Marius was just coming out of the orchard when he spotted Sabrina on the roof of the shed and Phoebe on the ladder. His heart stopped when he watched Phoebe pull Sabrina and the ladder pull from the roof. He broke into a dead run, arriving after the ladder was back in place and both women were laughing. “What do you think you are doing?” He yelled up at them.
The ladies both smiled down at him. It was Phoebe who answered, “Sabrina was fixing some shingles. When she was showing me how it was done, her foot went through the roof. We were just trying to figure out how to get her free.”
Marius wanted to wring both of their necks. Neither had business doing this, though he probably should have expected it of Phoebe. Then remembering how Sabrina had freed the bird’s nest at the academy, he shouldn’t be surprised at her actions either. “Phoebe, get down here and I’ll help Sabrina. If Taylor would have witnessed what I just did, he would lock you in your room.”
“Oh, Marius, he is getting much better about these things.” Phoebe tried to reassure him while she climbed down the ladder.
Marius wouldn’t argue and patiently waited as Phoebe descended, ready to catch her if she fell. When Phoebe was safely on the ground, he climbed up to help Sabrina, who greeted him with a smile. “I wasn’t expecting you to return for a few more days. Was your trip to London successful?”
He didn’t return the smile. “This is not the time for pleasantries, Cinderella.” He held out his arms. “Now hold onto me and I’ll try to get you loose.”
She leaned forward and grasped his arms. Marius leaned into the ladder and used only the strength from his arms to pull her forward so he didn’t pull the ladder away from the building. Unfortunately, he was unable to dislodge her from this angle.
“I’ll be right back. I want to try something else.” He began to descend the ladder but went back up. “Don’t move.”
He jumped to the ground when he was over halfway down and entered the shed. Cinderella’s stocking clad leg and satin-slippered foot dangled through the roof. The wood surrounding her was rotten and he feared she would plunge through at any moment and with the slightest movement.
As it was impossible to get her out of the roof from above, she was going to have to come through this way.
He hastened back outside and up the ladder, afraid that with each moment spent not getting her free was a moment closer to her crashing through the roof and injuring herself seriously. “I am going to have to bring you down from inside.
Cinderella glanced to the hole her leg had gone through. “I don’t believe I will fit.”
He glanced up at her, but the grin on her lips and twinkle in her eye confirmed she was joking. “You will when I am done.”
Marius grabbed the ladder and took it back inside he shed. He found a solid beam to lean it against near the hole and climbed up. “I am going to put your foot on the step. Try to put your weight on that leg instead of on the roof.”
The skirt was hitched to her thigh and from this angle he could also see the silk garter and smooth skin where the stocking ended. Sweat broke out on his brow and his trouser became uncomfortably tight. He didn’t dare look up through the opening in the roof because who knew what else he would see. He barely had control as it was.
“I’ve been told that if a gentleman sees that much of a lady, especially her upper leg, banns would be required.”
Marius snapped his head down to find Phoebe standing directly beneath the ladder.
“What would you have me do?”
“Marry her?” An impish grin formed on her face.
“How about I just free her and we don’t discuss this further.”
Phoebe shrugged, the grin still in place. “I’ll give it some consideration.”
“Need I remind you of your past, and a few not so small, indiscretions. . . “
Phoebe huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “Very well.”
“What is going on in there and what are you to discussing. I can barely hear you,” Cinderella called from above.
Marius shouted back, “Just how best to get you out of this predicament.
He pushed on the rotten wood and shingles around Sabrina, careful not to let too many fall at once for fear she would crash to the ground. When a whole big enough had been made he called up to her. “See if you can bring your other leg down the hole and stand on the ladder.”
From above Sabrina wiggled and turned, but soon another stocking clad leg emerged and moved about, as if searching from the step. Marius grabbed the heel and gently maneuvered it to the step before he looked up. He found Sabrina looking down at him, her face a red as a fall apple. “Don’t you dare look up my gown.”
