Sarah's Duke: and Ellie's Gentleman (The heir and the spare, book 1) (4 page)

“Mamma, I need some fresh air.”

Her mother nodded and fluttered her fan. “Just stick to the balcony.”

Sarah hid her smile with a nod and made her way out the open doors to breathe once again.

*****

Oliver spent two minutes in the crowded ballroom and knew instinctively that she was here, but not in sight. Walking towards the balcony his pulse sped up and when he stepped into the cold air, his breath caught in his throat at the sight of her.

All he could see was the back of her curled blonde hair and lovely white dress, yet his heart was hammering and his belly swirled with unfamiliar feelings. He was excited, yet nervous.

Why did this beautiful young woman affect him so much? It was an exceptionally uncomfortable feeling and yet he couldn’t seem to stop himself wanting to be near her.

He swallowed and took a breath, forcing the word from his throat. “Sarah?” Oliver called out her name as clearly as his nervous body would allow, and walked onto the balcony behind her.

She visibly jumped and whirled around to look at him. Her hand came up to rest between her breasts in surprise, drawing his gaze to the plump flesh there. Arousal shot down his belly.

“Oh goodness Oliver, you scared me.” Her beautiful face transformed as she smiled up at him and Oliver blinked as though he was in a dream. He felt like he’d been clobbered over the head, his brain swimming in wonder, as though he’d just consumed a bottle of whiskey.

She was breathtaking. Had he really thought she was only
pretty
? Flawless skin, glorious golden hair and the most kissable lips he had ever had the misfortune to feel. She obviously didn’t seem to notice his discomfort, because she put her hand around his elbow and pulled him further away from the ballroom. It was the only, and last, place he wanted to be.

“I wasn’t sure if I’d see you tonight. You said you’re not on the marriage mart?” She laughed happily, as though telling a joke, but Oliver heard the question behind the statement.

She had no idea how hard Oliver had struggled with himself over the question to seek her out or not. He had chosen the lesser of the two evils. He could deal with the torture of seeing her healthy and well, worrying that she wasn’t, was a torture he hadn’t yet been able to endure.

“I wasn’t planning on it, to be honest, but I needed to make sure you were feeling a little better after your dreadful experience last night.”

If only she wasn’t so beautiful. It would make it so much easier.

Oliver knew that his attendance at more than one ball in a week had already been cause for speculation. He only had a few years left until he had to marry a lady to produce an heir to the dukedom, but he shuddered at the thought. He had always planned to marry someone he wanted, someone he cared for. But since he had inherited the title, his new responsibility as the title holder meant he was obliged to marry someone who would be a good duchess. Someone who had the appropriate training and breeding for the position. Oliver’s back teeth ground together at the thought. When had he started thinking about women as though they were horses?

Sarah flushed prettily, the blood giving her cheeks a healthy tinge that made her glow all the more. Oliver stifled a groan as blood flowed to his groin.

“Thank you, I really do appreciate it.”

Sarah lifted her gaze to meet his and Oliver had to fight the urge to pull her into his arms for a real kiss. That light touch of his mouth on hers from the night before had only whet his appetite for her. He had thought of little else and now that she was so close, he was aching for another taste.

“It was no bother at all.” He patted her hand lightly, striving for a paternal type of reassurance and removed her small hand from his arm. He turned his back on the gardens and leaned against the banister at the end of the balcony.

“Since we have already discussed my lack of interest in a marriage partner, tell me, is there any gentleman at whom you have been looking?” He gestured widely towards the ballroom and watched her closely.

It had been a long time since Oliver had felt comfortable with another person, any person. And to be this comfortable with a woman to whom he was attracted, ... well it had never happened before!

“I haven’t been looking, to be honest. After the other night, I’m not sure I trust my own instincts.”

She smiled sadly and Oliver clenched his hands into fists at his side.
Damn that Patrick Millington.

“Well, tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll recommend someone.” The words were out of his mouth before he even thought to halt them. God, he was stupid and a glutton for punishment, it would seem.

She smiled at that, although the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“I need someone with, well...”

“Money,” he sighed, finishing her sentence for her and feeling disappointed despite himself. For once, he wanted to be wrong about a woman.

“Yes, unfortunately.” Sarah sighed just as heavily as he had and leaned back against the railing beside him.

Oliver looked up from where he’d been staring at the ground, confused by her words. Sarah had just admitted to something to which most ladies would openly admit, but yet sounded so sad about the fact.

“Why unfortunately?” He tried to keep his tone light once again. This may be one of the only times he got to hear her real opinion. He knew that as soon as she found out who he really was, she would doctor her opinions accordingly.

“Well, I very much would like to marry for love. My parents have a wonderful marriage and I have always hoped for a similar pairing myself. My parents want to give me, my brother and my sister a better chance at marrying well, but they only have money for one season. As I’m the eldest I need to marry someone who can help my family. If I marry a penniless wastrel, my sister will never get to have a season and my baby brother will never go to Eton.” She sounded like she was crying again and Oliver fought the urge to wrap his arms around her. That certainly wouldn’t be appropriate.

He laughed to try and break the tension. Hearing her voice clogged with tears, wasn’t pleasant.

Oliver looked over at his companion and smiled. “Well, make sure you fall in love with someone who can support your family.”

Sarah’s eyes cleared of their tears, then her wide, full mouth broke into a huge grin.

“I’ll try,” she said and then laughed. She laughed loudly and with her whole body. It was an amazing sound.

A grin unconsciously stretched across Oliver’s face now. He’d never before heard a lady laugh like that.

