“Do you think he loves you in return?” Athena asked.
“I have no idea.” Sarah met her sister’s gaze. “He enjoys my company, that much I know.”
“Well then, you’ll just have to work a bit harder at winning his heart.” Athena hopped off the bed and crossed the floor to Sarah’s dresser. Opening the box of trimmings on top, she pulled out a length of turquoise blue ribbon. “Here. You need something to brighten that drab gown you’ve chosen to wear. Even if you’re off to clip flowers in the garden or take care of that rabbit of yours out in the mews, you can do so in style.”
“Actually,” Sarah said while Anna helped fasten the ribbon around her abdomen, “I’m going to call on Brunswick.”
“So then,” Athena said, staring at her as if she were mad, “your intention is to make a bad impression? I thought you were hoping to win his affection, which is something you’re not very likely to do wearing that.”
“Athena. I am going alone, through the back garden entrance. This gown is meant to act as a sort of precaution in case someone happens to see me. Hopefully, if they do, they’ll just think I’m a maid.”
“Oh. I see. And I always thoughtIwas the daring one. Do you suppose Mama and Papa realize you’ve got a rebellious streak?”
“Probably not.” Sarah shot her sister a look. “You won’t say anything to them, will you?”
“Of course not.”
“Good. Brunswick obviously needs my help and–”
“You’d like to kiss him better, dear sister?”
Sarah grabbed a small pillow and tossed it at her sister, who dodged the missile with ease. “I do intend to marry him, you know.”
“Of course you do.”
“I mean it, Athena.”
“Yes, so you’ve just said.” Athena moved to the door, turned and puckered her lips before exiting the room with a laugh when Sarah threatened to hurl one of her slippers at her head.
While her sister meant well and Sarah knew she was only doing what she did best, which was to alleviate tension by adding levity to the situation, Sarah couldn’t participate. Not when she knew Matthew had a serious issue that had to be dealt with. Whatever Athena suggested, she was going over there in order to offer support and to make sure he was all right, because she cared. To suggest it was anything else - an assignation of sorts - was appalling.
“Forget the ribbon,” Sarah told Anna. “I won’t be needing it.”
“Are you sure, miss? It does add a nice splash of color.”
“Thank you, but if I am to pass as a maid, a turquoise ribbon is hardly going to help.”
“Then you should wear a cap instead. If you truly wish to disguise yourself.”
Sarah agreed and ten minutes later she was walking toward the back of the garden. Anna had promised to do her best to cover her absence in case her parents inquired about her, but since it was late afternoon and Sarah usually rested in her bedchamber at this hour, she didn’t think she’d be missed. At least she hoped she wouldn’t be.
Reaching the green wooden gate leading out into the back alley beyond, Sarah paused. Her heart thumped wildly with agitation while her stomach twisted until she felt slightly queasy. The idea of pretending to be a maid had seemed simple enough upstairs in her bedchamber when she’d been getting ready. Now, faced with the real possibility of encountering one of the grooms as they entered or exited the nearby mews, she wasn’t so sure it would work.
They knew her by sight, after all. She’d been coming there every day for the last week to care for the rabbit after her mother had banished it from the house.
Swallowing, Sarah glanced over her shoulder toward the safety of her home. She could still go back, get changed, and move on with her day without much risk of being found out. But then what about Matthew? Tightening her grip on the basket she’d brought along, she opened the gate and exited her garden. If the incident he’d suffered earlier wasn’t addressed immediately, chances were he’d find a way to avoid discussing it altogether. And she knew she had to make him open up about it if he was to stand a chance of recovering from the pain he’d suffered so long ago, and she was to truly understand him.
Inhaling deeply, she stepped forward and moved briskly past the mews while keeping her face carefully turned to one side, away from any grooms who might be working.
Terrified of being spotted, she reached for the gate leading into the Brunswick garden, pulled it open, and slipped through as quickly as she could. Thankfully, the butler had done as she’d asked. She blew out a breath and took a moment to get her bearings. A narrow walkway wound around the folly Brunswick had built. Following it, Sarah circumvented the structure and spotted him almost immediately. He’d shucked his jacket and waistcoat and rolled up his shirtsleeves, allowing a rather inappropriate view of bunched muscles straining in response to the massive stone slab he hefted into place.
Mouth dry, Sarah watched in speechless dismay - gawking at him, some might say - while he made sure the stone was secured. He stepped back and stretched. Good lord. She had the strangest urge to reach out and run her hands over his torso, to feel the strength she could see in his movements.
He turned before she was ready. “Miss Townsbridge.”
“How are you feeling?” she asked while trying not to think too much of the fact that he’d just caught her staring.
“Fine.”
