Page 13 of A Wish Upon an Earl (A Maypole in Mayfair #3)

J ack sat across from Ash, who frowned back. “You’re going to have to catch me up because I’ve gotten terribly confused again.”

That made Jack smile, at least a bit. “It is confusing, isn’t it? This whole courtship and love thing.”

Ash’s brows quirked. “I suppose it is.”

Jack shook his head. “Why do I keep sharing with you instead of her?”

“I don’t know,” Ash chuckled. “Perhaps that’s your problem right there.”

That was the problem.

“It would help if she were currently speaking to me.”

Ash winced. “I went through a misunderstanding with Camilla as well. It’s strange.” He scratched his chin. “There is some measure of trust that must be established.”

That made sense.

And it hurt because establishing trust after their past…that was going to be difficult. Especially now that he knew his mother was meddling. “Trust has never been the strong suit of my family.”

Ash gave a grunt. “That’s an understatement. Your family excels in subterfuge and plots. How you ever escaped those qualities is beyond me.”

He raked a hand through his hair. “Well, thank you. But it does lead me to the latest plot of subterfuge. I was able to speak with Lady Victoria.”

“Not alone?” Ash asked, his face paling.

“Of course not. Sir Henry chaperoned.” Jack scrubbed his scalp again. “Lady Victoria did not come up with the plan to take the gauntlet and trap me in a match…my mother did.”

“Ah,” Ash said. “That makes more sense than anything I’ve heard so far.”

Jack nodded. “From what I can tell, Lady Victoria isn’t a schemer by nature, just in a sticky situation and in need of a good match. My mother took advantage.”

Ash leaned forward. “But what I still don’t understand is why she has the opportunity to take advantage at all. You and Sarah were chaperoned, which means people can account for the fact that you were never alone with Lady Victoria.”

Jack winced.

Ash noticed the expression and his face hardened.

Jack’s hand spread out on the desk. “When I first followed her out onto the terrace, there were several other guests, but over the course of our conversation…” His fingers curled into fists. “We are both unclear as to whether other guests were in attendance the entire time we spoke.”

Ash made a noise deep in his throat. “You compromised my sister?”

“I’m going to marry her, Ash.” If she’d have him.

“Then why did you say no when she suggested that very thing?” Ash’s voice had gone hard again.

He looked his friend in the eye. “I should marry her because I love her and I’ve earned her love in return. I should be strong enough to fight for our relationship, not force her into it. Or worse, allow my mother to dictate the terms.”

Ash relaxed then, sitting back in his chair. “I can support that.”

Jack gave a quick nod. “Thank you.”

Ash stared off. “If Sarah is the only person who can confirm that you were never alone with Victoria, then how do you intend to prove your innocence?”

Jack shook his head. “I’m still working on that.”

Ash scratched his chin. “The best solution is just to ask Sarah to be your wife for a great many reasons.”

Jack nodded. “I agree, but I don’t want her to think I’m asking just because of Lady Victoria.”

“I see your point but, obviously, time is of the essence. How do you intend to proceed?”

Jack stared at the wall behind Ash’s head, a family portrait hanging there. A much younger Sarah stared back at him, the artist having captured the mischievous smile that had forever been dancing on her lips. “What I need is a grand gesture.”

Ash nodded. “That’s an excellent idea.”

“The question is…what?”

Both men fell into silence again.

Ash propped his head on his hand as he fiddled with objects on his desk. “I had to give Camila a grand gesture as well. Worked like a charm.”

“What was it?” Jack asked, sitting up straighter in his chair.

Ash frowned. “It wouldn't work for you. More than anything, Camilla wanted a chemistry set.”

Ash was right. That would not work for Sarah at all.

“It was easy for me because she’d wished for that very thing this spring.”

Jack blinked. The wishes. He’d known all along exactly what Sarah wanted. “Around the maypole?”

Ash started in surprise. “How did you know that?”

“Sarah made a wish too.” She’d wished for a knight. And here Jack was with a full suit of armor on the premises. “I think I have an idea, but I’m going to need help, and you might have to be all right with your friend and possible brother-in-law making a complete fool of himself.”

Ash raised his brows. “I do believe my sister would enjoy something theatrical enough to cause a scene.”

Jack smiled, satisfaction rippling through him as he began to sort out the details. His plan was perfect. “I’m going to need a bit of help this evening…”

* * *

Sarah was still watching the clock a quarter hour later. Her stomach churned as she shifted her weight. Had he listened to her and decided to no longer be friends? Not that she regretted those words exactly.

