Rakes and Roses (Proper Romance Regency) by Josi S. Kilpack

Author:Josi S. Kilpack [Kilpack, Josi S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published: 2020-05-04T18:30:00+00:00

Sabrina returned to London the morning following her tirade against Mr. Stillman and threw herself into the details of Nathan’s dinner party regardless of whether or not those issues actually required her attention. She obsessively reviewed every element with every staff member overseeing every portion of the event, followed up with suppliers, and even folded all the napkins herself into the shape of a swan. One of the schools she’d attended had spent three weeks of classes on napkin folding instead of math, of course, because why would a woman need to factor interest payments or forecast expenses or determine the price per square foot of a factory in Leeds?

On Friday, Sabrina gave orders, fussed over the flowers when they were delivered, and rearranged the centerpieces four times before the guests began to arrive and she transformed from the organizer into the hostess. Nathan’s staff was likely ready to hang her for overmanaging the situation, but she needed the distraction, and there had not been a better option of focus. Besides, overmanagement was hardly a capital offense.

The dinner consisted of separate courses of bouillie, entree of sole, a cucumber salad, and braised beef with burgundy sauce for the entrée, all paired with the perfect red wine. The dessert was a fresh strawberry tart—a simple but delicious dessert to balance the elaborate flavors of the other courses. After dinner, there were two musical performances, a harp piece and a vocal ensemble, that everyone seemed to enjoy. No one was in a hurry to leave after the performances, and the party continued for hours.

Whether or not it was Sabrina’s attention to detail that made the party a success, she could never know, but she chose to believe so as she began saying goodbye to their guests. It was after midnight when she walked Mr. and Mrs. Proctor to the door.

“I hope you have a wonderful time in Naples,” Mrs. Proctor said, giving Sabrina a quick embrace.

The Proctors were not the first friends to mention the trip, but once again, Sabrina had forgotten all about it. She could blame the Season coming to a close as the reason behind her distractibility, but she suspected her lack of focus was mostly due to Mr. Stillman. He had become such a large presence in her mind that the travel she’d spent months planning had been forced to give way.

After the door closed behind the Proctors, Sabrina turned and let out a breath, allowing herself to feel the pride of a job well done. She made her way to the library where Nathan and a handful of his friends were still laughing and talking. They would likely continue through the early hours of morning, then wander off to their rooms amid the city and sleep half of the day away tomorrow. After that, the four winds would take them wherever it would.

“Ah, there she is.”

Sabrina stopped a step into the room and lifted her eyebrows toward the speaker, Lord Towershod. All the men stood in belated chivalry.

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