Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) (22 page)

Marius found Taylor sitting behind his desk
in the library, hands folded with a contemplative look on his face.
“I wasn’t expecting you. Please come in.”

“Spare me the pleasantries, Taylor. Where is
the other book?”

“I sent the book you requested.”

“It is in French.” Marius growled, tossing
the book on the desk before Taylor.

“It is also the original language. I thought
you would prefer to read it the way that it had been written.

“You know better than anyone I can’t speak
French, let alone read it,” Marius yelled in frustration.

Taylor pushed his luck. “Are you sure?”

Marius had never wanted to throttle anyone
the way he wanted to throttle Taylor right at that moment. “I find
it hard to believe you, of all people, forgot my struggle with
languages. After all, you are the one that stayed up with me all
those nights trying to teach me how to conjugate verbs until the
professor finally gave up on me.”

Taylor began to smile. “Oh yes. I remember
now.”

“I doubt you forgot in the first place. Now
may I have the other book please?”

“Why the sudden interest in Mother
Goose?”

“I’m thinking of becoming a governess,”
Marius retorted.

Taylor laughed. “Now that could prove quite
interesting.” He held up the other book. “The truth Marius. Why
this book? Could it have anything to do with Cinderella?”

Sighing, Marius sank into a chair. He
expected this. “Sabrina won’t agree to marry me so I thought to
pursue Cinderella instead.”

Taylor raised his eyebrows. “Inventive. How
do you plan to go about this?”

“I won’t know until I read the story again.”
Marius grabbed the book and left before Taylor could ask anything
else.

While his second batch of chocolates set up
and cooled, Marius re-read the story of Cinderella. He now had a
plan. Unfortunately, he couldn’t move on that plan for two weeks,
when Sabrina reached her majority. He would need all that time to
accomplish everything that needed to be done. Before setting out on
the first of necessary errands, he penned a letter to her.

Sabrina,

I have given a great deal of thought to
everything you have said. I doubt that you would agree to see me so
I won’t ask. Your return correspondence would be appreciated
however.

Regarding your first issue. I don’t see how
you can argue that you are in danger. Marriage to me would be added
protection. I can keep you safe.

Marius

*

It had been two days since Sabrina had seen
Marius. Part of her wanted him to call on her. The other part
acknowledged that this was for the best. Still, she was unhappy and
depressed. She had even taken to her room to read, not able to
concentrate on the books but not wanting to converse with anyone in
the household either. Constantly she reminded herself that this was
for the best. His letter arrived that afternoon. Her reply was not
difficult.

Mr. Parker,

I will do my best to explain my position.
You are correct. As long as you speak of marriage between us I
cannot see you.

You have failed to acknowledge that I am
safest unwed. Marriage would only bring danger to my husband. I
realize that once I reach my majority my uncle could lose his
power. I am still undecided as to whether or not I will address the
issue. Though I loathe what the man has gotten away with I am also
cautious enough not to alert him of my knowledge, until sufficient
evidence can be gathered.

It is very simple. You are much safer, as am
I, if we do not wed.

Lady Sabrina Chester

Sabrina was feeling a little better after
her note from Marius. She still was far from happy, but her energy
returned. As she refused to leave the house and bring additional
attention to her family, she did the next best thing. She began to
clean.

A second letter arrived three days
later.

My Dearest Sabrina,

The formality of your letter wounded me. I
had hoped we had become close enough to address each other by our
Christian names. Please think on this.

In truth, I cannot argue with your logic
regarding my first reason so I will move on. This particular issue
troubles me deeply. Your ruination. I cannot in good conscious
allow this to continue as I was the one responsible for ruining
you. Think of your future, dear. If not marriage, then children. I
hate to remind you that few, if any, respectable men would consider
you as a wife. I don’t mean this to be painful, dear. It is simply
the unfortunate truth. You are too young and lovely to be wasted as
a spinster.

Marius

If anything, Sabrina was angry after reading
his letter. A proposal without the mention of love was one thing.
But, to propose because he pitied her was beyond the pale. How dare
he?

It took her a full day of thinking and
cleaning the library, again, before she was calm enough to respond.
Of course, she ate the entire box of chocolates he also sent in the
process.

Mr. Parker,

I no longer feel that it is proper that we
address each other with such familiarity.

With regard to my ruination. You are not at
fault. You were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The
blame for this current circumstance can be laid directly at the
feet of Mrs. Davies.

Assuming I do wish to marry some other
gentleman in the future, he will have to accept the rumors
surrounding me as well as the truth of the matter. Any gentleman
who cannot do so is not worthy of my affection.

Lady Sabrina Chester

P.S. The chocolates were delicious. Thank
you.

P.P.S. Gifts are not necessary.

*

Marius missed her terribly but wouldn’t have
missed this correspondence. She was a delight. Of course, he
couldn’t help read between the lines when she stated, “Assuming I
wish to marry some other gentleman”. He continued to hope and
thought carefully about how he would word his next argument.

My Dearest Sabrina.

I humbly acknowledge that no true gentleman
is worthy of your affection. I include myself as well. Still, there
is one last issue we cannot ignore. I understand that it is
indelicate of me to address such an issue with a lady such as
yourself, but how can you ignore the desire and passion we feel for
each other?

Given your innocence I can understand why
you don’t see the importance of this. I wish I could say I was as
innocent as you, but alas I am not and I find myself regretting my
past indiscretions. I didn’t know I would find you. Trust me when I
tell you, as I already have, that we share something special and
rare.