Sarah clapped one hand over her mouth to stifle the sound and the other to her trim belly to hold in her laughter.

“I shouldn’t be too loud, people will come over to find out what we’re talking about and ruin our conversation.” She laughed, looking back at the ballroom full of people.

That pulled Oliver out of his idleness. He needed to know how she felt about titles before someone stupidly told her who he was.

“And what about a title? Should I introduce you to a viscount? A second son? Do you have a preference?” He tried to sound as though her answer wasn’t important, but he would be a fool not to acknowledge, to himself at least, how much her answer to this question meant to him.

She laughed again and it was delicious. There was no other word for it.

“Goodness, how mercenary we sound. Actually, I was thinking about that as I was getting dressed tonight. I really don’t want a title.”

Oliver’s heart stopped. That wasn’t what he had expected her to say and neither was he feeling the relief he should have been feeling.

“I do not have the bloodlines to attract a title,” she continued, oblivious to his distress. “And I don’t have a dowry for a second son to enjoy, so I suppose I was hoping for a man who would be able to look after my family, but also overlook my faults.” Her eyes dropped, but before he could correct her about how few her faults were, she jumped in again. “Oh, and I don’t want him to be over forty and I want him to be gentle.”

Oliver coughed because he couldn’t laugh. What else could he do? She had the funniest list he had ever heard. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and she thought she should engage the attentions of a man in trade who would be nice to her, but not be old. Goodness, she was frank!

“So? Do you know anyone who could be all these things,” she asked coyly, sliding her eyes over to him in a way that made his blood run both hot and cold. Was she suggesting that he put his hat in the ring? Or was she asking if he truly knew someone good enough for her? Either way, he felt ill.

Oliver cleared his throat and tore his eyes away from her beautiful face to look out over the gardens.

“I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry, Oliver. I know you’re just being kind, being here with me.”

She sounded so sad and her words were so clearly honest that Oliver was once again shocked into silence. She
was
hoping he would offer for her. Why did that feel so good? She knew hardly anything about him, not his family connections, not his occupation, not even his last name.

But
he
knew from the small amount of time they had spent together already, that they would suit each other well and she obviously felt the same. She was kind and intelligent and as beautiful as the sun and moon combined. He’d have   married her in an instant if he had met her two years before. If he hadn’t become the new Duke of Lincoln and it wasn’t required that he should marry someone worthy of the title.

He slammed his hand into the banister and she jumped a little.

Sarah cleared her throat, then spoke into the awkward silence.

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I shall never again venture into a garden at night.” Her tone was teasing and light but Oliver knew only too well how true her words were. He had to tell her the truth about who he was.

“Sarah, I...”

“Oh, here you are,” came a familiar voice from behind them. Oliver closed his eyes briefly and said a little prayer. This was either going to go well, or end very badly indeed.

Oliver and Sarah both turned to see who had interrupted their private moment. It was Lady Charlotte and her brother, Lord John Dunford.

“Miss Collins, so lovely to see you again and looking so well,” Charlotte said, curtsying politely as Sarah swept into a low enough curtsy to pass for the King’s arrival.

“Lady Charlotte, so nice to see you,” Sarah returned quietly.

Oliver wasn’t sure if his familiarity with the Dunford’s was giving her pause or the fact they were one of the wealthiest and oldest families in London, next to his of course.

John looked pointedly at Oliver.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Sarah Collins this is an old school friend of mine, Lord John Dunford.” Again Sarah swept into an embarrassingly low curtsy and gave John a small smile. Although John was a second son, his father’s title was usually enough to intimidate the debutantes. Sarah was no exception.

“It is, indeed, an honor to make your acquaintance, my lord.”

“And I yours, Miss Collins,” John swept gallantly into a low bow to match her curtsy. He was looking quite amused by the situation, Oliver could tell as the corners of John’s mouth quirked up slightly.

“Are you enjoying the evening?” John tilted his head politely.

“Oh yes,” she nodded, her eyes as big as a doe’s.

“I have never been to a house that was so beautiful. Except perhaps your birthday celebration the other night, Lady Charlotte. I would like to thank you again for the invitation.” She smiled at Charlotte and then, in turn, at John.

John’s eyes widened a fraction in surprise.

“We were so pleased you could come, Miss Collins.” Charlotte replied. She was smiling warmly at Sarah and Oliver felt his teeth clenching again at the light in Charlotte’s eyes.

“I heard that my friend managed to give you a small amount of assistance that night, Miss Collins. I hope you are feeling better this evening?” John dropped his voice to make sure that no other person on the balcony could hear him.

Sarah blushed deeply but instead of avoiding the topic, her gaze held firmly to John’s face and her eyes flashed with a strange expression.

“He did indeed, sir,” Sarah rushed in before Oliver could say anything, lifting her chin a fraction. “Although, it was no small thing. Without Oliver there that night, I’m afraid I would have been packed and on my way back to Somerset today from the horror of it all.” Sarah lifted her chin again in a defiant manner and Oliver could do nothing but stare at her. She wasn’t afraid to thank him publicly for his rescue and she looked so incredible when she was defending him.

“Oliver?” Lord John asked, one eyebrow raised in the air. Oliver silently cursed inwardly. He never had told Sarah his surname and she certainly didn’t know his title. Trust John to notice the use of his given name. Most people called him ‘His Grace’ or ‘Lincoln’. No one except his mother and a few select friends called him Oliver.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Sarah gasped, realizing her error she turned to Oliver and laid a hand on his arm in an intimate gesture that neither Charlotte nor John missed. Oliver grimaced, he had known he was going to regret joining her on the balcony.