“I would not act in such an ungentlemanlike fashion.” He hoped Sabrina didn’t hear Phoebe’s snort of disbelief.
“You are already viewing far too much leg,” Sabrina argued.
“What would you have me do, leave you on the roof?”
Her jaw tightened and lips pursed as she pushed her skirts through the opening until she was as properly covered as possible.
“Now, I am going to move down the ladder. I will keep my hands on your thighs and guide you until you are back inside and can see where you are going.
“Very well,” she grumbled.
“Now your hands are on her thighs?”
Marius looked down at Phoebe’s comment. Her brow arched in accusation.
“Need I remind you again . . .”
“Actually, no. If I recall, and I am sure I do, I never exposed near this amount of skin, nor allowed a man to touch me in such an intimate manner.” Her voice was low and Marius hoped Sabrina still could not hear her.
He maneuvered her down the steps while he continued his conversation in whispered tones with Phoebe. “Until the night in the cabin. I do recall hearing about a corset being removed and then a skirt, all the while still thinking you would not be forced into a marriage.”
“And look what it got me?” Phoebe pointed out.
Marriage was precisely what happened after that night with Sandlin in the cabin. He glanced up at Sabrina. Yes, he was very attracted to her, but he wasn’t sure how he felt about her. Did he want to spend more time in her presence? Yes. Did he want to marry her though? He didn’t know.
Besides, she was just free from the boarding school. He was positive the last thing on her mind was marriage.
“Phoebe, Sabrina has just gained some freedom, her cousin didn’t know what she was up to and her uncle can’t be found. This is not the time to force more changes on her.”
“I didn’t intend to.” She laughed.
“Then what was all of this about?”
“For the pure enjoyment of watching you try to figure out a way to walk out of here without being betrothed.”
He could strangle her, but he would leave that to her husband. No doubt Sandlin has wanted to do that many times already.
“I think you can let go now.”
He glanced up to find Sabrina completely inside the shed and her hands braced on the top step of the ladder. He let go and climbed the rest of the way down.
“Thank you.”
Marius studied Sabrina. Her hair mussed from working on the roof, and probably coming through the roof as well. Her cheeks and nose were rosy and her lips looked just as delicious as ever. Sabrina wasn’t looking at him though, she glanced down to Phoebe and part of her smile faded.
Marius looked over to see what Sabrina was looking at, but didn’t even want to know. Phoebe was Taylor’s problem.
“Oh, Phoebe, you’re bleeding again,” Sabrina called down.
Touching her head, Phoebe brought her fingers down and noted the blood once again. “Damn.” As if remembering she wasn’t alone, Phoebe blushed and retrieved the handkerchief again.
Marius turned his attention back to Sabrina. “Carefully, move back down the ladder, and watch your skirts so you don’t trip.”
“I can do this on my own. It isn’t the first time I have been on a
roof.” Sabrina stopped half way down to look into the hole and inspect the roof.
“What are you doing now?”
“Seeing how rotten the wood is.”
“Well, come on. There are guests at the house and Taylor sent me to find and retrieve the two of you.”
“Why didn’t you say something in the first place?” Sabrina asked
“You are assuming I had an opportunity before now.” He turned to Phoebe once Sabrina was safely on the ground, and escorted the ladies outside into the sunshine. As he looked at Phoebe’s injury he opened his mouth to ask what happened, then shut it instead. Shaking his head he started walking back to the house.
He assumed and hoped Sabrina and Phoebe followed behind him.
“I thought you were only grumpy in the morning.”
Marius stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Sabrina. Never had he been so frustrated and irritated with any female in his entire life. Did she have no idea how shaken he had been to see them up there, or how worried he was about her going through the roof, or that display of her legs and thighs were enough to tempt a saint or that he couldn’t completely relax until she was safe on the ground? All of those thoughts raced through his mind while she faced him, clearly waiting for an answer. He couldn’t tell her any of those things. Clamping his mouth shut, Marius turned around and marched toward the house, trying to ignore Phoebe’s laughter.