Yours,

Marius

The thought of Marius with other women had
Sabrina cleaning and reorganizing the pantry while she ate her
newest box of chocolates. Of course she assumed he was not a virgin
but to openly acknowledge the fact enraged her. They were
undoubtedly women of ill repute. Or just as bad, perhaps actresses.
Everyone knew actresses had lovers, wealthy lovers, and not
husbands. Marius did appear to be wealthy. Then again, widows were
not above taking lovers either. Just how many of his past
mistresses had she met?

By the time Sabrina had finished the pantry
she had convinced herself Marius had been intimate with almost
every woman in town between the ages of twenty and forty, which was
why he was able to melt her with his kisses. How could he not with
such vast experience? These thoughts alone helped her form her next
letter, two days later when she was sufficiently calm again.

Mr. Parker:

I will not deny I feel a certain physical
attraction to you. However, that is not the issue. You alone
acknowledge that you have had other lovers and I was not surprised
by this information. The simple fact that you are no longer with
these women (of course this is only an assumption) is evidence that
passion and attraction do not last. If they did, you would not be
writing to me now.

Even you must acknowledge that what we share
is fleeting. It certainly wasn’t present when we first met and I
doubt it will be present a year from now. I’m sure you have to
agree with my reasoning. The facts of your life support it
completely.

Lady Sabrina Chester

*

Marius couldn’t have been more encouraged
than he was by this last letter. Sabrina was jealous of his past
lovers. Obviously she cared very much. She was also completely
wrong.

Dearest:

Simply put, you are wrong. The desire I feel
for you was acknowledged the moment I saw you in the cottage
preparing the fire. It has grown daily since. What I feel for you
is hardly fleeting and I honestly expect to feel the same until my
dying breath.

You must be honest with yourself as well, my
dear. You felt the attraction, if not desire, upon our meeting. It
just didn’t become evident until the inn. Even in our sleep we knew
where we belonged. First I came to you. Curling around you, my hand
cupping your breast until my strong physical desire woke me from
the sweet dream. I was not alone, for your own body sought me out
as you slumbered. You found comfort with your head upon my shoulder
and your thigh across my, um, middle. Truthfully, I slept very
little that night or any night since when I began to remember how
your body felt against mine.

This reminder was not meant to embarrass you
and I have been careful not to mention it until now because I knew
the topic was uncomfortable for you. Still, Sabrina, you cannot
deny that the desire and passion we feel for each other has existed
from our first meeting.

Faithfully yours,

Marius

*

It was while she was taking tea and visiting
with Juliet and Phoebe that the letter arrived. At their insistence
she read the contents, wishing she would have waited. Blushing
profusely she quickly folded the parchment and slid it into her
pocket without revealing a word of what he wrote.

Sabrina couldn’t get away from the ladies
quick enough. She was mortified that he was aware of how they
slept. Further, she was angry that he would even mention it. There
was no use in denying she didn’t know what he was talking about,
but how to respond.

It took the cleaning of the future school
room and vacant bedrooms before she decided on an appropriate
response.

Mr. Parker:

I believe we have exhausted your arguments.
In fact, you have addressed issues better left unsaid. There is
absolutely nothing else you can say or any argument you can broach
that will change my mind.

I wish you well.

Lady Sabrina Chester

There. It was finally finished. Now perhaps
he would give her peace. Besides, she was running out of rooms to
clean.

*

Smiling at her response, Marius wrote his
last letter only three days before her birthday.

Nothing Cinderella?

It had been three days since his last note.
Sabrina was still bewildered and depressed. She did not think his
last note would be the last, yet he hadn’t sent another. On the
other hand, she hadn’t responded. How did one respond to something
like that? She did have the answer, but she refused to tell
him.

She retreated to the attic. It was the only
place not yet cleaned and the only place she could be alone with
her thoughts. There she let her tears flow. She didn’t let anyone
else see her pain, or she hadn’t thought she had. There was an
obvious response to his question but if he felt anything he
wouldn’t have had to ask. The fact that he had to even ask clearly
spoke that his emotions weren’t involved. It tore at her loving him
when he obviously didn’t feel the same.

A servant summoned Sabrina from the attic
saying a package had arrived. The footman refused to bring it to
her and stated it was waiting in the parlor.

“I can’t go downstairs like this.” She held
out her hands so he could see the filth of her work gown. Dirt and
dust smudged her skirt and bodice, not to mention her hair must
look a fright.

“I promise no one is in the room.” He bowed
and retreated before she could argue further.

Sabrina stood in the middle of the attic
wringing her hands together. Should she remain here or go find out
what was delivered to her? What if it was another note from
Marius?

She began to pace. Maybe he finally figured
out the answer. Sabrina quickly quashed any hope that began to
bloom. If he did, he would be here in person and not send a
package.

Her pacing resumed, if it were from Marius
why such the hurry to go to the parlor to retrieve it? It took only
moments before curiosity got the better of her and she wiped her
eyes and left the attic to make her way to the parlor.

It could be the book she had ordered, but
she was supposed to have picked that up. She was glad she was
covered with dust and cobwebs. If anyone saw her, she hoped they
would assume her red eyes were from the irritation and not her
tears. If not, she would simply remind them it was her birthday and
she always cried on her birthday. Nobody would know the truth.
Perhaps somebody knew what today was and had sent her a gift,
though she thought it unlikely.

The box sat upon the table in the parlor,
tied with a pink satin ribbon. A card was tied to the top and
Sabrina sat down in the chair and lifted the box. The note
read:

To My Own Cinderella

Sabrina’s hands began to shake. No. She
wouldn’t succumb to those emotions again. He hadn’t even signed the
card and she could be foolishly reading too much into the
situation.

Untying the ribbon, she lifted the lid.
Inside, nestled in a pillow sat a glass slipper. Taking a steady
breath, Sabrina removed the second note from the box. As she
unfolded the pink parchment, she willed her heart to stop pounding
and reminded herself to breathe.