a few times a
week, yet those visits were lovely. He took her riding in the park
or for a stroll. If the weather was not conducive to outdoor
entertainment, he would sit with her in the parlor, discussing
whatever came to mind. If she didn’t know better, she would think
Mr. Parker was courting her. Though she wished it were true, she
was afraid he was only being polite as he was one of the only three
people in town that she knew. As Lord and Lady Sandlin would not
arrive until after the New Year, it was decided that Sabrina
wouldn’t be introduced or be taken into society until that time.
She was comfortable not to endure the Little Season and believed
with additional friends the few gathers they attended would not be
so daunting.
Mr. Parker stepped into the room, and
Sabrina’s breath stopped for but a moment. Why did he have to be so
handsome? His brown eyes were dark with warmth, a smile on his
face. He nodded to both women, took a step forward and immediately
fell over a crate in the middle of his path. If she didn’t fear he
was hurt, Sabrina would have laughed. Never had she seen someone
roll over a crate and land on his back the way Mr. Parker did. Now
he just lay on the floor staring up and she ran to his side.
“Are you hurt?”
“Would you take care of me if I were?” His
voice was low and silky. Butterflies beat their wings in her
stomach.
“I am sure I could find you a capable
nurse.” She pulled away but his hand came up and clasped her
arm.
“I would have you tend me. I was injured in
your house by a crate you left in the middle of the floor.”
Sabrina suspected he was completely fine but
went along. “It is my cousin’s house, and Juliet left the crate in
the middle of the room.”
“And I would certainly object to my wife
taking care of you,” Ramsey’s voice bellowed from the door way.
Marius sighed and sat up. “Very well.”
“You aren’t hurt?” Sabrina asked one more
time, wanting to make certain.
“Only my pride.” He stood and straightened
out his clothing before he studied the room. “Why are there so many
crates in here?”
“They are for the soldier’s home,” Julie
chirped.
“Soldier’s home?” He directed his question
to Ramsey. It was Sabrina who answered.
“Juliet founded a soldier’s home for the men
who came back from war but were no longer able to find gainful
employment. So that they didn’t have to fend for themselves on the
street, she gives them a place to live.” Sabrina gestured to the
boxes and crates around the room. “We
want to see your children.”
So, that was behind her unexpected
acceptance. He shouldn’t be surprised. The woman had been trying to
get him married off for the past five years.
“Thank you, Mother.”
“Go, don’t keep this lady waiting.”
Marius didn’t wait another moment more and
bolted for the door. He had just enough time to ride to London,
change his clothing and be on the Chester doorstep by early
evening. He just hoped they were in attendance.
*
Sabrina folded the blankets and laid them on
top of each other in the crate. She and Juliet had spent the last
weeks mending them, as well as knitting scarves, when she wasn’t
out shopping for new clothing. Sabrina much preferred knitting to
being fitted for new gowns.
“I have all of the scarves in this crate.”
Juliet stood and brushed off her hands.
She and Sabrina looked around the room,
pleased with all they accomplished.
“Lady Chester,” Thomas, the footman,
interrupted, “Mr. Parker has come to call on Lady Sabrina.”
At the mere mention of his name, her pulse
increased and Sabrina wiped her hands against her gown, fearful
they were perspiring already.
“Please, send him in,” Juliet instructed
when Sabrina failed to say anything.
She certainly wasn’t expecting him tonight,
of all nights. She assumed he would be with his family. It wasn’t
as if she saw him that much as it was. He only called a few times a
week, yet those visits were lovely. He took her riding in the park
or for a stroll. If the weather was not conducive to outdoor
entertainment, he would sit with her in the parlor, discussing
whatever came to mind. If she didn’t know better, she would think
Mr. Parker was courting her. Though she wished it were true, she
was afraid he was only being polite as he was one of the only three
people in town that she knew. As Lord and Lady Sandlin would not
arrive until after the New Year, it was decided that Sabrina
wouldn’t be introduced or be taken into society until that time.
She was comfortable not to endure the Little Season and believed
with additional friends the few gathers they attended would not be
so daunting.
Mr. Parker stepped into the room, and
Sabrina’s breath stopped for but a moment. Why did he have to be so
handsome? His brown eyes were dark with warmth, a smile on his
face. He nodded to both women, took a step forward and immediately
fell over a crate in the middle of his path. If she didn’t fear he
was hurt, Sabrina would have laughed. Never had she seen someone
roll over a crate and land on his back the way Mr. Parker did. Now
he just lay on the floor staring up and she ran to his side.
“Are you hurt?”
“Would you take care of me if I were?” His
voice was low and silky. Butterflies beat their wings in her
stomach.
“I am sure I could find you a capable
nurse.” She pulled away but his hand came up and clasped her
arm.
“I would have you tend me. I was injured in
your house by a crate you left in the middle of the floor.”
Sabrina suspected he was completely fine but
went along. “It is my cousin’s house, and Juliet left the crate in
the middle of the room.”
“And I would certainly object to my wife
taking care of you,” Ramsey’s voice bellowed from the door way.
Marius sighed and sat up. “Very well.”
“You aren’t hurt?” Sabrina asked one more
time, wanting to make certain.
“Only my pride.” He stood and straightened
out his clothing before he studied the room. “Why are there so many
crates in here?”
“They are for the soldier’s home,” Julie
chirped.
“Soldier’s home?” He directed his question
to Ramsey. It was Sabrina who answered.
“Juliet founded a soldier’s home for the men
who came back from war but were no longer able to find gainful
employment. So that they didn’t have to fend for themselves on the
street, she gives them a place to live.” Sabrina gestured to the
boxes and crates around the room. “We
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