Page 10 of A Wish Upon an Earl (A Maypole in Mayfair #3)

J ack stopped in front of Ash, his back straight. He hadn’t done anything wrong. Well, not too wrong.

But as Ash turned back to him, his face was set in hard lines. “I’ve given you quite a bit of rope because we’re friends.”

Jack stared back. “Forgive me, but I don’t follow.”

“Sarah.” Jack pointed, jabbing his finger toward Sarah’s chair.

Jack’s mouth twitched, but he waited silently for Ash to go on.

In response, Ash ran a hand through his hair. He stopped and started several times. Then finally he spoke. “You’re not good for her.”

Jack felt as though he’d been physically hit in the chest. “I see.” It wasn’t that he blamed Ash. He’d thought as much himself, but the words still hurt.

Ash scrubbed his scalp. “After that cupid incident at Eton…” His friend paused again. “I’ve never seen her so heartbroken.”

His own chest ached and his shoulders drooped. “I know.”

“And I know you came here to apologize, and I thought it was a good idea. But you don’t seem content with just making amends. If you hurt her again…”

Jack pulled his chin back as Ash’s fists clenched.

Jack rubbed his face. “I was a foolish child, Ash, who almost immediately regretted his actions. I won’t make excuses for my behavior back then.

What I did was inexcusable, but I will never hurt Sarah again.

In fact…” He drew in a deep gulp of air, preparing for the words he was about to say.

He likely didn’t deserve this opportunity, but he’d tell Ash the entire truth. “I care for Sarah deeply.”

Ash’s arms went limp. “You care for Sarah?”

He straightened, his feet spreading apart.

“Yes. I thought I just missed her friendship, but the moment I saw her, I…” He stopped for a moment, drawing in another breath.

“This isn’t about me. I can see what Sarah’s lost and I know it’s my fault.

If I do one thing, I’ll give some of those pieces back to her.

She is a jewel that should sparkle, but she’s hiding herself away from the light. ”

Ash’s arms dropped even as his brows rose. “Metaphors of sparkling jewels?”

“This isn’t about me,” he repeated.

“If it were?” Ash asked.

Jack didn’t hesitate. “I love her.”

Ash staggered a half step back. “You love her? Like…I love her?”

Jack shook his head. “I’d marry her, Ash.”

His friend looked struck dumb for a moment. “You want to marry Sarah?”

He gave a tentative nod. “I do.” But once those words left his mouth, a whole pile of others tumbled out. “I miss everything about her. The way she makes me laugh, the way she tells a story, the sound of her voice, the green of her eyes, the way she looks in the moonlight.”

Ash held up a hand with a wince. “That’s my sister.” But the anger was gone from his voice.

“She’d be a countess, and I live very close.”

Ash grunted. “I’m aware of both.” Then he cocked his head to the side. “Your mother will hate her.”

“A plus to be certain.” Jack nodded. “Any woman my mother would like would make me miserable.”

Ash smiled then. “You’re sure about this? As I stated, I won’t allow you to hurt her.” His face grew hard again, his mouth drawing into a tight line. “No one works harder to help the people she loves, and I’ll do the same for her now.”

“I’m sure.” Jack put a hand on Ash’s shoulder as he took a deep cleansing breath. “I’ve never been more sure. I likely don’t deserve the opportunity, and I’ll respect your wishes, but I swear to you, I only want to lift Sarah up.”

Ash looked at him for a long time before he finally gave a nod. “See that she doesn’t stay out too long and keep it quiet. I saw another partygoer as I called for the dogs. You narrowly missed being seen.”

Jack gave a tight nod. “Understood.”

Both men turned, returning to the garden, Ash to collect his dogs and Jack to take a seat next to Sarah, who was now lounging on the blanket, their evening picnic spread out before them.

Sarah gave him a questioning glance but didn’t ask as Ash left, Max and Mabel finally in tow.

He winked in return, his hand brushing hers. Tomorrow he’d find a way to get her alone long enough to share his feelings with her. For now, it was enough just to be in her company.

* * *

The next day, Sarah attempted to puzzle out all that had happened between her and Jack, but the more she thought, the less it all made sense.

The fun and whimsy had returned, and for it, Sarah felt refreshed, free of a weight she’d been carrying around for ages. But she was also confused. For a moment, she’d thought that they might kiss.

But that was just her silly fantasies filling her mind with wild thoughts. Wasn’t it?

She’d gotten caught up in his princess story or her story…whoever’s story. And she’d allowed the romance of it all to carry her away.

But he’d been so close. And he’d come to get her and…

Aubrey had come to take her out as well. That was what friends did.

Fortunately, Ash had consented for her to attend dinner tonight.

She’d see Jack tonight. And not in the little bubble of just the two of them, like when they were children.

Once she rejoined the party, she was certain he’d be more reserved and she’d remember that they were only childhood companions and nothing more.

But as she readied herself for dinner, she found herself taking extra care in her appearance, her insides dancing with nerves.

As she made her way down the stairs, she was surprised to find Jack on the second-story landing. He turned to her with a large smile, holding out his elbow. “May I?”

Her stomach flitted with a thousand butterflies. “You may.”

“I have to warn you, I shall be watching you closely this evening to make certain you don’t overtax yourself. After your?—”

“Illness?”

Sarah turned her head to see who had just spoken. She’d been so focused on Jack she hadn’t realized anyone else had been about.

Lady Victoria Crawley stood before her, her perfectly coiffed blonde hair and razor-sharp smile in place.

“Precisely,” Jack answered.

Lady Victoria’s gaze flitted to Jack, her smile growing wider. Sarah pursed her lips at the calculating expression that crossed the other woman’s face. Then she looked back at Sarah. “You look very well for having been ill. One would never even guess you’d been sick.”

Sarah was aware of the insinuation behind the words, but she chose to ignore it. “Thank you.”

“We should all make our way to dinner.” Jack lifted his arm, pointing down the stairs. Then he began leading her, making his way slowly down the steps as Victoria followed.

Sarah did her best to walk without a limp, aware of Victoria’s searing gaze on her back.

She breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the dining room, until Lady Victoria left their company and made her way straight to Ash.

She watched a brief exchange between them, and then her breath hissed out when Victoria led her brother out of the dining room.

“Trouble is brewing,” Jack muttered.

Sarah squeezed his arm tighter. “Do you think she knows about my fall?”

Jack gave her a reassuring grin. “That’s hardly worth pulling Ash from his guests.”

He was right. While Sarah didn’t want the embarrassment, it wasn’t as though she’d been caught alone in the garden with Jack. But then her breath hitched. Because they had been alone, as a matter of fact. Not purposefully, of course. But what if Victoria had seen?

“What?” Jack asked very softly.

“The garden,” she whispered back. “We were alone.”

His brows went up. “Are you certain?”

She gave a stiff nod.

Jack shrugged, giving her another easy smile. “Whatever comes, we’ll face it together. I promised you, remember? I’d never let anything or anyone hurt you again.”

That eased the tight knot of fear inside her chest. “Thank you, Jack. You’re a good friend.”

His smile slipped.

She opened her mouth to ask him why when Ash reappeared in the dining room, his expression grim.

“Ash?” Jack asked.

“We need to talk,” Ash said, and then turned on his heel to exit the dining room again.

Jack gave her a quick look and then began to follow. Sarah kept her hand on his arm and started walking with him. There was no way she was missing this conversation.