Catherine Archer - Lord Sin

With an unmistakable flutter in her stomach, Mary alighted from the carriage Victoria had sent for her. She told herself that she was quite overreacting. This night was no different than any other she had spent at Briarwood. An image of Ian Sinclair’s sardonic grin came to mind. Determinedly she pushed it away.

The footman opened the door immediately and reached for her wrap as she stepped into the grand foyer. As always, Mary sent a quick glance and prayer of thanks up to the cherub-painted ceiling. As a little girl she had thought those little angels were sent specially by God to look after her and her friend. Even though she now knew it was not true, they being the work of a gifted but mortal artist, Mary could not quite break the habit. And for some reason she had the sense that she needed their protection now as much as ever she had before.

Victoria came down the wide formal staircase at that very moment. She held out her hands. “Mary, I’m so glad you’ve come.”

Mary nodded, taking her outstretched hands and kissing her taller, elegantly gowned and coiffured friend on the cheek. “You are beautiful, Victoria,” she said. And it was true. The pregnancy had not detracted from Victoria’s loveliness in the least. Her dark hair was shining with good health and her cheeks bore a fresh rosy tint.

Victoria hugged her and led her along the hall to her favorite sitting room. “Jedidiah and Ian are out in the stables admiring the mare Jedidiah bought from Ian for my birthday. Wait until you see her. She’ll be a perfect mount after the baby comes. Until then you are more than welcome to ride her. It will be much easier for you to do so, of course, once you finish packing things up at the vicarage and come to us.”

So Ian Sinclair had not told them of her decision. For some reason this made Mary feel a grudging gratitude toward him. Obviously he was not one of those aristocrats for whom gossip was a favorite sport.

But Mary did not wish to think favorably of Ian Sinclair, nor did she wish to discuss her future right now. She knew Victoria was going to try to convince her to stay. Her kind nature was one of the reasons Mary loved her. For this one evening Mary wanted to forget her troubles. Thus she remained silent.

They went into the sitting room and settled themselves on the pale green settee. Just as she turned to Mary again, Victoria raised startled brows and placed a hand on her swollen abdomen. “My, that was the strongest kick yet.”

Mary gazed at her friend in awe as she watched the delicate fabric of Victoria’s pale lilac gown bulge a moment later. “Was that the baby?” What must it be like to have something alive inside you? Mary marveled. To feel your own child moving?

The ebony-haired woman gave a rueful laugh. “I’m afraid it was.” As if sensing her friend’s question, she asked, “Would you like to feel it?”

Mary’s golden eyes widened. “Oh, Victoria, might I?” At her friend’s nod, she said, “I would like nothing better.” Placing her hand over the spot Victoria showed her, Mary was rewarded a moment later as a firm thump met her palm. She gave a startled laugh, tears springing to her eyes. “Victoria, it is amazing.”

Victoria smiled indulgently as she ran a loving hand over her stomach, giving away the real emotions inside her even as she spoke with irony. “You would not think so in the middle of the night. The little one has even begun to wake up Jedidiah.” A look of loving contentment came into her face. “But he does not seem to mind. He lights a candle and talks to baby until it settles back down. Even if it takes hours. He says he does not wish to miss another moment of my confinement, having already lost too much time in his trip to America. Oh, Mary, I am so fortunate to have him love me. I never thought life could be so perfect. Every moment with him is precious, especially when I thought we might never come together.”

Mary knew the troubles the couple had faced, though Victoria had fully shared them only after they had been resolved. She was more certain than ever that she was making the right decision in going away. Jedidiah and Victoria deserved to have this time together—alone.

Mary realized she could not tell her friend of her plans. She did not want Victoria to know until it was too late to stop her. Once she had found a position and the arrangements had been made, it would be too late for discussion.

She was saved from having to hide her churning thoughts by the arrival of the two men. Mary’s gaze went directly to Ian Sinclair as if drawn there by some inescapable force. She saw that the tall, dark man was also looking at her. She blushed and glanced away. Goodness, but he was every bit as handsome as she remembered, and more. The midnight blue of his perfectly tailored jacket and trousers fully accentuated his height, the width of his shoulders and the narrowness of his hips. The crisp white of his shirt collar made his hair look even darker by contrast.

Her gaze flicked briefly to him again and she saw that he was still studying her, with those onyx dark eyes narrowed. As their gazes clashed for that brief moment he lifted one black brow high.

Heat suffused her. Was he remembering the fact that she had so abruptly asked him to leave her home and was now staring at him like some besotted fool?

Quickly Mary turned her attention to Jedidiah McBride as he said, “Good evening, Mary.”

She nodded. “Good evening.” Mary was genuinely fond of the American and felt he had been good for her friend.

He then came forward and kissed his wife on the cheek. Victoria was smiling at her tall, golden-haired husband with love. “How is the mare?”

Jedidiah laughed, the corners of his sea green eyes crinkling. “Settling in, but frisky. I think you’ll get plenty of excitement out of her when you can ride again. Ian has produced a mare worth every pound of her exorbitant price.”

Mary was infinitely aware of Ian Sinclair as he bowed and nodded modestly. Beneath his reticence she could tell he was proud of the horse they were discussing, as a parent might be of a praised child. His obvious fraternal affection for the animal surprised her and Mary realized there were many things about Ian Sinclair that she did not know.

What kind of father would he be, she wondered?

As soon as the thought entered her mind, Mary dismissed it. How Ian Sinclair might parent was not her concern.

Ian felt Mary Fulton’s gaze rake him again, but this time he did not look at her. She’d made her feelings quite well known when she’d asked him to leave her house. And in all honesty, Ian could not truly blame her for resenting his interference in her affairs. He had as yet been incapable of coming up with any reasonable explanation for why he was so very interested in what she did with her life. He’d tried to convince himself it was because he knew how much Victoria cared for the other woman, but somehow it did not ring true.

Before Ian could stop it an image of Victoria’s horrified face as she had listened to him talk about her friend flooded his mind. He clearly heard the discouraging words she’d said to him about his father’s sure disapproval of his wedding a vicar’s daughter.

Ian’s lips thinned. To even contemplate the notion of marrying a woman simply because his father would be displeased was despicable. It was true that part of his desire to marry Victoria had been brought on by knowing she would greatly irritate the earl. But she had been one of his social class, the daughter of a duke. Mary was not. Not only his father but all of society would frown on such a union.

Unconsciously he found himself studying her again. She was looking quite delectable in a gown of rose satin. The dress was of the latest fashion and showed off her tiny waist above her wide hooped skirt, not to mention a bewitching hint of cleavage. She was without a doubt the most delectable morsel of womanhood he had seen in some time. There was no denying the attraction he felt toward her.