Both Phoebe and Sabrina dashed up the back stairs to freshen up before greeting the new arrivals. Marius had barely gotten his emotions under control when he joined Taylor and the Chesters.
Taylor arched an eyebrow in question. “Do I dare ask?”
Marius sighed, shook his head and walked to the table to pour a drink. “Sabrina got it into her head to fix the roof on the shed and Phoebe was helping her.” Marius explained. “When I came upon them, Sabrina’s foot had gone through the roof. Phoebe was standing at the top of the ladder trying to pull her out.”
Taylor started to laugh.
“I wouldn’t laugh. Your wife almost tumbled off that ladder. Besides, her head is bleeding. I didn’t ask and they didn’t offer.” When Taylor sobered considerably, Marius continued, “If it is of any consequence, neither one of them appeared to be concerned.”
“Excuse me,” Juliet, Lady Chester said from her chair. “Did you say the ladies were fixing a roof?” Her eyes sparkled with delight.
Ramsey turned toward his wife. “Since she was a girl, Sabrina always said that if you see something that needs fixing and can, then fix it. I can see that hasn’t changed.”
Here Marius had thought being a servant had made Sabrina industrious. Apparently, it was her very nature.
Phoebe walked into the room a short time later, smiling brightly and was introduced to her guests. Taylor looked her over carefully. “How did you hurt you head, dear?”
“Sabrina and I were walking by the old shed. You know, the one at the back of the orchard?”
Smiling at his lovely wife, Taylor nodded.
“Well, as we were passing, a shingle fell from the roof and struck me.”
“Is that when Sabrina decided to fix the roof?”
“Yes.” Phoebe’s face lit with excitement. “There was really nothing to it. She even showed me how.”
“Except she almost fell through the roof,” Marius reminded from where he stood by the door.
“I did not almost fall through. Only my foot, if you recall,” Sabrina insisted when she stepped into the room.
Marius looked her up and down, noticing the change in dress. This one was soft lavender, which complimented her coloring beautifully. “You changed your dress.”
“I ripped the other one.”
His smile faded. “That wouldn’t have happened if you wouldn’t have gotten the foolish idea in your head.”
“It was not foolish.” She planted her hands on her hips as if she were ready to argue, not about to back down and admit she could have been hurt.
Marius gritted his teeth in aggravation. “Lady Sabrina, do you realize that since I picked you up on the side of the road, you have argued with me over almost everything?”
“I have not.” She folded her arms in front of her and tapped her foot.
“You have. You are the most argumentative female I have ever met.”
“I am not argumentative.”
“See.” Marius offered with a triumphant grin. “You just proved my point. To think I would have bet you didn’t have a disagreeable thought in your mind when I met you at the academy.”
Sabrina opened her mouth to argue back, but must have thought better of it and closed her mouth.
“What do you mean about picking her up on the side of the road?”
Sabrina turned from Marius. She took a step back. “Ramsey?”
Chapter 7
“It is me, Sabrina. It is good to see you after all of these years.”
“Oh, Ramsey. It’s good to see you too.” She looked at the woman beside him. “Is this your wife?”
“Yes, Juliet.” Ramsey took his wife’s arm. “This is my cousin, Sabrina.”
Sabrina could only smile at them. Pleased and overwhelmed to see her cousin after all the years. Slowly it began to dawn on her that she shouldn’t be seeing him at all and wondered why they were here. What had they learned? Luckily she had the dresses from Phoebe’s sister so at least her clothing supported the story she had led him to believe these last years.
Marius stepped forward to answer Ramsey’s question. “I did meet your cousin at the academy. I picked her up on the side of the road as she was walking to London.”
Sabrina clenched her jaw and balled her fists behind her back. She knew her eyes widened at his statement and she wanted to strangle Marius. She wished to explain Ramsey in her own way, without Ramsey becoming suspicious of what had really transpired these last few years.
