Jack of Hearts by Marjorie Farrell

Author:Marjorie Farrell [Farrell, Marjorie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Historical
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2000-09-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

By the time Anne returned home, she was so tired from her day that she asked Sarah if she would mind having supper alone. “All I want is some tea and a muffin in my room. Could you have them sent up, and I’ll see you in the morning?”

“Of course, Anne.”

Sarah ate her supper slowly, noting how the light was lasting longer these days. It meant that spring was coming and they would be on their way to London soon. She wondered what Anne had discovered at the mill and whether Patrick knew the details.

She had found herself thinking a lot about Patrick these past weeks. She supposed that was not surprising, given his solicitousness after her accident. What was more surprising was the way she was thinking. Despite her disclaimers to Anne, she had entertained the occasional fantasy in London. Captain Scott had danced with her twice at the Hythes’ ball. And what if Sir David Bertram’s interest was more than friendly?

How could an avowed romantic not have such fantasies amid the whirl of London society! But she had no such dreams of ex-sergeant Patrick Gillen. Was it easier to be romantic about men who were more present in one’s fantasy life than in one’s real life? Sarah wondered. And if her feelings for Patrick weren’t romantic, then what were they?

She couldn’t imagine him sweeping her away from her life at Heriot House. For one thing, she would choose to stay, if it weren’t for Anne’s marriage plans.

And for another, Patrick was only a head groom, not a baronet or a retired army captain. He had no means to sweep her away.

No, whatever was drawing her to Patrick Gillen was not the part of her that reveled in Cinderella-like tales. It was something she couldn’t quite articulate even to herself, except to say that she was drawn to him as though he were a sort of lodestone.

After she finished her supper, she sat for a few minutes sipping a small glass of port. She didn’t want to wait for the morning to hear what had happened at the mill. She wanted to find out now. And there was no reason she shouldn’t. It was about the time that the horses were being settled for the night. She would walk down to the stables and see if Patrick was there.

* * * *

He was, and just finishing up his evening work.

“Good evening, Patrick.”

“Good evening, Sarah,” he said with a welcoming smile. “ ‘Tis a bit late for ridin’, don’t ye think?” he added teasingly.

“Anne went right up to bed, and I was too curious about what happened today to wait until morning to find out.”

Patrick looked around. “I can’t offer ye a seat in the stable, but I could offer ye a cup of tea and a biscuit, if ye wanted to come up to my rooms, if you think it would be the proper thing to do,” he added.

“I think at my age and so far away from

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