Page 37 of Marriage with a Proper Stranger

Sabrina was not used to any of this. Though overwhelming, she found she took great delight in not only his company, but his attention. All her talk of boundaries and still he kissed her. Regardless of the limitations she tried to place, she did not stop it, for she quite liked it. Her fingers brushed her lips, the memory of him still upon them. Gathering the sheets and blankets, she held them up to her nose and inhaled. His lime and bergamot scent. Masculine. Enticing.

The sound of Riordan moving about caught her attention. Was he dressing? Her cheeks flushed as she imagined it. There was no mistaking: he was a fine figure of a man. The strange sensations when they touched, when they kissed. She wanted more. As quietly as possible, she rose from the bed and crept to the door. Voices. Mary had arrived. Cracking open the door, she listened.

“I will attend church services with you both, Mr. Black. Then I will return here and ensure her ladyship is settled in. Regarding lunches, sir.”

“Yes?”

“I’m not much of a cook, but I can manage certain meals, as well as make scones and biscuits. I’ll handle Lady Sabrina’s lunch. Will you be coming here for your break, or staying at the school?”

Sabrina waited for his response with bated breath. See him every day for luncheon? Her heart swelled with anticipation. How odd. She never expected to have these feelings toward any man. What feelings, exactly, remained a mystery.

“Most days I will stay at the school. I manage to accomplish much during the break, planning, correcting, and the like, but there are days I will come here for the meal. I will give you plenty of notice,” Riordan answered.

“Very good, sir.”

“Make a list of what needs to be purchased. There is not much here, seeing as my meals have been supplied by Mrs. Ingersoll. I usually take what remains from supper for lunch the next day.”

“Leave it with me, sir. I’ll speak with Mrs. Ingersoll and we’ll work out the meals between us. I should see to her ladyship. She doesn’t rise much before nine.”

Sabrina scurried to the bed, climbing under the covers. Mary entered the room, closing the door behind her. “Good morning, my lady.”

“Good morning, Mary.”

“We best get you ready for church. You should have a bite before we depart, though there’s not much here. Sandwiches from yesterday will have to do.” Mary tossed aside the covers. “Sleep well?”

“I did.”

Mary leaned in and whispered, “I think I woke Mr. Black. He answered the door looking disheveled and appealing.”

“Mary!”

Her maid winked, then commenced bustling about the room, opening Sabrina’s luggage, laying out the newly purchased dark blue wool dress with pearl buttons. “This will do nicely. Understated, but elegant.” Mary lifted a cloth bag onto the bed. She removed a book and handed it to Sabrina. “Not what you’re used to reading, but I recommend it.”

“The Bold Seduction of Miss Featherstone?”

“Yes, my lady. It is erotic. More sensuous than salacious.” Mary tapped the cover of the book. “Time you knew what passion consists of, though by your expression when Mr. Black kissed you yesterday, I believe you’re beginning to understand what pleasure can be had with a man.”

“This is entirely improper….”

“Oh, bosh, my lady. Read it. It involves a rake, the son of a viscount and an ex-soldier.” Mary sighed. “What a delicious hero. Reminds me of Mr. Black, with the dark hair, blue eyes, and broad shoulders.” Mary cleared her throat. “Well, best to get the day underway. I suppose you heard my conversation with Mr. Black.”

Sabrina chuckled. “You know me well.”

“We’ll get it all sorted, my lady, don’t you worry. The meals and the cleaning and whatnot. Three months will fly by.”

Sabrina trailed the tips of her fingers across the gold-embossed title of the book. Seduction? Passion? Mary was correct, as usual: she absolutely knew nothing about it. Did she wish to learn? Perhaps she was incapable of base emotions.

She had close to three months to discover if such were the case. But if her reaction to his kisses was any indication, and the fact that she’d impulsively embraced him twice already, Sabrina suspected she may have found the one man who held the key to her locked away and hidden emotions. What to do about it was another question entirely.

Chapter 15

“May I present Mr. and Mrs. Black?” Reverend Thackeray declared. Sabrina stood at the front of the small chapel, her hand lightly resting on Riordan’s arm. The entire congregation stared at them, some with mouths agape. Shocked murmurs rose from the pews. “Isn’t she the baron’s daughter?” One young lady even cried out, “No!” Sabrina scanned the small crowd and found the woman. The look of distress on her face showed she harbored a tendre for Riordan. No doubt more than one young lady had found herself infatuated with the handsome schoolmaster.

When services concluded, the vicar insisted upon announcing the marriage. Sabrina made a point of asking that he not call her Lady Pepperdon. She could’ve kept the courtesy title while married to a commoner, but in truth she was glad to be shunt of the earl’s name. Next would be to banish him from her memory entirely.

Initially, the vicar had acted affronted that they’d traveled to London to see the deed done, and then aghast when Riordan told him they’d married at a registrar’s office. The man had the audacity to ask to see the certificate. Riordan must have guessed that he would, because he had it tucked in his coat pocket. Once Reverend Thackeray established they were indeed married, he stated that the announcement must be made.

Good heavens, she didn’t like being on display like this. Riordan must have sensed her stiffen next to him, for he laid his hand on top of hers and squeezed it gently. Eventually a small number of people came forward and offered congratulations, but the rest followed the vicar toward the main entrance to make their exit.