She’d been right earlier when she’d said that she couldn’t be his friend. Her feelings were too strong.

But she’d been running scared since the incident . She’d hidden behind her duties, but the truth was…she missed parts of who she used to be. This play, for example. This had always been her favorite, but she’d begun hiding herself away, always afraid of what others might think, might say to her.

But she didn’t wish to hide any longer.

Which meant throwing herself into this role.

It also meant telling Jack the real reason she could not be his friend. Even if he didn’t return her feelings and even knowing he’d reject her, she’d be brave.

It was time to stop hiding.

But as the minutes had ticked over an hour, she’d worried that Jack wouldn’t return to rehearsal at all. What if she never got the chance to explain?

More pressingly, Sir Henry had built the tower quite high. She’d much prefer that Jack help her in and out of the makeshift structure. The idea of Sir Henry lifting her…

When Jack finally came through the door, flashing a warm smile, her insides melted with relief and joy. He’d come back, and she’d have her chance.

“You’re here,” she said as he stepped up to her side. “I’m glad. I was worried.”

He cocked his head. “I’m glad to hear that you’re glad.”

She leaned a bit closer, wishing more than ever that they could talk alone. “I should have taken your invitation at lunch. I?—”

“Are we ready?” Sir Henry called.

Sarah huffed with frustration, but Jack chuckled.

“I’m ready. I’m sorry I kept everyone waiting.

Our host needed a word.” Then he bent his head lower, whispering close to Sarah.

“I accept your apology and I believe I have a few to make of my own. But for now, what do you say we get Rapunzel up in her tower?”

She nodded and they stepped behind the structure. The knee wall at the top was in fact only knee height so Sarah, in order to look like she was leaning out a window, would spend most of the play sitting. A fact that worked quite well for her ankle.

But the structure was shoulder height and fashioned from an armoire that had been in the next room, so Sarah had to be lifted in and out.

Jack bent down, wrapping his arms about her knees. “Hold onto my shoulders.”

She did as he commanded without question as he easily lifted her into the air. When her head appeared over the structure, the assembly of guests gave a cheer and she smiled with a wave.

Slowly, Jack slid her on top of the armoire.

“Tomorrow, we’ll assemble a group of men to move the beastly piece to the music room,” Sir Henry said. “And we’ll plan to put on our show tomorrow night.”

“Wonderful,” Jack answered. Then he looked up at Sarah. “All right up there? Does it feel secure?”

She nodded, pleasure at his concern causing heat to flush her cheeks. “It’s perfect.”

With a quick nod, he handed up her sheet of lines. The play would only be a quarter hour long, and lines had been copied for all players.

Jack took his spot in front of the tower as the opening scenes were read.

The first part of the play involved the witch and the mother and father, along with some villagers. Sarah watched in delight as other guests brought the characters to life.

And then it was her turn.

It had been so long since she’d participated in such an activity, and as she began to read with Jack, she lost herself in the lines, the feelings, the satisfaction that filled her at making a character come to life.

The rest of the world melted away, and it was only her and Jack.

Silk ribbons had been fashioned to be her streaming lengths of hair, and as he pretended to climb them, she laughed despite herself.

He came around the back and lifted her down into his arms. They were supposed to appear around the front of the tower once again for their final scene where they professed their love and the prince proposed.

But just as her toes skimmed the floor, Jack paused, still holding her in his arms. “Sarah.”

Her breath caught even as her hands tightened on his shoulders. Her lips parted in question. “Yes?”

He started to speak but then stopped again. Hidden by the armoire, he lowered her a bit more and then, as her body slid down his front, he captured her lips with his own.

Her breath caught in her lungs as his lips, firm and warm, pressed to hers. The ribbons of her hair pooled around them as he kissed her lips closed before he pulled back again. “Why did they make your ribbons yellow? They should have been red.”

Her feet finally found the ground. They’d just kissed. The first in her life, causing a flood of warm feelings to swell inside her. Why on earth were they discussing ribbons? “Rapunzel is blonde.”

“Not in my story,” he whispered before he whisked her to the front of the tower to finish their scene.

And though she finished the lines, she knew her performance must have been dreadful.

She could hardly concentrate because she no longer cared a whit about losing herself in the ‘Rapunzel’ reenactment.

Because Sarah Appleton was having a romantic story of her very own.

And just like a storybook heroine who’d been in the pits of despair, she was suddenly flying high.

She could only pray that Jack would not allow her to crash to the ground once again.