“Surely you could have taken a coach, Sabrina,” Ramsey suggested. “Or sent a note to me? I could have had my coach retrieve you.”
Her face heated and she turned away from her cousin. She hated to lie, but it was for the best. “It was a sudden decision, and I didn’t think it was necessary to spend the funds.”
“It was kind of you to give her transportation, Parker.”
“It was a pleasure.” Marius quirked an eyebrow at Sabrina then added, “Despite her disposition.”
She gasped. “You are one to talk. You were quite disagreeable that morning we were leaving the inn.”
Taylor and Ramsey both raised a speculative eyebrow at Marius, while Phoebe bit her bottom lip, her eyes a bit wide, as if she were amused. “Do you know that he actually struck the innkeeper, though I still don’t understand what the man meant?”
“Enough Sabrina,” Marius bit out. “I am sure they understand.”
“I didn’t know you had stopped at an inn with my cousin, Parker. Apparently, you didn’t tell me everything regarding my cousin and the time you spent with her.”
Sabrina sighed with relief. Thank goodness Marius had kept his promise not to tell him of her reduced circumstances.
“I can assure you my behavior was honorable, and I never intentionally touched her, except to examine her foot and carry her down the stairs.”
Ramsey stiffened and Sabrina wanted to groan. Her cousin didn’t need to protect her from anything or anyone, especially Mr. Parker. But, Ramsey wasn’t looking at her. He was looking at Marius, his posture erect, all humor gone from his face. She did not need him making matters worse.
Marius straightened as well and looked Ramsey in the eye. “I understand if you feel this situation should be addressed, and I am willing to discuss the options.”
“If that is the case, why did you fail to mention it to me previously?”
“I only thought to save Sabrina the embarrassment, especially since I was a complete gentleman, regardless of the circumstances.”
Ramsey nodded and Sabrina tried to follow the conversation.
“Does anyone e
lse know?” Ramsey rubbed his chin.
“Only those in this room. The innkeeper never knew Lady Sabrina’s name,” Mr. Parker answered dutifully.
Finally, Ramsey nodded. “I don’t see any reason to be concerned at this moment. However, if others learn...” He didn’t finish and Sabrina was afraid of what he eluded too. Thank goodness nothing would come of that evening because it wasn’t possible anyone would ever find out.
Mr. Parker looked the man directly in the eye. “I was well aware of what would be expected when it was necessary to stop. You have my word to do the right thing.”
Ramsey simply nodded his agreement and Phoebe sighed.
Sabrina looked between the two men in confusion. “Would you quit speaking so cryptically?” Shaking her head in disgust, Sabrina walked past them and took a seat by Juliet.
Ramsey smiled at his cousin and followed. “I was just assuring your future and reminding Parker why this conversation will not be repeated.”
Sabrina let it go. She was beginning to believe men had some of the strangest notions. Her years at the academy certainly hadn’t prepared her to understand gentlemen, and she was beginning to wonder if she ever would.
Phoebe sat when the tea arrived and the gentlemen took various seats to accommodate conversation. Once the maid had closed the door, Ramsey turned to his cousin once again. “Sabrina, I am going to get to the point of this visit, besides wanting to see you again.”
Sabrina set her teacup and saucer on the table before her. “To what are you referring, Ramsey?” She pasted a smile on her face. This was becoming more difficult now that she had to actually face him.
“I know that Uncle James has asked you to lie to me these past years.”
He knew. The only way he could know was if Marius had told him. Instead of answering her cousin, she turned accusing eyes on Marius. “You promised not to tell.” Her world fell apart. The secret had been kept to protect Ramsey and for the future Chesterfield line. What would his wife think of marrying into a family who was so destitute that one had to become a servant? It was all too horrifying to imagine, once word got out.
Standing ready to defend himself, Marius replied, “I did not promise. I said I would try.”
His Contrary Bride (A Gentleman's Guide to One Upon a Time - Book 2) Page 6
