“Care for another drink?” Christian asked Sarah, moving back into the kitchen.
“What are you having?”
“Only tea. I’ve had enough wine for one evening.”
“As have I. Tea sounds lovely.”
Christian strode over to one of the cabinets, where he found two teacups. He pulled a bag of leaves out of the cupboard and put the kettle on to boil. Once the water had heated, he poured two cups over the leaves and left them to steep for a bit. Finally, he brought the mugs to where Sarah sat on the sofa in the great room. She’d discarded her slippers and her feet were curled under her.
“No cream or sugar?” she asked with a bit of a pout to her lips.
“My apologies.” Ah, here was the moment when she would no doubt indulge in daughter-of-earl-like histrionics.
“I’ll make do,” she said gamely.
Blinking back his surprise, Christian handed her one of the cups. “Are you certain?”
“What choice do I have?”
“What choice indeed.” He set his own cup on the side table and made his way toward the fireplace, where he added more logs to the crackling fire while Fergus II’s little snores filled the room.
After stoking the fire, Christian moved back toward the sofa and took a seat across from Sarah on one of the large leather chairs that rested near the fireplace. He picked up his cup again and took a sip.
“So, tell me, what do I need to know? To finally attract a wife?”
“First, I am curious… If you’re such good friends with Lucy, Cassandra, and Jane, why haven’t they helped you find a suitable wife already?”
Christian couldn’t help laughing. “Lucy? Are you serious?”
“Yes. Doesn’t she have the right connections?”
He nearly choked. “Oh, er, ah, she has the right… connections, but…”
“But what?”
“My friend Lucy has many talents, but choosing a wife for me hasn’t been one of them. She’s tried countless times to matchmake for me, to absolutely no avail. Every single one of the ladies she’s attempted to introduce me to is either already madly in love with some other chap or firmly disinterested in me altogether. Why, Lucy didn’t even realize her own match was directly under her nose for the better part of two months.”
Lady Sarah smiled at that. “She’s too close to you to know what’s good for you, is that it?”
“Partially,” Christian replied. “And it’s also that she doesn’t understand why anyone wouldn’tenjoyparties and balls and meeting strangers. She has no earthly idea why meeting some ladies makes me stutter, why dancing isn’t my forte, and why anyone on earth would want to retreat to Scotland for peace and quiet.”
Lady Sarah glanced at him from behind her cup. “I have a confession to make,” she said. “I also quite enjoy parties and balls and meeting strangers. And dancing. But I understand why you don’t like it. My brother, Hart, doesn’t like any of it either. Neither does Meg. Hart calls it all nonsense. But he must find a wife because he’s an heir and a future earl and… well, just be glad you don’t have any of that title nonsense to deal with.”
Christian tugged at his collar and didn’t meet her eyes. “Who is Meg?”
A bright smile lit Lady Sarah’s face. “Oh, Meg is my dearest friend.”
“Another belle?”
“No…” Lady Sarah sighed. “Unfortunately not. Meg is the opposite of the belle of the Season, I’m afraid. She’s more the wallflower of the Season.”
“Why is that?”
Lady Sarah shook her head sadly. “Her father is a terrible gambler. He’s reduced their family to poverty, and Meg’s dowry is gone. Her gowns are hideously out of fashion and she’s attracted nary a suitor. It’s quite sad, really. I’ve tried to give her some of my gowns. I have far too many. But she’s proud. She refuses any charity. She’s gossiped about horribly by some of the other ladies, though not within my earshot. I would not stand for it. Meg is perfectly pretty and sweet and funny. I adore her.”
Christian pushed back in his chair and crossed his legs at the ankles. He took another sip of tea. “Meg sounds lovely. Is she still in the market for a husband? Say, someone tall and blond who lives in Scotland?” He cracked a grin.
Another smile crossed Sarah’s lip and she took a sip of tea. “I’m afraid not.”
