CHAPTER TEN
The wind had howled throughout the night and the endless snow piled up high around the little lodge. It was snuggled up to the windowsills, peeping inside. Poor Fergus II had a difficult time finding any space to go outside. Christian had gone out to see to the horse and pushed aside a mound of snow for the little dog. The storm worsened by the minute, but Christian managed to carve a path to the barn.
When he returned to the house, he stamped the snow from his boots and rubbed his freezing hands together. He surveyed the room. Sarah, in her maid’s dress, was running around the table chasing Fergus II, who had a small cloth toy in his mouth.
Christian pulled off his wool cap and nodded toward the toy. “Where did he get that?”
“I sewed it this morning out of a bit of cloth left over from the wool Mr. Fergus said I might use for his coat.” Sarah continued her standoff with Fergus II. When she darted to the right, the dog took off around the table legs to the left. “I made it for him,” she said breathlessly, looking at Christian over her shoulder. Her cheeks were rosy and her smile was enchanting. One dark curl had fallen against her cheek. She looked positively breathtaking, and Christian had to remind himself for the dozenth time that not only was she engaged to another man, but she wouldn’t look twice athimeven if she weren’t. He concentrated on his reply to her admission about having made the dog’s toy.
“You surprise me again,” he said, pulling off his overcoat near the front door.
Sarah stopped for a moment. The dog stopped, too. “Surprise you? How do you mean?”
Christian hung his coat on the rack. “When you told me you were the belle of the London Season, I assumed you were… that you were…”
“Vain? Full of conceit?” She darted toward the dog again. He eluded her.
“I wasn’t going to say that.” Christian turned back from the coatrack.
“But you were going to say something like that, weren’t you?” This time she darted in the opposite direction. So did the dog.
“Aloof, perhaps?” Christian offered.
She turned to face him. “Which is a prettier word for being full of conceit.”
“I’m merely surprised that you cook and clean, seem perfectly happy wearing a maid’s gown, and are willing to spend your time making coats and toys for a dog.”
Fergus II took the toy into the corner and busily chewed on it with the side of his mouth.
Sarah smoothed her skirts and exhaled. “First of all, I’ve precious little else to do here than make a coat and a toy for a dog. But secondly, I’ve never seen the need to be high-handed because of my position in life. It’s not my fault that I was born the daughter of an earl any more than it’s Fergus’s fault that he was born a dog.”
Christian bowed to her. “A progressive stance, my lady.”
“You don’t agree?”
“On the contrary, I agree completely. I’m just a bit surprised thatyoufeel that way. Though I admit, it’s my own prejudice. The belles of the Season haven’t been particularly kind to me in the past.”
“You seem to have preconceived notions about the peerage. Your friend Lucy wasn’t a belle?”
Christian snorted. “Never think it. Lucy was known for her barbs and sharp tongue. She frightened off more suitors than she attracted, I assure you.”
Sarah folded her arms across her chest. She watched him carefully. “What would you say if I told you that you surprise me, too?”
Christian had made his way across the room and was busy warming his hands in front of the fireplace. “I do? How?”
“To be blunt, I’ve never known a handsome man to be so ready to admit his faults.”
Christian threw back his head and laughed at that. “You’ve been associating with the wrong sorts, then. All of my friends and Iliveto point out each other’s faults. And more than one of them is good-looking.”
“I simply mean that most of the young, handsome gentlemen I’ve known are more concerned about their reputation. I can’t think of one who would be so honest about the trouble he is having finding a wife.”
Christian shook his head, still laughing slightly. “Oh, I’ve had plenty of trouble. And I’m not above admitting it. How else would I plan to remedy the situation? You can’t fix what you won’t admit to.”
She curtsied to him. “A progressive stance, sir.”
“I’m glad you agree.” He moved over to the table and held out a chair for her. “Now, speaking of my trouble. What else can you teach me?”
Sarah made her way toward him and took a seat. She folded her hands in front of her on the table. “Let’s see… We’ve discussed your clothing. Let’s talk about your speech.”
