Chapter 7
727 Words
Later that evening Sarah stood in the study with her father awaiting her fate. Her father looked down at her, “You could at least pretend to be happy about this.”
She looked up at her father and gave him a fake grin, “Better?”
“This is for the best.” He said as he looked at her. “You will see it will all turn out fine in the end.”
“For whom?” She turned to face away from her father. “Not for me. How could you agree to this without even asking me?”
“You should have thought of that before you kissed him.”
“I did not kiss him!” she stomp her foot, “Why would I want to marry some spoil brat who needs his aunt to find a suitable wife. Did you see him father? He was joke. I cannot believe you . . .”
Her rant was cut short by the sound of someone clearing his throat. She turned to see not Lord Wright but the poor country cousin from the garden. But now his clothes were well tailor and fit perfectly. His hair was combed back and his eyes were brown with flecks of gold. Sarah face had a look of terror and shock with her mouth still formed in the last words she said.
“Well, if I would have known that I would never have asked for your hand.” He turned quickly on his heels and walked from the study out the front door.
Sarah stood like stone and just muttered, “That is not him.”
“Excuse me?” Her father asked her. He leaned down closer to his daughter to hear.
She turned to her father, “You said Lady Dimple nephew.”
“Yes, the gentleman you were in the garden with, Lord Stephen Donald.”
“Lady Dimple nephew, Lord Wright.”
Her father face brightened with understanding, “Heavens no, even you did kiss that fool I would never have agreed to that match, he is worse than that field hand you were mooning over back in America.”
Her father led her from the study into the great hall where a stunned Lady Dimple, Aunt Annie, and Julie Douglas stood. He grinned at the ladies, “There seems to have been a misunderstanding. Sarah reluctance to agree to marriage had more to do with not knowing Lady Dimple had two nephews, than the idea of marriage itself.”
Lady Dimple hid a smile behind her fan. “You must have thought Daniel was the one asking. He is a fine boy but he is still wet behind the ears. I would never settle a spirited young lady like yourself with him.” She looked at Sarah stone face.
“He was dressed as a peasant?” She looked at Lady Dimple as she whispered.
“Ah, yes, that was his revenge at being order to the ball that night. He figured he would not have to worry about my matchmaking if he was not presentable. How wonderful was it when I found out later he fell for the very lady I intended to introduce him too.” She beamed then she turned her mouth into a pout and said, “But he did ruin my entertainment by meeting you without the proper introductions.”
She then walked up to Sarah and took her arm leading her to the dining room. “So does that mean you do want to marry my nephew?”
Sarah still stunned looked to the older lady, “I do not know.”
“Well that is more than I knew when I got engaged to my dear Michael. That man was so dashing.” She smiled, “but he had a reputation for being a rogue.” She said in a stage whisper. “And that was the last type of man I wanted marry. I cannot imagine any lady wanting to marry a man she was always going to worry about stepping out on her. Oh, I cried for days when my father told me I was going to marry him. But I must admit no other man could have made me happier.”
Sarah’s mother and aunt follow into the dining room silently.
- Writer
