Among Sand and Sunrise by Stacy Henrie

Author:Stacy Henrie [Henrie, Stacy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency, Romance, Clean and Wholesome Regency, Clean and Wholesome Romance
Publisher: Mirror Press
Published: 2019-10-08T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

At first, the two widows stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at Syble. Then they turned to each other and exchanged a long look. “You think Marcus needs to get married?” Rose repeated. “We couldn’t agree more, could we, Ethel?” A full smile lifted Rose’s lined cheeks.

“It would be so wonderful.” Ethel reached out and patted Syble’s gloved hand. “My Marcus is such a fine young man, and the two of you would be perfect—”

Syble blushed at their mistake and instantly shook her head. “Oh no, not me.” She attempted a laugh, though it sounded forced, even to her own ears. “He and I are friends and nothing more.” Hopefully her decisive words would put an end to the matchmaking hopes the widows seemed to have in mind.

Though he hadn’t shared what sort of girl would be the right one for him, she imagined Marcus would want a wife who was soft-spoken, reserved, and socially proper. Not one given over to things like excitement or fun or spontaneity. Someone like Miss Edith Dyer. The reminder of Mr. Kirk’s fiancée pinched painfully at Syble’s thoughts, jarring the still-healing ache of his rejection.

Rose gave a delicate cough. “Did you have someone else in mind, dear?”

“Not really,” Syble said. “As his friend, I just want to help him. But I’d ask that we keep this conversation between the three of us for now.” Nana and Florence didn’t need to know Syble had been asking, however innocently, about Marcus.

“Of course,” the two women murmured.

“Marcus did tell me that he hasn’t found the right girl to marry yet.”

Rose and Ethel glanced at each other again. “The two of you have talked about marriage?” Ethel asked, turning back to Syble. Her tone hinted at curiosity and surprise.

Syble’s blush deepened—this wasn’t going as well as she’d anticipated. “We talked more about society and the social season and whatnot.”

“He thought he’d found the right girl a few years ago.” Ethel fiddled with her knife and spoon. “But she broke his heart in the end.”

So Marcus had fallen in love, at least once, in the past. Syble had suspected as much. Something about his attitude when he’d talked about his limited attendance at social functions had reminded Syble of herself after Mr. Kirk had confessed that he’d chosen Miss Dyer.

“Would you be willing to tell me what happened?” Syble wanted to hear the story, but if Ethel felt it too personal to share, she would content herself with simply knowing Marcus had loved and lost as she had.

Ethel understandably hesitated, then straightened in her chair and lowered her hands to her lap. “It might help for her to know,” she confided to Rose, who offered a nod of approval. Returning her attention to Syble, Ethel said, “Her name is Esme. She and Marcus met at a ball at the start of the season one year. I’ve been told she is remarkably beautiful and very charming and vivacious. I think Marcus fell in love with her immediately.”

Syble shifted in her seat, the uneasiness from earlier churning anew inside her stomach.

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